Bill Text: NJ S2849 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires certain notifications prior to conducting blasting operations; raises minimum property insurance to use explosives.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-06-03 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee [S2849 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S2849-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator RICHARD J. CODEY
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Requires certain notifications prior to conducting blasting operations; raises minimum property insurance to use explosives.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning blasting operations and supplementing P.L.1960, c.55 (C.21:1A-128 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Any person holding a permit to use explosives for blasting purposes pursuant to section 6 of P.L.1960, c.55 (C.21:1A-133) shall not use explosives unless that person or that person's employer has insurance coverage for blasting damage of not less than $1,000,000 to cover property damage, including explosion, collapse, and underground utility damage.
b. Proof of a valid insurance policy covering blasting damage shall be available for inspection at the blasting site.
2. Any person intending to conduct a blasting operation shall notify, by certified mail:
a. The commissioner, no later than 14 days prior to conducting the blasting operation;
b. Each residential property owner within 300 feet of the perimeter of the property where blasting is intended, within seven days of notification of the commissioner pursuant to subsection a. of this section; and
c. The fire official having jurisdiction over the area in which the blasting operation is taking place.
3. The provisions of this act shall not apply to ongoing quarry operations or other entities exempted from the provisions of P.L.1960, c.55 (C.21:1A-128 et seq.), pursuant to section 14 of P.L.1960, c.55 (C.21:1A-141).
4. This act shall take effect on the 90th day next following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill supplements the "Explosives Act," P.L.1960, c.55 (C.21:1A-128 et seq.) to require notification of neighboring homeowners, fire officials, and the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development prior to conducting blasting operations and to raise the minimum property insurance necessary to use explosives for blasting purposes.
The bill prohibits a person from using explosives for blasting purposes unless that person or that person's employer has insurance coverage for blasting damage of not less than $1,000,000 to cover property damage, including explosion, collapse, and underground utility damage. Currently, a minimum of $500,000 is set by regulation. Proof of a valid insurance policy covering blasting damage must be available for inspection at the blasting site.
The bill requires any person intending to conduct a blasting operation to notify, by certified mail:
(1) The commissioner, no later than 14 days prior to conducting the blasting operation;
(2) Each residential property owner within 300 feet of the perimeter of the property where blasting is intended, within 7 days of notification of the commissioner; and
(3) The fire official having jurisdiction over the area in which the blasting operation is taking place.
Certain entities, such as ongoing quarry operations and those entities currently exempted from the "Explosives Act," are exempted from the provisions of this bill.
