Sponsored by:
Senator ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Senator DOUGLAS J. STEINHARDT
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Senator MICHAEL J. DOHERTY
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
SYNOPSIS
Allows municipalities to conduct annual event for open burning of Christmas trees.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the open burning of Christmas trees by municipalities and supplementing P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of the “Air Pollution Control Act (1954),” P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.), or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, a municipality shall be permitted to conduct an event for the open burning of Christmas trees once per year.
b. The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules, regulations, and standards for the open burning of Christmas trees by municipalities within the State.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would allow municipalities throughout the State to conduct an annual event for the open burning of Christmas trees. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) would be responsible for establishing rules, regulations, and standards for the open burning of Christmas trees by municipalities within the State.
Under the “Air Pollution Control Act (1954),” P.L.1954, c.212 (C.26:2C-1 et seq.), the DEP has the authority to promulgate rules and regulations controlling and preventing air pollution throughout the State. Currently, the open burning of refuse materials, including Christmas trees, is prohibited by the New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.7:27-2 et seq.).