Bill Text: NJ S221 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits the use of urea for melting, preventing the formation of, or removing ice.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Failed) 2013-03-11 - Withdrawn from Consideration [S221 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S221-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES W. HOLZAPFEL
District 10 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits the use of urea for melting, preventing the formation of, or removing ice.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the use of urea for ice prevention and removal, and supplementing Title 58 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. No person shall apply urea to any parking lot, road surface, walkway, or other surface, or otherwise use urea for the purpose of melting, preventing the formation of, or removing ice on any surface.
b. Any person who violates subsection a. of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 for the first offense and up to $1,000 for the second and each subsequent offense, to be collected in a civil action by summary proceeding under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). If the violation is of a continuing nature, each day during which it continues shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct offense. The Superior Court and the municipal court, as appropriate, shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999" pursuant to this subsection.
c. The provisions of this act may be enforced by the Department of Environmental Protection, any municipality, county or local health agency.
d. For the purposes of this section, "urea" means the nitrogen-producing substance and commercially produced products often used as fertilizer, but also used to melt, prevent the formation of, or remove ice. "Urea" may include, but is not limited to, ammonia sulfates used to melt, prevent the formation of, or remove ice, but "urea" does not include rock salt.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits any application or use of urea for the purpose of melting, preventing, or removing ice on any surface. The bill further establishes civil penalties for violations: $500 for the first offense and up to $1,000 for the second and each subsequent offense. The penalty is to be collected in a civil action by summary proceeding under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).
Because urea acts as a fertilizer, boosting plant growth and productivity by providing nitrogen to plant roots, the nitrogen in urea can cause a chemical imbalance and endanger the ecosystem of water sources if large amounts are introduced into waterways through water runoff and storm drain systems.
