N.J. Admin. Code § 7:26-1.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 7:26-1.9 - Temporary exemption from solid waste facility permit modification procedures for permitted solid waste facilities

(a) General criteria for all exemptions are as follows:

1. Any exemption granted to a permitted solid waste facility pursuant to this section shall be consistent with the purpose and intent of the Solid Waste Management Act, 13:1E-1 et seq.; and

2. No exemption shall be granted for a significant modification which will pose a threat to public health or the environment.

(b) This subsection sets forth the specific criteria for temporarily exempting modifications to permitted solid waste facilities, which are not small-scale solid waste facilities as defined at 7:26-1.4 or are Class I sanitary landfill as defined at N.J.A.C. 7:26-1.4, from the solid waste permit modification procedures at 7:26-2.6.

1. A temporary permit modification approval shall be granted to a solid waste facility provided that:

i. The temporary permit modification approval shall not be issued for a period exceeding six months and may, in the Department's discretion, be extended for one additional consecutive six month period;

ii. Issuance of a temporary permit modification approval prior to the time that such modification to the solid waste facility permit can be issued pursuant to 7:26-2.6 is essential in order to ensure the viability of the facility to avoid a disruption in the provision of solid waste services. Such a disruption would be inconsistent with the purpose and intent of the Solid Waste Management Act and the District Solid Waste Management Plan;

iii. The modification to facility engineering design and/or operation shall be consistent with the protection of public health, safety and the environment under the circumstances. Notwithstanding any other requirement specified in Title 7 of the New Jersey Administrative Code, the facility engineering design and/or operational modification(s) to be implemented shall be those specified as conditions in the temporary permit modification approval;

iv. All preparatory work necessary to permit safe and environmentally sound operation of the facility can be accomplished prior to implementing the proposed modification(s) to the facility engineering design and/or its operations; and

v. A schedule has been established and incorporated into the temporary permit modification approval which provides for the formal processing of the request for facility modification of engineering design and/or operation in accordance with all requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:26-2.6. The schedule may call for accomplishing one or more milestones related to procedural requirements outlined at 7:26-2.6 after modification(s) of the facility engineering design and/or operation have been implemented.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the facility permittee shall submit the following in an application for a temporary permit modification approval:

i. Amendments to the approved environmental and health impact statement (if applicable) or a complete and detailed description of changes in environmental impacts that will result from the proposed modification(s) in facility engineering design and/or operation and additional mitigation measures being or proposed to address such impacts. Traffic impacts shall be re-evaluated if the proposed modification results in an increase in waste acceptance;

ii. Amendments to the approved Operations and Maintenance Manual for the facility, that reflect changes made necessary due to the proposed modification(s) in facility engineering design and/or operation; and

iii. Amended engineering design(s) for the facility, reflecting changes proposed that are the result of the proposed modification(s) subject to review.

(c) The owner or operator of any solid waste facility exempted pursuant to this section shall comply with all conditions set forth in its temporary permit modification approval. Noncompliance with a temporary permit modification approval shall subject the holder to a penalty pursuant to 13:1E-9 and/or suspension or revocation of authority to implement engineering design and/or operational modification(s).

1. The owner or operator of a facility for which temporary approval has been revoked or suspended shall be afforded the opportunity for a hearing pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, N.J.S.A. 52:14B-1 et seq., subsequent to the revocation or suspension. The request for a hearing shall be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Administrative Hearings and Dispute Resolution, ATTENTION: Adjudicatory Hearing Requests, 401 E. State Street, Mail Code: 401-07A, PO Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0402.

2. The granting of a temporary permit modification approval shall not be interpreted as entitling the holder to a solid waste facility permit modification.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:26-1.9

Emergency New Rule, R.1997 d.404, effective 9/2/1997 (to expire November 1, 1997).
See: 29 New Jersey Register 4170(a).
Former section "Public access to information and requirements for Department determination of confidentiality" recodified as N.J.A.C. 7:26-1.12.
Adopted concurrent proposal, R.1997 d.510, effective 10/31/1997.
See: 29 New Jersey Register 4170(a), 29 New Jersey Register 5084(a).

Administrative Change, 55 N.J.R. 528(a), effective 2/23/2023