New Jersey P.L.1989, c.119

CHAPTER 119, LAWS OF 1989

AN ACT concerning discharges into the waters of the State, and supplementing Title 58 of the Revised Statutes.

BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:


 * 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the ocean waters of the State constitute one of the State's most precious and ecologically delicate natural resources; that the preservation and enhancement of the ocean waters of the State is of paramount importance and is in the interest of the public health and safety; and that the direct discharge of industrial wastes into the ocean waters of the State imperils the ecological integrity of the marine environment and presents a threat to the public health and safety. The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the public interest to prohibit the direct discharge of industrial wastes into the ocean waters of the State.

C.58:10A-7.1 Discharging waste in ocean waters prohibited after Dec. 31, 1991.


 * 2. After December 31, 1991, the department may not issue a permit to any private, commercial, or industrial applicant for the discharge of any solid, semi-solid, or liquid wastes into the ocean waters of the State, the provisions of any other law, or rule or regulation to the contrary notwithstanding. Any permit issued by the department for the discharge of any such waste prior to January 1, 1992 shall expire on January 1, 1992, the provisions of any such permit to the contrary notwithstanding. The provisions of this act shall not apply to permits applied for, or issued to, municipal treatment works or seafood processing facilities. As used in this act, "ocean waters" means those waters of the open seas lying seaward of the base line from which the territorial sea is measured, as provided for in the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (15 UST 1606; TIAS 5639).

3. The Commissioner of the Department of Labor shall establish a special program to provide job replacement and relocation assistance, and job retraining to any person who suffers a loss of employment as a direct result of the implementation of this act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

Approved June 30, 1989.