48:2-23.1 Assessment, review of conveyances.

4. a. The Board of Public Utilities, in reviewing a request by a public utility to convey land utilized for the purpose of the protection of a public water supply to a corporation or other entity which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the board, shall request the Department of Environmental Protection to review and make recommendations on an assessment, prepared and submitted by the utility, of the impact that the conveyance, and the prospective use or uses of the land conveyed, would have on the water quality of the affected public water supply, and shall require the department to assess the impact of the conveyance on the State's open space, conservation, and recreation requirements. The department, upon receipt of a request by the board for an assessment and a review pursuant to this subsection, shall prepare and submit to the board the assessment and review within 12 months of the request therefor.

b. Any public utility requesting the board to approve a conveyance of land utilized for the purpose of the protection of a public water supply to a corporation or other entity which is not subject to the jurisdiction of the board shall submit to the board a document setting forth a detailed explanation of the prospective use or uses of the land to be conveyed. The board, not later than the 75th day following receipt of this document, may require the public utility to submit any additional information which the board deems appropriate.

c. The board, upon receiving the review and recommendations from the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to the provisions of subsection a. of this section, shall issue an order, in writing, of its decision within 180 days after receiving such review and recommendations; provided, however, that if the board determines that its decision on any such petition cannot be resolved within 180 days due to circumstances beyond the control of the board, the board shall issue an order, in writing, of its decision within 270 days after receiving such petition deemed by the board to be complete for review. L.1988, c.163, s.4; amended 2012, c.64, s.2.