This bill amends New Jersey's "90-Day Law" to exclude pipeline construction permits for natural gas and petroleum products, along with related infrastructure like compressor stations, from automatic approval if the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) doesn't act within 90 days. Currently, most construction permits (e.g., for waterfront development or coastal wetlands) automatically become approved after 90 days without a DEP decision, but this bill removes pipeline projects from that rule. Pipeline developers must now wait for an explicit DEP decision within the 90-day window instead of relying on automatic approval. The change applies only to pipeline permits and does not affect other types of permits covered by the 90-Day Law.
This bill updates New Jersey's rules for disposing of certain batteries by clarifying which types require special handling. It affects retailers selling batteries, distributors, large facilities (like hospitals or labs) that use many batteries, and consumers. The key change defines "covered batteries" to include most portable and medium-sized rechargeable batteries while excluding vehicle batteries, medical devices, and recalled batteries. These updated definitions will determine who must follow proper disposal and recycling requirements under the law.
This bill establishes a five-year pilot program for New Jersey's Department of Transportation to inventory, assess, and monitor all state, county, and municipal bridges. It requires creating a digital bridge inventory, a risk scoring model for bridge safety, climate vulnerability assessments, and a public dashboard showing bridge conditions. The $9.5 million appropriation funds the program ($4.5M) and a separate AI-driven "Bridge Infrastructure Innovation Module" ($5M) to test sensor-based monitoring on high-risk bridges. The program mandates annual progress reports and a final evaluation after five years to determine if the approach should be expanded statewide to other infrastructure like roads and tunnels.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a publicly accessible online dashboard tracking real-time flood risks across the state. The dashboard must display rainfall, river levels, sewer capacity, flood damage reports, drainage complaints, and historical flood data from municipalities. Municipalities and counties must report this data to the DEP, with the dashboard updated weekly during active storm warnings. The DEP must annually review the system to standardize reporting, reduce administrative burdens on local governments, and improve data sharing capabilities.
New Jersey bill A3552 prohibits selling, distributing, or importing products with deceptive "recyclable" claims (like the chasing arrows symbol) unless the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) confirms they are actually recyclable in the state. It requires the DEP to conduct a material characterization study by 2024 to define which products/packaging are recyclable based on two criteria: 60% of NJ households collect them curbside, and 60% of recycling facilities process them into new materials. The law directly affects manufacturers and retailers selling products with recycling claims in New Jersey. It is pending before the Assembly Environment Committee and not yet law.
This bill would require New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to regulate scrap metal processing facilities under the same rules that apply to recycling centers. It defines "scrap processing facility" as a commercial operation handling metal for resale and mandates that the DEP oversee these facilities as if they were recycling centers, despite the current definition excluding them from that category. This change would directly affect scrap metal businesses by subjecting them to identical environmental and operational standards as recycling centers. The bill amends existing law to extend the DEP's regulatory framework for recycling centers to cover scrap metal processing activities.
This bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a ranking system for nonpoint source pollution control grants under the Water Pollution Control Act. The system must prioritize projects in specific areas: those served by stormwater utilities, municipalities banning lawn fertilizers, regions suffering economic harm from polluted waterbodies, or municipalities with strict septic system maintenance rules. Grants funded by state Corporation Business Tax revenues or federal Clean Water Act funds will be allocated based on these criteria. The law directly affects municipalities and project applicants seeking DEP pollution control grants. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill authorizes the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide grants from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to help farmers replace inefficient or polluting agricultural equipment with more efficient, less polluting alternatives. It directly affects farmers who operate equipment meeting the specified criteria for replacement. The key mechanism requires applicants to prove the old equipment has been permanently decommissioned, and grants must support projects demonstrably reducing greenhouse gas emissions or energy demand. The fund allocation for this purpose is part of a larger 60% EDA distribution for energy efficiency and emissions reduction projects.
This bill requires New Jersey public and private schools in counties with high Lyme disease incidence to adopt a tick remediation policy. Within 12 months, the Environmental Protection Commissioner must develop county-specific, pesticide-free strategies to reduce ticks based on local factors like vegetation and deer populations. Schools must implement these measures within 18 months, prioritize non-chemical solutions first, and only use low-impact pesticides if needed. Schools must also designate a coordinator to educate staff and parents about tick prevention, habitats, and safe removal techniques.
AR 53 is a New Jersey Assembly Resolution expressing opposition to the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Project, a proposed natural gas pipeline expansion. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents in Franklin Township (where the project would build a compressor station near an active quarry), local emergency responders, and the environment. Key provisions cite concerns including potential pipeline safety risks from aging infrastructure, lack of emergency preparedness plans, carcinogen emissions during operations, and environmental harm to Raritan Bay. The resolution urges the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider alternative energy projects that meet New York's needs without these risks. This is a non-binding resolution, not a law, intended to influence FERC's review of the project.
