Bill Text: NJ A2212 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DEP to evaluate environmental and public health stressor of certain facilities on overburdened communities when reviewing certain permit applications.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 22-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-08-27 - Substituted by S232 (SCS/2R) [A2212 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A2212-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Mazzeo, Armato, Benson, Karabinchak, Calabrese and Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson
SYNOPSIS
Concerns environmental permits in burdened communities.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning environmental permits in certain areas, and supplementing Title 13 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in this act: "Burdened community" means any census tract, as delineated in the most recent federal decennial census, that is ranked in the bottom 33 percent of census tracts in the State for median annual household income.
"Cumulative impacts" means an exposure, public health or environmental risk, or other effect occurring in a specific geographical area, including from any environmental pollution emitted or released routinely, accidentally, or otherwise, from any source, and assessed based on the combined past, present, and reasonably foreseeable emissions and discharges affecting the geographical area. "Cumulative impacts" shall be evaluated based on any applicable guidance issued by department.
"Facility" means any: (1) electric generating facility with a capacity of more than ten megawatts; (2) resource recovery facility or incinerator; (3) sludge combustor or incinerator; (4) sewage treatment plant with a capacity of more than 50 million gallons per day; (5) transfer station, recycling center, or other solid waste facility with a combined monthly volume in excess of 25 tons; (6) landfill, including, but not limited to, a landfill that accepts ash, construction or demolition debris, or solid waste; (7) medical waste incinerator; or (8) major source of air pollution, as defined by the federal "Clean Air Act," 42 U.S.C.s.7401 et seq.
"Permit" means any permit, registration, or license issued by the Department of Environmental Protection establishing the regulatory and management requirements for an ongoing regulated activity as authorized by federal law or the following State laws: R.S.12:5-1 et seq.; P.L.1975, c.232 (C.13:1D-29 et al.); the "Solid Waste Management Act," P.L.1970, c.39 (C.13:1E-1 et seq.); section 17 of P.L.1975, c.326 (C.13:1E-26); the "Comprehensive Regulated Medical Waste Management Act," P.L.1989, c.34 (C.13:1E-48.1 et al.); P.L.1989, c.151 (C.13:1E-99.21a et al.); the "New Jersey Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act," P.L.1987, c.102 (C.13:1E-99.11 et al.); the "Pesticide Control Act of 1971," P.L.1971, c.176 (C.13:1F-1 et seq.); the "Industrial Site Recovery Act," P.L.1983, c.330 (C.13:1K-6 et al.); the "Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act," P.L.1985, c.403 (C.13:1K-19 et seq.); "The Wetlands Act of 1970," P.L.1970, c.272 (C.13:9A-1 et seq.); the "Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act," P.L.1987, c.156 (C.13:9B-1 et al.); the "Coastal Area Facility Review Act," P.L.1973, c.185 (C.13:19-1 et seq.); the "Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act," P.L.2004, c.120 (C.13:20-1 et seq.), the "Air Pollution Control Act (1954)," P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.); the "Water Supply Management Act," P.L.1981, c.262 (C.58:1A-1 et al.); P.L.1947, c.377 (C.58:4A-5 et seq.); the "Water Pollution Control Act," P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.); P.L.1986, c.102 (C.58:10A-21 et seq.); the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et al.); the "Flood Hazard Area Control Act," P.L.1962, c.19 (C.58:16A-50 et seq.); except that "permit" shall not include: (1) any general permit issued by the department pursuant to subsection h. of section 13 of P.L.1967, c.106 (C.26:2C-9.2), or (2) any general permit issued by the department for remedial activity pursuant to subsection d. of section 1 of P.L.1993, c.351 (C.58:10A-7.2).
2. a. No later than 120 days after the effective date of this act, the Department of Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), a list of burdened communities in the State. The department shall update the list of burdened communities periodically as new data on median annual household income becomes available and upon promulgation by the federal government of a new federal decennial census.
b. No later than 60 days after a burdened community is designated pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the governing body of the municipality in which the burdened community is located, in consultation with appropriate community groups, shall designate a representative of the burdened community.
3. a. Beginning 180 days after the effective date of this act, the Department of Environmental Protection shall not grant a permit for a new facility, or for the expansion of an existing facility, located in whole or in part in a burdened community unless the permit applicant first:
(1) Prepares a report assessing the environmental impact of the proposed new facility, or expansion of an existing facility, including any cumulative impacts on the burdened community, any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided should the permit be granted, and the public health impact on the burdened community of the proposed new facility or expansion of an existing facility;
(2) Transmits the report required to be prepared pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection at least 30 days in advance of the public hearing required pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection to the department, the governing body and the clerk of the municipality in which the burdened community is located, and the designated representative of the burdened community. The report shall be made available to the public at least 30 days prior to the public hearing required pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection; and
(3) Organizes and conducts a public hearing in a location convenient as much as possible to all interested parties. The permit applicant shall publish public notices of the hearing in at least two newspapers circulating within the burdened community not less than 21 days prior to the hearing. At least 14 days prior to the date set for such hearing, a copy of the public notice shall be sent to the department, the governing body and the clerk of the municipality in which the burdened community is located, and the designated representative of the burdened community. At the public hearing, the permit applicant shall provide clear, accurate, and complete information about the proposed new facility or expansion of an existing facility and the potential environmental and health impacts of the new or expanded facility. The hearing shall provide an opportunity for meaningful public participation by residents of the burdened community. Following the public hearing, the commissioner shall consider the testimony presented and evaluate any revisions or conditions to the permit that may be necessary to reduce the adverse impact to the public health or to the environment in the burdened community.
