N.J. Stat. tit. 48, ch. 10

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-1 Power to condemn; state water policy commission unaffected

Pipe line companies, associations and corporations may acquire by condemnation land and other property necessary for public use for right of way in the manner prescribed by chapter 1 of the title Eminent Domain (s. 20:1-1 et seq.). Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or affect the power or jurisdiction of the state water policy commission.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-1.1 Power to condemn; department of conservation and economic development unaffected

Pipe line utilities may exercise the power of eminent domain as provided in sections 48 and 49 hereof in taking land and other property necessary for public use for right-of-way. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or affect the power or jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Economic Development. L.1962, c. 198, s. 53.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-2 Title

The short title of this act shall be the Natural Gas Safety Act. L.1952, c. 166, p. 540, s. 1, eff. May 9, 1952.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-3 Definitions

(a) "Board" shall mean the Board of Public Utility Commissioners of New Jersey. (b) "Natural gas pipeline utility" shall mean any individual, co-partnership, association, corporation, or joint stock company, their lessees, trustees or receivers appointed by any court whatsoever, that now or hereafter may own, operate, manage, or control any pipeline used for the transmission of natural gas within or through this State, but shall not include any individual, co-partnership, association, corporation, or joint stock company which, within this State, is engaged in the business of manufacturing, buying, or selling manufactured, mixed, or natural gas or a mixture of such gases with other gases and distributing the same to consumers within this State. (c) "Pipeline" shall include compressor plants and other facilities integrated with pipeline operations. L.1952, c. 166, p. 540, s. 2, eff. May 9, 1952.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-4 Supervision and regulation

The board shall have general supervision and regulation of, and jurisdiction and control over natural gas pipeline utilities as herein defined and their property, equipment, and facilities so far as may be necessary for the protection of life, health, and property of the citizens of this State. L.1952, c. 166, p. 541, s. 3, eff. May 9, 1952.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-5 Board to prescribe rules, regulations; promulgate orders

The board, after hearing, upon notice, may prescribe reasonable rules and regulations for the safe construction, operation and maintenance by natural gas pipeline utilities of pipelines for the transmission of natural gas within or through the State of New Jersey, and may, after hearing, upon notice, promulgate reasonable orders requiring compliance with such rules and regulations; provided, however, such rules, regulations, and orders shall not be inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of the Federal Natural Gas Act, as amended, or any rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder. L.1952, c. 166, p. 541, s. 4, eff. May 9, 1952.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-6 Factors to be considered

In determining reasonable rules and regulations, the board shall consider, among others, such factors as the economic necessity and desirability of natural gas service, the effect of such rules and regulations on the cost of natural gas service, the preservation of tangible and intangible property values, private and public, the possibility of injury to persons or property from fire or explosion, the possibility of a public disaster in an area of dense population, the possibility of interruption of other essential public utility services, whether such pipelines should be predominantly above or below the surface of the ground, and the operating safety record of pipelines already constructed and operating in New Jersey. L.1952, c. 166, p. 541, s. 5, eff. May 9, 1952.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-7 General powers

In carrying out the provisions of this act, the board shall have all powers now vested in it by Title 48 of the Revised Statutes, including, among others, the power to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant documents, books, papers and records, and the power to prescribe forms of reports necessary and proper in the administration and enforcement of this act. L.1952, c. 166, p. 541, s. 6, eff. May 9, 1952.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-8 Enforcement of orders

Enforcement of orders of the board duly promulgated under this act shall be as provided in Title 48 of the Revised Statutes. L.1952, c. 166, p. 542, s. 7, eff. May 9, 1952.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-9 Separability of provisions

If any provision of this act or the application of such provision to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of the act and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. L.1952, c. 166, p. 542, s. 8, eff. May 9, 1952.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-10 Report of specifications for natural gas pipeline subject to pressure of over 125 pounds per square inch; filing of maps; objections

At least 30 days prior to the construction or major reconstruction of any gas pipeline intended to be subjected to pressure in excess of 125 pounds per square inch in the State of New Jersey, the natural gas pipeline utility, as defined in the act to which this act is a supplement, involved shall file with the Board of Public Utility Commissioners of New Jersey a report setting forth the specifications for such pipeline and for the information of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners shall also file a map showing the general location of the proposed route thereof together with proof that a notice of the filing of such report and map has been sent to the clerk of each municipality through which such pipeline is to be constructed or reconstructed. If the governing body of any municipality in which such work is proposed to be done has objection to any portion of the plans or specifications it shall, within 10 days of receipt of the notice, notify the natural gas pipeline utility, as defined in the act to which this act is a supplement, of its objections and file a copy thereof with the Board of Public Utility Commissioners. L.1963, c. 129, s. 1, eff. July 8, 1963.

N.J. Stat. § 48:10-11 Penalties.

1. a. Any person who violates any provision of the Natural Gas Safety Act, P.L.1952, c.166 (C.48:10-2 et seq.) as amended and supplemented or any order, rule, or regulation issued thereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $200,000 for each violation for each day that the violation persists; however, the maximum civil penalty shall not exceed $2,000,000 for any related series of violations. b. Any civil penalty imposed pursuant to subsection a. of this section may be compromised by the Board of Public Utilities. In determining the amount of the penalty, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the gravity of the violation, and the good faith of the person charged in attempting to achieve compliance, after notification of a violation, shall be considered. The amount of the penalty, when finally determined, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, may be deducted from any sums owing by the State to the person charged or may be recovered in a summary proceeding in accordance with the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The Superior Court and the municipal court shall have jurisdiction to enforce the provisions of P.L.1952, c.166 (C.48:10-2 et seq.). L.1971, c.62; amended 1991, c.91, s.473; 2007, c.118, s.3; 2019, c.4, s.3.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026