Title 13, Title 13: CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT--PARKS AND RESERVATIONS

13:1L-29 Findings, declarations relative to forest stewardship. 1. a. The Legislature finds and declares that forest lands are critical to the environmental welfare of the State; that forest lands help clean and refresh the air by filtering dust and particulates; that forest land…

13:1L-3 Definitions. 3. For the purposes of this act: "All-terrain vehicle" means the same as the term is defined pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1973, c.307 (C.39:3C-1). "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Environmental Protection. "Department" means the Department of Environm…

13:1L-30 Definitions relative to forest stewardship. 2. As used in sections 1 through 8 of P.L.2009, c.256 (C.13:1L-29 through C.13:1L-36): "Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection. "Forest stewardship plan" means a plan prepared and implemented by an owner o…

13:1L-31 Forest stewardship program, plan. 3. a. The department shall establish a forest stewardship program under which an owner, in conjunction with a forester or other professional selected by the owner from a list of foresters approved by the department, or from a list of oth…

13:1L-32 Forest certification program. 4. a. For the purposes of section 1 of P.L.2005, c.367 (C.52:32-45), the department shall establish a forest certification program under which the department may certify that forest land is managed in a sustainable manner, provided that: (1)…

13:1L-33 "Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund." 5. a. There is established in the General Fund a special nonlapsing fund, to be known as the "Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund." Moneys in the fund shall be dedicated to: (1) providing grants to persons for the purpose of developing …

13:1L-34 Enactment of conflicting ordinance, rule, regulation prohibited. 6. No local government unit may enact, on or after the date of enactment of P.L.2009, c.256 (C.13:1L-29 et al.), any ordinance, rule, or resolution, as appropriate, that conflicts with, prevents or impedes …

13:1L-35 Forest sustainability criteria, indicators. 7. a. The department, utilizing guidance provided by the United States Forest Service and in consultation with the forest stewardship advisory committee established pursuant to subsection d. of section 8 of P.L.2009, c.256 (C.1…

13:1L-36 Rules, regulations. 8. The department shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of P.L.2009, c.256 (C.13:1L-29 et al.), including rules and regulations: a. set…

13:1L-4. Powers The department shall acquire, plan, design, construct, operate and maintain State parks and forests and shall have the power to: a. Install permanent improvements for the health and comfort of the public; b. Install permanent improvements for the protection, devel…

13:1L-5. Duties The department shall: a. Provide recreational activities and programs within State parks and forests for the benefit of the State's citizens; b. Strive to provide recreational opportunities to all segments of the State's population and may provide transportation f…

13:1L-5.1 Duties of commissioner relative to designation of sites. 38. a. Within three years after the date of enactment of P.L.2009, c.275 (C.39:3C-3.1 et al.), the Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall: (1) designate and make available three sites on State-owned land f…

13:1L-6. Grant of authority to operate facilities for private profit; acquisition of interest in lands a. Notwithstanding any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the department shall have the authority to grant such rights or privileges to individuals or corporations f…

13:1L-7. Powers of department 7. a. For the purposes of acquiring, holding, managing or developing lands or other properties for a State park or forest, the department shall have the power to enter, inspect, survey, investigate ownership and take title to, in fee or otherwise, by…

13:1L-8. Authority to exchange lands 8. The department shall have the authority to sell, lease or exchange any lands or any interest therein, except those lands or interests acquired pursuant to the Green Acres program, for the acquisition of any other lands or interests therein …

13:1L-8.1 Definitions. 1. As used in this act: "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Environmental Protection. "County and municipal parks and open space" means parks, forests, historic sites, natural areas, wildlife management areas, and any other lands, waters, and facilitie…

13:1L-8.2 "New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation" established. 2. a. There is established a nonprofit, educational, and charitable organization to be known as the New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation. The foundation shall be devoted to the raising of funds …

13:1L-8.3 Board of directors, New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation. 3. a. The New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation shall be governed by a board of directors, which shall consist of 12 members, as follows: (1) the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, o…

13:1L-8.4 Powers, functions, New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation. 4. The New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation shall have the power: a. to sue and be sued in its own name; b. to adopt a seal and alter the same at pleasure; c. to adopt bylaws for the regula…

13:1L-8.5 Powers, funds, New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation. 5. a. The New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation shall have the following powers, in particular: (1) to solicit and accept monetary donations, gifts, grants, devises, bequests, legacies, endowmen…

13:1L-8.6 New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation, real property. 6. The foundation shall not have the authority to accept real property and shall direct all offers of real property to the department. L.2023, c.256, s.6.

