7.6. NEW JERSEY INFORMATION AWARDS PROGRAM

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Under this program, which became effective in 1990, citizens who report illegal dumping to environmental authorities receive the larger of 10% or $250 of any civil penalty collected. Information leading to criminal convictions is rewarded by 50% of the collected penalty. The identity of those seeking rewards is protected.

Four other New Jersey statutes also contain provisions for monetary awards for reporters of violations:

1. Major Hazardous Waste Facilities Siting Act: 50% of any criminal penalty collected for the illegal treatment, storage, or disposal of hazardous waste;

2. Regional Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility Siting Commission: 50% of any penalty collected for the illegal treatment, storage, or disposal of low level radioactive waste;

3. The Comprehensive Regulated Medical Waste Management Act: 10% or $250 of any civil or criminal penalty collected for violations.

4. Ocean Dumping Enforcement Act: 10% of any criminal penalty collected for violations.

This scheme differs from most subsidies and other incentive mechanisms featured in this report in that it seeks to affect behavior by rewarding enforcement. As of May 1996, three penalties had been collected as a result of information provided by citizens. One payment of $50,000 and two of $250, 10% of the penalties, were awarded in these three cases. Other rewards are pending.5959. Toni Hendricksen, New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, personal communication, May 1996.

A similar source of support for environmentalist organizations is attorney's fees awarded in successful citizen suits against environmental violators. As noted in Section 9, attorney's fees awards appear to create stronger incentives for private parties to initiate suits under California's Proposition 65 than the so-called "bounty hunter provision" under which the person who brought the suit can receive 25% of any fines.

Although other state and federal laws include the possibility of rewards for reporting potential environmental violations or initiating suits, it is beyond the scope of this report to determine their extent or their effects on environmental behavior.

7.6. NEW JERSEY INFORMATION AWARDS PROGRAM

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