9. a. The department and the Office of the Attorney General may not take any enforcement action pursuant to section 12 of P.L.1986, c.102 (C. 58:10A-32) against the owner or operator of a regulated tank for failure to upgrade or close a regulated tank or for failure to maintain evidence of financial responsibility pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1986, c.102 (C. 58:10A-25), if the owner or operator, (1) has submitted an application for financial assistance from the fund prior to the date upon which the upgrade or closure is required by law to be completed, (2) the authority has not yet acted on the application as of that date, (3) the owner or operator agrees to enter into a consent agreement or a memorandum of agreement with the department to comply with the upgrade, closure, remediation, and financial responsibility requirements, (4) the owner or operator complies with the provisions of the consent agreement or the memorandum of agreement, and (5) the owner or operator maintains an acceptable method of release detection for the regulated tanks that are the subject of the application for financial assistance as required pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1986, c.102 (C. 58:10-25).

b. The provisions of subsection a. of this section shall not apply upon the denial of an application for financial assistance or in the case of a knowing discharge that may result in a serious threat to the public health or the environment. The department shall make an annual report to the Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Agriculture and Waste Management Committee or their successors listing any enforcement actions taken against an owner or operator of a regulated tank who meets the requirements of subsection a. of this section. The report shall list the name of the violator, the specific statute or regulation alleged to have been violated, the status of the case at the time of the report, and the penalty imposed.

L.1997,c.235,s.9.