N.J. Stat. § 13:1D-104

4. a. Within 30 days of receipt of a written request therefor, the department shall convene a pre-application conference to provide guidance to a prospective applicant regarding any application for a permit subject to the provisions of section 1 of this act. A pre-application conference shall be requested on a pre-application conference request form prepared by the department. The filing of a request form by a prospective applicant shall be accompanied by a conceptual plan of the proposed project for which departmental approval may be sought. The pre-application form shall advise prospective applicants that the purpose of the pre-application conference is to discuss the general requirements of the department with regard to the type of application identified by a prospective applicant and, if requested, to discuss the conceptual plan for the proposed project. A pre-application conference is not to be used for the purpose of procuring consulting services for the preparation of an application. The conceptual plan and supportive information submitted in conjunction therewith shall be for discussion purposes only, and such discussion shall not be binding either on the department or the applicant with respect to an application subsequently filed by the applicant unless otherwise expressly agreed to by the parties. b. Within 30 days of a written request therefor by an applicant, the department shall notify an applicant of the status of his application and of any outstanding issues relating to the review of the application. L.1991,c.421,s.4.