9. a. No later than June 30, 2008, the department shall designate an independent research review panel consisting of economists, business managers, nonprofit environmental organization representatives, and public officials, and scientists from academia, industry and the government, to review the recommendations and evaluations submitted by the department and any other State agencies, as appropriate, in the reports required pursuant to section 6 of this act.

b. The independent research review panel shall review the recommendations and evaluations of the department and any other State agencies, as appropriate, and shall, within 12 months of the date of transmittal of the reports required pursuant to section 6 of this act, prepare and transmit a report evaluating the ecological, economic and social impact of the proposed recommendations submitted by the department and any other State agencies, as appropriate, to the Governor, to the State Treasurer, to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C. 52:14-19.1) and to the members of the Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.

c. This section shall not be construed to affect the requirements of the greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and reporting program or the department’s administration of the program established pursuant to this act.

L.2007, c.112, s.9.