Appropriates $111.6 million in dedicated natural resource damages revenues to DEP for habitat restoration, land acquisition, and restoration oversight projects.

A4554

ASSEMBLY, No. 4554

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� JAMES J. KENNEDY

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman� HEATHER SIMMONS

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywomen Brennan, Haider and Assemblyman Bhalla

SYNOPSIS

���� Appropriates $111.6 million in dedicated natural
resource damages revenues to DEP for habitat restoration, land acquisition, and
restoration oversight projects.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
appropriating $111.6 million in dedicated natural
resource damages revenues to the Department of Environmental Protection for
certain projects.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

�����������������������������������������������������������������������

����
1.�
a.� There is appropriated to the Department of Environmental Protection the sum
of $111,600,000 from dedicated natural resource damages revenues pursuant to
Article VIII, Section II, paragraph 9 of the State Constitution in the Natural
Resource Damages � Constitutional Dedication account, from funds recovered in
connection with claims made by the State in the matters of N.J. Dep�t of Env.
Protection v. Atlantic Richfield Co., et al., No. 08 CIV 00312 (S.D.N.Y.); N.J.
Dep�t of Env. Protection v. Exxon Mobil Corporation, No. GLO-L-000297-19 (a/k/a
�Exxon Lail�); N.J. Dep�t of Env. Protection v. Bank of America, N.A., No.
23-2598 (D.N.J) (a/k/a �White Swan Cleaners�); N.J Dep�t of Env. Protection v.
Handy & Harman, et al; Kinder Morgan, Inc., and Its Related Entities; The
Estate of Ralph F. Brass; Michael A. Tramontana (a/k/a �Eton Dry Cleaners�);
N.J Dep�t of Env. Protection v. Carbide-Graphite Group, Inc., et al., No.
MID-L-5793-07 (a/k/a �Sayreville Landfill�); N.J. Dep�t. of Env. Protection v.
Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, and Arkema, Inc. No. GLO-L-001239-20, The
Ciba Geigy Toms River Superfund Site, and The American Cyanamid Superfund Site,
for projects to repair, restore, or replace damaged or lost natural resources
of the State, or permanently protect the natural resources of the State
pursuant to the prioritization set forth in Article VIII, Section II, paragraph
9 of the State Constitution as follows:

RESTORATION/ACQUISITION

$102,400,000

�

Habitat Restoration and
Enhancement/ Land Acquisition Statewide

$33,500,000

Habitat Restoration and
Enhancement/ Land Acquisition in the Lower Delaware Water Region

$54,455,000

Habitat Restoration and
Enhancement/ Land Acquisition in the Atlantic Water Region

$2,250,000

Habitat Restoration and
Enhancement/ Land Acquisition in the Northeast Water Region

$10,250,000

Habitat Restoration and Enhancement
in the Raritan Water Region

$1,345,000

Restoration Oversight � Ciba-Geigy
Superfund Site

$500,000

Restoration Oversight � Headgates
Dam Removal

$100,000

ADMINISTRATION

$9,200,000

���� b.� The department may
reallocate funds among the projects appropriated hereinabove, subject to the
approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting in the
Department of the Treasury.� The department shall send written notification of
any such reallocation of funds to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of
the General Assembly, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, the Joint
Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, and the Chairs of the Senate
Environment and Energy Committee and Assembly Environment, Natural Resources,
and Solid Waste Committee, or their respective successor committees.

���� c.� Moneys appropriated
hereinabove are appropriated for State costs, including, but not limited to,
grants or loans to local governments, and grants or loans to nonprofit
organizations, as determined by the department.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill would appropriate $111.6
million in dedicated natural resource damages revenues, collected from various
legal actions enumerated in the bill, to the Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) for certain habitat restoration and enhancement projects, land
acquisition projects, restoration oversight activities, and administrative
costs.� The bill would authorize the DEP to utilize the funds for State costs,
as grants or loans to local governments, or as grants or loans to nonprofit
organizations.