RESOLUTION 2007- 15 NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS WATER PROTECTION AND PLANNING COUNCIL CONTRACT WITH UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WHEREAS, the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (the "Highlands Act") mandates that the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (the "Highlands Council") adopt a Regional Master Plan; and WHEREAS, section 6.g of the Highlands Act empowers the Highlands Council to "enter into any and all agreements or contracts, execute any and all instruments, and do and perform any and all acts or things necessary, convenient, or desirable for the purposes of the council or to carry out any power, duty, or responsibility expressly given in" the Highlands Act; and WHEREAS, to develop a comprehensive, science-based Regional Master Plan ("RMP"), it is essential that the Highlands Council have a complete understanding of Highlands regional water resources and their availability for current and future use to serve human and ecological needs; and WHEREAS, to address the above needs, the Highlands Council previously contracted with the United States Geological Survey ("USGS"), where USGS provided technical support in developing methods for estimating water capacity in the Highlands Region and for establishing background nitrate concentrations and standards for nitrate dilution (i.e., septic densities), and provided assistance in preparing technical reports on water use, water availability, and water quality; and WHEREAS, in order to respond to public comments to the draft RMP concerning the Region's water, and to develop technical guidelines for implementation of the policies and standards contained in the draft RMP relating to water, additional technical assistance from USGS is needed; and WHEREAS, the Highlands Council may enter into a contract with a federal agency, such as USGS, to provide required services without having to publicly advertise the contract as authorized by N.].S.A. 52:34-10(a); and WHEREAS, USGS and the Highlands Council staff have prepared a scope of work to undertake certain activities to assist the Council in completing the final RMP for a total of $169,684.00, which scope of work and budget have been reviewed and approved by the Plan Development Committee and Budget and Finance Committee; and NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Highlands Council that the Executive Director, or her designee, is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with USGS for an amount not to exceed $169,684.00. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution meeting held on the 7th day of June, 2007. Vote on the Approval this Resolution of Councilmember Alstede Yes ./ No Abstain Absent --- RESOLUTION 2007- 15 NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS WATER PROTECTION AND PLANNING COUNCIL CONTRACT WITH UNITED STATES GEOLOGICALSURVEY Councilmember Calabrese Councilmember Carluccio Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Cogger Dillingham Kovach Letts Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Pasquarelli Peterson Schrier Vetrano Councilmember Way Councilmember Weingart Councilmember Whitenack ./ ---./ ---./ ---./ ---./ ---- ---./ ------./ ---./ ---./ ---./ ---./ ---- ./ ./