b. The department shall not issue a decision on the permit application until at least 60 days after the public hearing held pursuant to this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, the department may deny a permit application in a burdened community upon a finding that the approval of the permit would, together with the cumulative impacts posed by the existing conditions, including conditions resulting from permitted activities, in the burdened community, constitute an unreasonable risk to the health of the residents of the burdened community and to the environment in the burdened community.
c. The department, when evaluating an application for a permit pursuant to this section, shall assess the community support for the proposed new facility or expansion of an existing facility, as demonstrated through the public hearing conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section, letters of support for, or opposition to, the proposed new or expanded facility, and any ordinance or resolution adopted by the governing body of the municipality in which the burdened community is located. The department shall consider community support, or the lack thereof, in its decision to grant or deny a permit.
d. If a permit applicant is applying for more than one permit for a proposed new facility or expansion of an existing facility, the permit applicant shall only be required to comply with the provisions of this section once, unless the department, in its discretion, determines that more than one public hearing is necessary due to the complexity of the proposed new or expanded facility. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the department to hold or require additional public hearings, as may be required by any other law, rule, or regulation.
4. a. The Department of Environmental Protection may adopt, pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this act.
b. The department may issue guidance on how to evaluate cumulative impacts pursuant paragraph (1) of subsection a. of section 3 of this act. The department shall publish the guidance document on its Internet website.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require a person seeking a permit for a new facility, or for the expansion of an existing facility, located in a burdened community, to meet certain additional requirements before they can obtain the permit.
Under the bill, a "burdened community" is defined as any census tract, as delineated in the most recent federal decennial census, that is ranked in the bottom 33 percent of census tracts in the State for median household income. "Facility" is defined as any: (1) electric generating facility with a capacity of more than ten megawatts; (2) resource recovery facility or incinerator; (3) sludge combustor or incinerator; (4) sewage treatment plant with a capacity of more than 50 million gallons per day; (5) transfer station, recycling center, or other solid waste facility with a combined monthly volume in excess of 25 tons; (6) landfill, including, but not limited to, a landfill that accepts ash, construction or demolition debris, or solid waste; (7) medical waste incinerator; or (8) major source of air pollution, as defined by the federal "Clean Air Act."
The bill would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in consultation with the Secretary of State, no later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the bill, to adopt a list of burdened communities in the State. The DEP would be required to update the list of burdened communities periodically as new data on median annual household income becomes available and upon promulgation by the federal government of a new federal decennial census. No later than 60 days after a burdened community is designated under the bill, the governing body of the municipality in which the burdened community is located would be required to designate a representative of the burdened community.
Under the bill, beginning 180 days after the date of enactment of the bill, the DEP would not be permitted to grant certain environmental permits for any new facility, or for the expansion of an existing facility, located in whole or in part in a burdened community, unless the permit applicant first:
(1) prepares a report assessing the environmental impact of the proposed new or expanded facility. The report would assess the environmental impact on the burdened community including cumulative impacts, any adverse environmental effects that cannot be avoided should the permit be granted, and the public health impact on the burdened community of the proposed new or expanded facility;
(2) transmits the report at least 30 days in advance of the public hearing required under the bill to the DEP, the governing body and the clerk of the municipality in which the burdened community is located, and the designated representative of the burdened community. The permit applicant would be required to make the report available to the public at least 30 days prior to the public hearing; and
(3) organizes and conducts a public hearing in a location as convenient as possible to all interested parties. The bill establishes specific requirements for public notice of the hearing. At the public hearing, the permit applicant would be required to provide clear, accurate, and complete information about the proposed new or expanded facility and its potential environmental and health impacts in the burdened community. The permit applicant would also be required to provide an opportunity for meaningful public participation by residents of the burdened community. Following the hearing, the DEP would be required to consider testimony presented at the public hearing, and evaluate any revisions or conditions to the permit that may be necessary to reduce the adverse impact to the public health or to the environment in the burdened community.
Under the bill, the DEP would not be permitted to issue a decision on the permit application until at least 60 days after the public hearing. The DEP would have the authority to deny a permit application in a burdened community upon a finding that approval of the permit, together with the cumulative impacts posed by the proposed new or expanded facility, would constitute an unreasonable risk to the health of the residents of the burdened community and to the environment in that community. The DEP, when evaluating an application for a permit under the bill, would be required to assess community support for the proposed new or expanded facility, and be required to consider such support, or the lack thereof, in its decision to grant or deny a permit.
The bill provides that if a permit applicant is applying for more than one permit for a proposed new or expanded facility, the applicant would only be required to comply with the provisions of the bill once, unless the DEP, in its discretion, determines that more than one public hearing is necessary due to the complexity of the new or expanded facility.
