The Consumer and Environmental Health Services in the Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health of the Department of Health and Senior Services (Department) is proposing new rules at N.J.A.C. 8:50, Standards for Indoor Environment Certification and for Licensure of Indoor Environmental Consultants.  The proposed new rules appear in the November 3, 2008, issue of the New Jersey Register.

The proposed new rules at N.J.A.C. 8:50 would implement P.L. 2007, c.1, approved January 11, 2007, “An Act concerning contaminated property, supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, and amending and supplementing P.L. 1983, c.330” (Act).  The Act requires the Department to adopt safety and health standards for the interior of buildings to be used as child care centers or educational facilities as defined by the Act.  The proposed new rules would fulfill this requirement.

Subchapter 1 would establish General Provisions.  Subchapter 2 would establish standards, procedures, and application fees for Department licensure of indoor environmental consultants, that is, business entities that would conduct indoor environmental health assessments of existing and proposed child care centers and/or educational facilities.  Subchapter 3 would establish standards for evaluation and assessment of buildings and leased spaces for use as child care centers and/or educational facilities.  Subchapter 4 would establish procedures for determination of maximum contaminant levels and issuance of certification of safe building interior.  Subchapter 5 would establish standards for compliance and enforcement.

The Department will convene a public hearing on the proposed new rules on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. at the Health and Agriculture Building, First Floor Board Room, 369 S. Warren Street (at Market Street), Trenton, NJ 08608.  Persons wishing to comment on the proposal at the public hearing who wish to be placed on the list of speakers are requested to telephone Ms. Stark at (609) 984-0439 by Wednesday, December 10, 2008, and to bring an extra written copy of their remarks for submission to the public record.

The public has until January 2, 2009, to comment on the notice of proposal.  Persons wishing to comment on the proposal must submit written comments by regular mail, to Ruth Charbonneau, Director, Office of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Office of the Commissioner, Department of Health and Senior Services, PO Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360, postmarked on or before January 2, 2009, which is the close of the 60-day public comment period.  The Department will not accept telefacsimiles or electronic mail as official comments on the proposals.

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