ASSEMBLY, No. 645
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION
By Assemblymen IMPREVEDUTO and FELICE
An Act creating a Bioremediation Advisory Board and supplementing Title 58 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is created in, but not of, the Department of Environmental Protection a Bioremediation Advisory Board. Notwithstanding the allocation of the board within the department, the department or any employee thereof shall not exercise any control over the board.
b. The Bioremediation Advisory Board shall consist of nine members as follows: one member who shall be a representative from the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology; one member who shall be a representative from the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey; one member who shall be a professor at Cook College of Rutgers University and who shall have scientific knowledge on bioremediation techniques and procedures; three members of the public, each of whom shall have an engineering or advanced degree in an area involving bioremediation procedures; and three members of the public, each of whom shall have experience in the use of biotechnology in the remediation of hazardous discharge sites. The members of the board shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members of the board shall serve three year terms except that of the members first appointed, three shall serve one year terms, three shall serve two year terms, and three shall serve three year terms. Members shall serve in their position until a successor has been duly appointed and qualified. Any vacancy on the board shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment but for the unexpired term only. Members of the board may be removed for cause. Members of the board shall not be compensated for their service on the board but members may be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties to the extent such sums are appropriated for this use by the Legislature.
c. The board shall select from among its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson who shall act for the chairperson in the chairperson's absence. The board shall develop rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. The board may meet upon the appointment and qualification of five of its members. The board shall meet at such time and place as the chairperson shall determine. Actions of the board shall be taken only by a majority of the full membership of the board.
d. It shall be the duty of the board to advise the Department of Environmental Protection on the use of biotechnology techniques and procedures in the remediation of hazardous discharge sites and to encourage the department to approve the use of biotechnology techniques and procedures in hazardous discharge site remediations. The board may:
(1) prepare and submit any plans, reports, or documentation to the department concerning the use of biotechnology techniques and procedures in the remediation of hazardous discharge sites;
(2) respond to any inquiries of the department concerning biotechnology techniques and procedures;
(3) testify and submit written comments to the department or to any other State, federal, or local public entity concerning any proposed law, rule, regulation, or other public decision involving the use of biotechnology techniques and procedures in the remediation of contaminated hazardous discharge sites; and
(4) hold any public hearings or meetings as necessary in order to solicit information concerning the use of biotechnology in the remediation of contaminated hazardous discharge sites.
e. The board may avail itself of the services of employees or resources of the Department of Environmental Protection, any executive State department, or any county or municipal government to the extent those employees or resources are made available to the board.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would create the Bioremediation Advisory Board. The board would be allocated within the Department of Environmental Protection but would be independent of any control by the department. The board is charged with advising the department on matters concerning the use of biotechnology techniques and procedures in the remediation of hazardous discharge sites.
The board would consist of nine members, to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. The members would include a representative from the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology; a representative from the Biotechnology Council of New Jersey; a professor at Cook College of Rutgers University with scientific knowledge of bioremediation processes; three members of the public, each of whom shall have an engineering or advanced degree in an area involving bioremediation strategies; and three members of the public, each of whom shall have experience in the use of biotechnology in the remediation of hazardous discharge sites.
Creates Bioremediation Advisory Board in DEP.