Dear NJ DEP Records Custodian,

Request Description

This is a request for government records under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act OPRA N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. as amended effective September 3 2024. This request seeks access to existing records only and does not request the creation of new documents. If access is denied in whole or in part please identify the specific statutory exemption for each withholding and produce all reasonably segregable non exempt portions.

Please provide existing government records maintained by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for the period January 1 2025 through November 6 2025 that were received reviewed relied upon or generated by NJDEP in connection with the Borough of Matawan Water Infrastructure Protection Act WIPA emergent conditions application. This request expressly excludes engineering analyses already requested separately from other custodians.

The records requested are limited to the following existing materials. (1) All financial analyses valuation reports asset valuations or financial advisor materials received from the Borough of Matawan or its consultants and reviewed or relied upon by NJDEP in connection with the WIPA application including any attachments appendices exhibits or schedules. (2) All calculations spreadsheets tables models benchmarking materials or other quantitative records reviewed or relied upon by NJDEP concerning claimed operating efficiencies or cost savings including any claim exceeding twenty percent. (3) All rate impact affordability or debt service analyses reviewed or relied upon by NJDEP including any materials addressing rate impacts beyond the year 2028 or comparative public versus private rate structures. (4) All internal NJDEP memoranda summaries comment matrices notes or review documents reflecting NJDEP evaluation of the financial valuation savings or rate impact materials submitted by or on behalf of the Borough of Matawan.

This request seeks only records as they exist and does not require the creation of new analyses explanations summaries or narratives. Responsive records should be produced regardless of format including electronic records such as spreadsheets PDFs emails or native calculation files. If records are maintained electronically please produce them in their native format or a reasonably usable electronic format.

If any portion of a record is exempt from disclosure please redact only the exempt portion and produce the remainder. For each redaction or withholding please identify the specific OPRA exemption relied upon. OPRA requires a response within seven business days of receipt. Failure to grant access or properly request a lawful extension within that period constitutes a deemed denial.

Please provide records electronically by email or secure download link. If a special service charge is asserted please provide an itemized explanation in advance. If records are voluminous please produce them on a rolling basis as they become available.

The requester is a citizen of the United States exercising civil rights under state and federal law including the right to petition government and equal treatment. No rights are waived. OPRA does not require state or local residency.

I have not been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey any other state or the United States. I will not use the records for a commercial purpose. I am not seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.

Best regards,
John Certo

Dear Records, DEP [DEP],

Please provide an update regarding the status of my records request.
Yours sincerely,

John Certo

Ms. Taroco,

I acknowledge receipt of your extension notice regarding my OPRA request received by NJDEP on December 23, 2025, and the revised response date of January 16, 2026. I reserve all rights under N J S A 47:1A 1 et seq.

Thank you.

John Certo