58:10-23.11o. Disbursement of moneys from fund; purposes

16. a. Moneys in the New Jersey Spill Compensation Fund shall be disbursed by the administrator for the following purposes and no others:

(1) Costs incurred under section 7 of P.L.1976, c.141 (C.58:10-23.11f);

(2) Damages as defined in section 8 of P.L.1976, c.141 (C.58:10-23.11g);

(3) Such sums as may be necessary for research on the prevention and the effects of discharges of hazardous substances on the environment and public health, on methods of pollution prevention and recycling of hazardous substances, and on the development of improved cleanup, removal, and disposal operations as may be appropriated by the Legislature; provided, however, that such sums, together with sums appropriated pursuant to paragraph (5) of this subsection, shall not exceed, in any fiscal year, an amount equal to the amount of interest credited to the fund during the most recent State fiscal year for which the total amount of such interest income is known;

(4) Such sums as may be necessary for the boards, general administration of the fund, equipment and personnel costs of the department and any other State agency related to the enforcement of P.L.1976, c.141, including any costs incurred by the department pursuant to P.L.1990, c.78 or pursuant to any other law designed to prevent the discharge of a hazardous substance, as may be appropriated by the Legislature;

(5) Such sums as may be appropriated by the Legislature for research and demonstration programs concerning the causes and abatement of ocean pollution; provided, however, that such sums, together with sums appropriated pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection, shall not exceed, in any fiscal year, an amount equal to the amount of interest credited to the fund during the most recent State fiscal year for which the total amount of such interest income is known;

(6) Such sums as may be requested by the commissioner, up to a limit of $400,000 per year, to cover the costs associated with the administration of the "Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act," P.L.1983, c.330 (C.13:1K-6 et seq.);

(7) Costs attributable to the State's obligation to defend and indemnify a contractor pursuant to sections 1 through 11 of P.L.1991, c.373 (C.58:10-23.11f8 et seq.);

(8) Administrative costs incurred by the department to implement the provisions of P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.), as amended and supplemented by P.L.1990, c.28, on a timely basis, except that the amounts used for this purpose shall not exceed $2,000,000. Any moneys disbursed by the department from the fund for this purpose shall be repaid to the fund in equal amounts from the penalties collected by the department pursuant to P.L.1977, c.74 and P.L. 1990, c.28, in annual installments beginning July 1, 1991 and annually thereafter until the full amount is repaid according to a schedule of repayments determined by the State Treasurer; and

(9) Such sums as may be necessary to reimburse a local unit for costs incurred in an emergency response action taken to prevent, contain, mitigate, clean up or remove a discharge of a hazardous substance.

b. The Treasurer may invest and reinvest any moneys in said fund in legal obligations of the United States, this State or any of its political subdivisions. Any income or interest derived from such investment shall be included in the fund.

L.1976,c.141,s.16; amended 1983,c.330,s.9; 1986,c.59,s.4; 1990,c.28,s.19; 1990,c.78,s.18; 1991,c.85,s.5; 1991,c.373,s.15; 1992,c.85.