STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman ROBERT D. CLIFTON
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Requires BPU to designate certain natural gas transmission lines as interstate natural gas transmission extension lines.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning certain natural gas transmission lines, and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
“Board” means the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency.
“Natural gas transmission line” means any pipe, main, or other infrastructure of a public utility having a capacity, as determined by the board, to be used for the transmission of natural gas, but the term shall not include a distribution or service line used to distribute natural gas to customers.
“Public utility” shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S.48:2-13.
2. a. The board shall, upon the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in the United States Department of Transportation granting jurisdictional authority to the State, designate an intrastate natural gas transmission line connected to an interstate natural gas transmission line in this State as an interstate natural gas transmission extension line. Only the portion of the intrastate natural gas transmission line that lies between the point of connection of the interstate natural gas transmission line and the intrastate natural gas transmission and the first point of connection of the intrastate natural gas transmission line and a natural gas distribution line shall be designated as an interstate natural gas transmission extension line.
b. The provisions of the “Natural Gas Safety Act,” P.L.1952, c.166 (C.48:10-2 et seq.) shall not apply to a natural gas transmission line that has been designated by the board as an interstate natural gas transmission extension line.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (board), upon the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in the United States Department of Transportation granting jurisdictional authority to the State, to designate an intrastate natural gas transmission line connected to an interstate natural gas transmission line in this State as an interstate natural gas transmission extension line.
Under the bill, only the portion of the intrastate natural gas transmission line that lies between the point of connection of the interstate natural gas transmission line and the intrastate natural gas transmission and the first point of connection of the intrastate natural gas transmission line and a natural gas distribution line shall be designated as an interstate natural gas transmission extension line.
The bill provides that the State’s “Natural Gas Safety Act” is not to apply to a natural gas transmission line that has been designated by the board as an interstate natural gas transmission extension line. The “Natural Gas Safety Act” provides in part that the board is to have general supervision and jurisdiction over natural gas pipeline utilities and their property, equipment, and facilities.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulates the transmission and sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce.