58:10C-3 Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board.

3. a. There is established in, but not of, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board. The board shall establish licensing requirements for site remediation professionals and shall oversee the licensing and performance of site remediation professionals.

b. The board shall consist of 13 members to be selected and qualified as follows:

(1) The Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio, and who shall be the chairperson of the board;

(2) The State Geologist, or a designee, who shall serve ex officio; and

(3) Eleven public members, residents of the State, who shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate as follows:

(a) six shall be site remediation professionals who hold a license from the board. Of the six members first appointed pursuant to this subparagraph, two shall be appointed to a term of one year, two shall be appointed to a term of two years, one shall be appointed to a term of three years, and one shall be appointed to a term of four years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of four years. The members first appointed to the board pursuant to this subparagraph shall hold a temporary site remediation professional license issued by the department pursuant to section 12 of P.L.2009, c.60 (C.58:10C-12);

(b) three shall be members at the time of appointment of Statewide organizations that promote the protection of the environment and who are knowledgeable with respect to issues involving responding to discharges of hazardous substances. Of the members appointed pursuant to this subparagraph, one shall be a licensed site remediation professional. Of the three members first appointed pursuant to this subparagraph, one shall be appointed to a term of one year, one shall be appointed to a term of two years, and one shall be appointed to a term of three years. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for a term of four years;

(c) one shall be a person from the business community in the State who is knowledgeable with respect to issues involving responding to discharges of hazardous substances and whose initial appointment shall be for a term of three years. Thereafter, the appointment shall be for a term of four years; and

(d) one shall be a member of the academic community who is knowledgeable with respect to issues involving responding to discharges of hazardous substances and who shall be appointed for a term of four years.

c. Each member shall serve for the term of the appointment and until a successor shall have been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term only.

d. (1) The Governor may remove a member of the board for cause, after a public hearing.

(2) The 11 public members shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties within the limits of funding made available to the board.

e. The department shall provide such staff and other persons as are required to assist the board in the performance of its functions and duties pursuant to P.L.2009, c.60 (C.58:10C-1 et al.), including administrative law judges who may conduct adjudicatory proceedings. The board shall make all final decisions in such adjudicatory proceedings.

L.2009, c.60, s.3.