This bill amends existing laws regarding host community benefit agreements for municipalities with sanitary landfill facilities or solid waste transfer stations. It establishes a clear timeframe for negotiations, requiring them to be completed within 180 days, with the possibility of a 180-day extension if both parties apply jointly and demonstrate good faith. Additionally, municipalities must notify the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) or the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) within 10 days of starting negotiations and publish the proposed agreements online for public comment for at least 45 days before submitting them for approval. The bill also mandates that the DEP or BPU will step in to establish a host community benefit if negotiations fail due to bad faith.

Furthermore, the bill allows residents of municipalities with these facilities to petition the DEP or BPU for establishing or adjusting host community benefits. The petition must detail the proposed benefit level and provide supporting documentation, with a decision required within 180 days of submission. The amendments aim to enhance public input, transparency, and accountability in the negotiation process for host community benefits, ensuring that municipalities receive fair compensation for hosting solid waste facilities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13:1E-28, 13:1E-28.1