3. a. The siting of a structure or equipment required for a groundwater remedial action approved by the Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to P.L.1977, c.74 (C. 58:10A-1 et seq.), shall be deemed to be essential to the continuation of an existing structure or use of a property, including a nonconforming use, or to the development of a property, as authorized in the zoning ordinance of a municipality. A groundwater remedial action subject to this section, including any structure or equipment required in connection therewith, shall, therefore, be deemed to be an accessory use or structure to any structure or use authorized by the development regulations of a municipality; shall be a permitted use in all zoning or use districts of a municipality; and shall not require a use variance pursuant to subsection d. of section 57 of P.L.1975, c.291 (C. 40:55D-70).

b. A municipality may, by ordinance, adopt reasonable standards for the siting of a structure or equipment required for a groundwater remedial action subject to subsection a. of this section. The standards may include specification of the duration of time allowed for the removal from a site of all structures or equipment used in the remedial action upon expiration of the term of the discharge permit or completion of the remedial action, whichever shall be sooner. Nothing in this subsection shall be deemed to authorize a municipality to require site plan review by a municipal agency for a groundwater remedial action, but an ordinance establishing siting standards may provide penalties and may authorize the municipality to seek injunctive relief for violations of the ordinance.

As used in this section, “groundwater remedial action” means the removal or abatement of pollutants in groundwater, and includes de-watering activities performed in connection with the removal or replacement of underground storage tanks, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1986, c.102 (C. 58:10A-22), except that as used herein underground storage tanks shall include:

(1) farm underground storage tanks of 1,100 gallons or less capacity used for storing motor fuel for noncommercial purposes;

(2) underground storage tanks used to store heating oil for on-site consumption in a nonresidential building with a capacity of 2,000 gallons or less; and

(3) underground storage tanks used to store heating oil for on-site consumption in a residential building.

L.1993,c.351,s.3.