a. Within 30 days of receipt of the hearing report submitted by a contracting unit pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of section 27 of this amendatory and supplementary act, the department shall approve or conditionally approve the proposed contract submitted for review by the contracting unit pursuant to the provisions of this amendatory and supplementary act. The department shall approve the proposed contract if it finds that the terms of the proposed contract are consistent with the district solid waste management plan adopted pursuant to the provisions of the “Solid Waste Management Act,” P.L. 1970, c. 39 (C. 13:1E-1 et seq.) by the solid waste district to be served under the terms of the proposed contract. If the department conditionally approves the proposed contract, it shall state in writing the revisions which must be made to the proposed contract to receive approval, and the contracting unit may prepare and submit to the department a revised proposed contract. If the department determines that the revisions are substantial, the contracting unit shall hold a public hearing on the revisions pursuant to the provisions of section 26 and section 27 of this amendatory and supplementary act. In the alternative, the district solid waste management plan may be amended pursuant to law so as to be consistent with the terms of the proposed contract.

b. Within 30 days of receipt of the hearing report submitted by a contracting unit pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of section 27 of this amendatory and supplementary act, the Division of Local Government Services shall approve or conditionally approve the proposed contract submitted by the contracting unit pursuant to the provisions of this amendatory and supplementary act. The division shall approve the proposed contract if it finds in writing that the terms of the proposed contract are in compliance with the provisions of section 29 of this amendatory and supplementary act, and that the terms of the proposed contract will result in the provision of services or facilities necessary for the health, safety, welfare, convenience or betterment of the recipients or users of these services or facilities, that the terms and provisions of the proposed contract are not unreasonable, exorbitant or impracticable, would not impose an undue and unnecessary financial burden on the citizens residing in or served by the contracting unit, and will not materially impair the ability of the contracting unit to punctually pay the principal and interest on its outstanding indebtedness and to supply other essential public improvements and services, except that the division, in its review of the proposed contract, shall be bound by any applicable findings or determinations of the Local Finance Board made pursuant to the provisions of subsection d. of N.J.S. 40A:2-7 or section 7 of P.L. 1983, c. 313 (C. 40A:5A-7). If the division conditionally approves the proposed contract, it shall state in writing the revisions which must be made to the proposed contract to receive approval, and the contracting unit may prepare and submit to the division a revised proposed contract. If the division determines that revisions are substantial, the contracting unit shall hold a public hearing on the revisions pursuant to the provisions of section 26 and section 27 of this amendatory and supplementary act. c. Within 30 days of receipt of the hearing report submitted by a contracting unit pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of section 27 of this amendatory and supplementary act, the Board of Public Utilities shall approve or conditionally approve the proposed contract submitted by the contracting unit pursuant to the provisions of this amendatory and supplementary act. The board shall approve the proposed contract if it finds in writing that the terms of the proposed contract are in the public interest. If the board conditionally approves the proposed contract it shall state in writing the revisions which must be made to the proposed contract to receive approval, and the contracting unit may prepare and submit to the board a revised proposed contract. If the board determines that the revisions are substantial, the contracting unit shall hold a public hearing on the revisions pursuant to the provisions of section 26 and section 27 of this amendatory and supplementary act. In reviewing and approving the contract, the Board of Public Utilities shall not determine a rate base for, or otherwise regulate the tariffs or return of, the proposed resource recovery facility. The board shall not, thereafter, conduct any further review of the contract.

d. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection c. of this section, all parties to any contract may request the board to determine a rate base for the proposed resource recovery facility, in which case the board may make that determination and the terms of any contract so approved shall remain subject to the continuing jurisdiction of the board.

L. 1985, c. 38, s. 28, eff. Feb. 4, 1985.