SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4056

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 6, 2021

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4056.

      This bill authorizes a municipality to establish a dredging control reserve fund.  Unexpended balances budgeted annually for dredging may be lapsed into the reserve.  Upon passage of a resolution of the municipality’s governing body, funds in the reserve may be used by the municipality after current budget appropriations for any purpose related to dredging, including, but not limited to, the removal of sand, silt, mud, clay, rock, or other material from the bottom of a waterway in order to maintain or deepen navigation channels and berths, related infrastructure development of such a project, the management of the dredged material through decontamination, acceptable placement or beneficial use, and the potential funding of such projects as necessary to support New Jersey's or the municipality’s maritime, recreation, or tourism industries.  Any reimbursement of these expenditures shall be deposited back into the reserve.

      Unexpended balances budgeted annually for expenses relating to dredging control may be lapsed into the reserve.