Bill
Bill > A4168
summary
Introduced
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill would require owners of underground storage tanks to designate on a facility's registration certificate which party is initially responsible for compliance with maintenance standards and undertaking corrective actions in response to an enforcement action by the department. The bill directs the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to adopt implementing rules and regulations within twelve months of the date of enactment. Specifically, the bill stipulates a 14 day period within which individuals responsible for underground storage tanks are required to take the appropriate corrective action, provided that the noncompliance is determined by the department to be an imminent threat to proximate groundwater resources or public health and safety. All responsible parties that fail to comply with the department's enforcement action within the 14 day period are to be held liable to the department in treble damages.
AI Summary
This bill requires owners of underground storage tanks (USTs) to designate on their facility's registration certificate who is initially responsible for maintaining the tanks and for taking corrective actions if there's a problem, especially in response to an enforcement action by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The Commissioner of Environmental Protection has twelve months to create rules for this, and importantly, if a leak or discharge from a UST is found to be an imminent threat to groundwater or public health and safety, the designated responsible party must take corrective action within 14 days; failure to do so will result in liability to the DEP for treble damages, meaning three times the amount of damages. This aims to clarify responsibility and expedite cleanup of hazardous substance releases from USTs.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee (on 02/19/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A4168 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A4500/4168_I1.HTM |
Loading...