13:1L-8.7 New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation, expenses, payable, funds raised by the foundation; representation. 7. All expenses incurred by the foundation shall be payable from funds raised by the foundation, and no liability or obligation, in tort or contract, sha…

13:1L-8.8 New Jersey State Parks and Open Space Foundation, audit, books, accounts. 8. a. The foundation shall cause an audit of its books and accounts to be made at least once in each year by certified public accountants. The cost thereof shall be considered an expense of the fo…

13:1L-9. Closing of park; removal of persons The department may close a State park or forest or may remove any person from a State park or forest without legal procedure if the department determines that it is in the interest of the State to do so. L.1983, c. 324, s. 9, eff. Sept…

13:1M-1. Findings, declarations The Legislature finds and declares that the production of oil and natural gas from sources within the State can provide substantial economic benefits to the public and private sectors of this State; that notwithstanding such potential, the explorat…

13:1M-10. Report after completion A person drilling an oil or gas well within this State shall, within 30 days after the conclusion of drilling or after the plugging and abandonment of the well, file with the Department of Environmental Protection in a form and manner prescribed …

13:1M-11. Permit for plugging, abandonment No person shall plug and abandon an oil or gas well except in accordance with a permit issued therefor by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to this section. An application for this permit shall be made on forms prescrib…

13:1M-12. Contents of report Subsequent to the plugging and abandonment of each well, the holder of a permit therefor shall make a written report to the department. The report shall include at least the following: a. The date of abandonment; b. The name of the owner or operator o…

13:1M-13. Order to plug well A well drilled for the production of oil or gas which is incapable of producing oil or gas in commercial quantities shall be plugged unless written permission is granted by the department to do otherwise. If the department finds that a well should be …

13:1M-14. Report on producible quantity Within seven days of determining that the well will yield a commercially producible quantity of oil or natural gas, the holder of a permit issued under section 2 of this act shall file a written report to the department providing, in additi…

13:1M-15. Permit for commercial operations No person shall commence commercial operations to extract or produce oil or natural gas without receiving a permit therefor from the Department of Environmental Protection. The application for this permit shall include information the de…

13:1M-16. Rules, regulations The Department of Environmental Protection, within 180 days of the effective date of this act and pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L. 1968, c. 410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the pur…

13:1M-17. Violations; injunctions; penalties a. If any person violates any of the provisions of this act or any rule, regulation or order promulgated or issued pursuant to the provisions of this act, the department may institute a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction…

13:1M-18 Municipal, county regulation of oil, gas exploration. 18. a. Nothing in this act shall be construed to supersede or prohibit the adoption, by the governing body of any municipality or county, of any ordinance or resolution regulating or prohibiting the exploration beyond…

13:1M-2. Permit to commence operations Notwithstanding any requirements imposed pursuant to P.L. 1947, c. 377 (C. 58:4A-5 et seq.), or any other law, rule, or regulation, no person shall commence operations incident to the exploration and drilling of wells for oil or natural gas …

13:1M-3. Written findings required A permit required by section 2 of this act shall be issued only upon a written finding by the department that the authorized activities will not result in: a. Any adverse consequences to groundwater and surface water; b. Any significant degradat…

13:1M-4. Permit fee; display Each application for the permit required by section 2 of this act, or renewal thereof, shall be accompanied by a fee, established in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by the department by rule or regulation, reflecting the costs of reviewing and …

13:1M-5. Surety bond As a precondition to the issuance of a permit under section 2 of this act, the applicant shall execute and file with the department a surety bond guaranteeing compliance with all provisions of this act and all rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto an…

13:1M-6. Suspension order The department may order the immediate suspension of any exploration, drilling, or plugging activities if it finds that the activity poses an imminent danger to public health or safety or results in, or is likely to result in, substantial damage to natur…

13:1M-7. Forfeiture of bond If the department finds that a holder of a permit issued under section 2 of this act has violated a provision or condition of his permit or a rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this act, the department may declare the surety bond filed to guarantee…

13:1M-8. Restoration of surface A holder of a permit issued under section 2 of this act shall restore, or cause to be restored, the land surface within the area disturbed in siting, drilling and plugging and abandonment of the well, in accordance with rules and regulations adopte…

13:1M-9. Location change The location of a well drilling operation may be changed after the issuance of a permit under section 2 of this act only with the approval of the department. Requests for a change of location shall be accompanied by an amended application. Drilling shall …

13:8-23. Adjunct state forest reserves; agreements with owners of lakes or ponds for use by public; tax exemption Any owner of a fresh water lake or pond which is subject to acquisition by the state as provided by section 13:8-22 of this title, may propose an agreement with the b…

13:8-24. Contents of agreement; certification of tax exemption As a preliminary to the agreement mentioned in section 13:8-23 of this title, the board shall require that the waters of the fresh water lake or pond mentioned in said section 13:8-23 be actually free to all citizens …

13:8-25. Rules and regulations; powers of board The board shall have power to make reasonable and proper regulations for the use of adjunct state forest reserves created under authority of sections 13:8-23 and 13:8-24 of this title, and shall exercise the same powers over them as…

13:8-26. Lakes or ponds used for water power excepted Nothing in sections 13:8-23 to 13:8-25 of this title shall warrant the owner of a pond or lake used solely or chiefly as a source of water power for a mill or factory in active operation to apply for exemption of taxes.