This bill expands New Jersey's Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program to offer tax credits specifically for developers creating residential projects on cleaned-up brownfield sites. The legislation amends existing state laws to formally define key terms such as 'affordable housing' and 'developer,' ensuring clarity for those seeking financial incentives. By clarifying these definitions and extending the program's scope, the bill aims to encourage the reuse of contaminated land for housing development.
This bill appropriates $111.6 million in natural resource damages revenues to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for habitat restoration, land acquisition, and oversight projects. The funds come from legal settlements with various corporations and are allocated across different water regions and specific sites like the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site. The Department of Environmental Protection may distribute these funds through grants or loans to local governments and nonprofit organizations, with the ability to reallocate money among projects subject to budget approval and legislative notification.
This bill prohibits New Jersey's state pension and annuity funds from investing in businesses identified under federal Superfund law (CERCLA) as responsible for environmental cleanup costs at contaminated sites, specifically if those businesses filed for bankruptcy to avoid paying. It directly affects the state's pension funds and companies that evade Superfund obligations through bankruptcy filings after EPA designation. The key mechanism requires the state Treasury to divest such investments within three years of identification, with "business affiliates" (entities owning 20%+ of the debtor) also covered. The bill targets entities like YPF S.A., which acquired Maxus Energy (responsible for Newark's Diamond Alkali Superfund site) and filed bankruptcy after EPA's $1.38 billion cleanup finding.
This bill exempts local government entities from annual environmental remediation fees when they acquire contaminated property through specific involuntary means (like bankruptcy, tax foreclosure, eminent domain, or redevelopment efforts). It directly affects municipalities and counties that inherit such properties, removing a financial obligation under two key environmental laws: the Site Remediation Reform Act and the Brownfield and Contaminated Site Remediation Act. The exemption applies only to fees for contamination that existed *before* the government entity gained ownership. This change aligns with existing liability exemptions but eliminates the annual fee burden for these properties.
The Climate Superfund Act (A 3735) holds fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments into a state fund. Companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels during 1995-2026 and emitted over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases must pay based on their proportional liability, with joint liability for companies in a "controlled group." Funds collected will be distributed to implement climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs in overburdened communities. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to manage payments and fund these projects.
This bill requires scrap processing facilities that handle automotive shredder residue (ASR) - the non-recyclable material left after shredding cars and metal scrap - to obtain a permit from New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It explicitly defines ASR as "hazardous waste," meaning facilities must follow DEP-set limits on storage volume, height, and duration, and cannot store ASR near homes or critical infrastructure. The law amends existing waste management statutes to include these requirements and mandates the DEP to create rules for implementation. It directly affects scrap processing facilities statewide that currently handle ASR without permitting.
This Senate Resolution (SR 55) urges the federal EPA to use funds from New Jersey's Superfund settlements **exclusively for cleaning up specific contaminated sites in New Jersey** - not for administrative costs elsewhere. It specifically requests the EPA limit settlement-related overhead costs (like agency management) to **no more than 10% of the total settlement value**, following New Jersey's established practice. The resolution targets the state's 115 Superfund sites on the EPA's National Priorities List - the highest number in the U.S. - which require remediation to address environmental and health risks. It does not create new law but formally requests EPA action to prioritize local cleanup.
This bill exempts New Jersey local governments from annual cleanup fees for contaminated properties they acquire through bankruptcy, tax delinquency, eminent domain, or similar involuntary means (like escheat or abandonment), or for redevelopment purposes. It applies to properties where contamination existed before the government took ownership, covering fees under the Site Remediation Reform Act and Brownfield and Contaminated Site Remediation Act. Currently, these governments are exempt from liability for past contamination but still pay annual fees; this bill removes that fee obligation. The exemption applies immediately upon enactment.
S 652 requires rail companies transporting large volumes of hazardous materials (like 200,000+ gallons of petroleum or 20,000+ gallons of other hazardous substances) to create and maintain emergency response, cleanup, and contingency plans. It directly affects rail operators of "high hazard trains" carrying these materials. The bill also mandates the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to request bridge inspection reports from the U.S. Department of Transportation to assess safety risks. These requirements aim to improve preparedness and safety for potential rail spills involving hazardous materials.
S 2338, the "Climate Superfund Act," imposes strict liability on fossil fuel companies responsible for over one billion metric tons of covered greenhouse gas emissions during 1995-2026 (the "covered period"). It requires these companies to pay compensatory damages into a state fund managed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The collected funds will finance climate change adaptation projects - such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and heat-resilient housing - as defined in the bill. This legislation directly affects major fossil fuel extraction and refining entities operating in New Jersey during the covered period, establishing a new cost recovery program without requiring proof of negligence.
