A 6069 New Jersey General Assembly · 2024-2025 Regular Session

Establishes abandoned mine reclamation program in DOT.

This bill establishes the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program within New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to address hazards from abandoned mines. It requires the DOT to create a statewide plan mapping all abandoned mines, identifying the most dangerous sites (like those threatening infrastructure or water quality), and ranking reclamation projects by priority and cost. The program will fund reclamation work through a dedicated "Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund" (using federal grants, state funds, or donations), allowing the DOT to carry out projects directly, contract with firms, or provide grants to local governments or property owners. Property owners must be notified before DOT access, but the program prohibits requiring owners to pay for reclamation work. The bill directly affects citizens at risk from mine subsidence or water contamination and property owners near abandoned mines.

Issues: ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics: Water Quality

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Nov 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Nov 17, 2025 Last action Dec 15, 2025

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What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Reprint ATR 12/15/25 1R · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill received its first reprint after passage by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on December 15, 2025. The most substantive change adds the Department of Environmental Protection as a required consultation partner when the Department of Transportation develops the State reclamation plan for abandoned mines. A new co-sponsor (Assemblyman Karabinchak, District 18) was added, and the legislative statement at the end of the bill was removed per standard reprint practice.

REQUIREMENT

Section 3(a) now requires the Department of Transportation to consult with the Department of Environmental Protection (in addition to the mine safety section of Labor and Workforce Development) when developing the State reclamation plan for abandoned mines. This broadens interagency coordination on environmental matters related to mine reclamation.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'abandoned mine' was changed from 'no mining operations have occurred for five years or more' to 'no mining operations have occurred for at least five years.' The meaning is substantively the same but the language is slightly more precise.

SCOPE

Assemblyman Robert J. Karabinchak (District 18, Middlesex) was added as a co-sponsor of the bill.

TECHNICAL

The legislative statement section at the end of the bill was removed, which is standard practice when a bill is reprinted after committee action.

Minor punctuation and drafting edits throughout, including adding commas in the 'mine' definition, changing 'such applications' to 'the applications' in the grant program section, and adjusting phrasing in paragraph (4) of the grant program from 'identify the project costs that are eligible' to 'identify which project costs are eligible.'

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 15, 2025

Committee

Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments and Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee

lower

Nov 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee

lower

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor