Parks Regulations

Park Regulations below reference multiple ordinances listed under the County of Union’s Administrative Code.

Bicycles, Scooters, Recreational Vehicles and Snowmobiles

Bicycles

1. Registration requirement. No person shall operate a bicycle upon any property owned or otherwise under the control of the County of Union unless such bicycle has first been registered with the municipality wherein the owner resides, as evidenced by a registration certificate, license plate, or decal from that municipality.
2. Renting and hiring business. No person in the business of renting bicycles for hire on property owned or otherwise under the control of the County of Union shall rent or offer for rent any bicycle which has not been registered and which does not have attached thereto a valid license plate, pursuant to the Ordinances of the municipality in which the person resides, or the municipality in which the person’s business is located.
3. Periodic inspections. All bicycles which are operated on property owned or otherwise under the control of the County of Union shall be subject to inspection at anytime to ascertain whether the bicycle:
   1. is properly registered in the owner’s municipality;
   2. has the proper license plate attached in a conspicuous location;
   3. is in proper mechanical condition to be operated safely; or
   4. has an altered, mutilated, or destroyed serial number on its frame.
4. Impounding of altered or mutilated serial numbers. In the event that a bicycle has an altered, mutilated, or destroyed serial number (except if altered by a municipal police department), or if the bicycle does not conform to any of the above requirements, the Union County Police may impound and confiscate said bicycle, and any expenses involved in the impoundment or storage of said bicycle shall be borne by the owner.
5. Redemption of confiscated bicycles. The owner of any confiscated or impounded bicycle may redeem said bicycle provided that the necessary requirements listed above have been fulfilled and ownership has been proven.
6. Hindering or impeding pedestrian or vehicular traffic. No operator of a bicycle shall leave a bicycle laying, or standing upon any sidewalk, footpath, footbridge, roadway, bridle path or any other public land or in any building owned by the County of Union which land is commonly used for pedestrian or vehicular traffic, in such a manner as to hinder or impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
7. Operation in designated areas. No person shall operate a bicycle on a roadway, except as a thoroughfare, and no person shall operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk, footpath, footbridge, or bridle path, except those that are specifically set aside and marked for bicycle use.  No person shall operate a bicycle in such a manner as to impede vehicular traffic.
8. Use on roadways; bicycle paths. Every person operating a bicycle on a roadway shall ride in the direction of traffic flow as near to the side of the roadway as practicable and persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride no more than two abreast.  When a usable path for bicycles has been provided, bicyclists shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.
9. Additional regulations; postings. The County Manager, through the Director of the Department of Public Safety, is hereby empowered to make such further rules and regulations pertaining to the safe operation of bicycles, as he may deem necessary, provided that they are not in conflict with any Ordinances or State law. Any rules so promulgated shall be conspicuously posted.

Scooters

1. Helmet required.  No person shall operate or ride on a scooter unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet which meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z90.4 bicycle helmet standard) or the Snell Memorial Foundation’s 1990 Standard for protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling.
2. Applicability.  This requirement shall apply at all times while a scooter is operated on any County property, open to the public or used by the public for pedestrian and/or vehicular purposes.

Recreational Vehicles

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or allow, permit or suffer another to operate a motor vehicle or recreational motor vehicle on any sidewalk, footpath, footbridge, bridle path, bicycle path, lawn, wooded area, park, playground or any other property, owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union, except that the operation of a motorized bicycle, shall be permitted while being operated on the public roadway or highway and only if in compliance with all the requirements of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey.

Snowmobiles

No person or persons shall operate a snowmobile on any property owned, leased or otherwise maintained by the County of Union, except a police officer actually on duty, other on-duty emergency personnel, and those persons directly involved with the repair and maintenance of any snowmobiles owned by the County of Union.

The Union County Police may impound and confiscate any such snowmobiles operated on county property and remove it to a suitable storage place, and any expenses involved in the impoundment or storage thereof shall be borne by the owner.

Disorderly Conduct (Article VI)

Abandonment of Vehicles

1. Abandonment or junked vehicles unlawful. No person shall cause, allow or permit a motor vehicle to be abandoned or junked on any property owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.
2. Presumption of abandonment. A motor vehicle that has remained on County property without consent for a period of more than 48 hours, or for any period without current license plates, shall be presumed to be an abandoned motor vehicle.

Aviation

1. Flying apparatus with or without motorized power restricted. No person, except in an emergency, or except pursuant to a permit granted by the County Manager, through the Director of the Department of Public Safety, shall bring, land, or cause to descend or alight within or upon the parks, recreational facilities, or other property owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union, any airplane, helicopter, hot-air balloon, parachute, or other apparatus whether with or without motorized power used in aviation.
2. Nonapplicability. The above Section shall not apply to the flying of kites, or model airplanes, when flown in areas designated for said use by the Director of Parks and Recreation.

Barricades

1. A. Interference with barricades prohibited. No person shall fail to observe, remove or change any safety barricade, sign, or other road marking indicating that a road, drive or parkway is closed or otherwise restricted as to traffic.
2. Barricading roads, drives or parkways prohibited. No person shall, without permission, except in the event of immediate emergency, barricade, close, or place any sign or marker on any road, drive or parkway indicating that said road, drive or parkway is closed or otherwise restricted as to traffic, nor shall any person place broken glass, nails, tacks or other substance upon any road, parkway, path, bridle path, or other recreational facility so as to render it dangerous or hazardous.

Climbing

No person shall climb or scale any cliff or escarpment or the exterior of any building owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.

Defacing County Property

1. Willful destruction. No person shall willfully mark, disfigure, tamper with, or deface any building, bridge, table, bench, fireplace, railing, sign, monument or plaque, stake, or other boundary marker, or any other structure or equipment owned, maintained or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.
2. Removing or destroying natural resources or beauty. No person shall dig or remove any soil, rock, stones, trees, shrubs, grass, plants or artifacts, nor shall any person cut timber or other wood or make any excavation or in any other way remove, injure, impair or destroy the natural or cultural resources or impair the natural beauty, usefulness, or historic integrity of any area located in the parks or facilities maintained by the County of Union.
3. Public utility construction restricted. No person shall construct or erect any building or structure of any kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, or run or string any public service utility into, upon or across such lands, except on special written permit issued by the County Manager, through the Director of the Department of Engineering and Public Works, on any property owned, or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.
4. Sanitary facilities. No person using the rest room or wash room facilities owned, or maintained by the County of Union shall fail to cooperate in maintaining said rest room or wash room in a neat and sanitary condition.

Explosives and Firearms

1. Possession or control of destructive devices or explosives. No person shall bring into or have in his possession or control while on any property or in any park or recreational facility owned or under the control of the County of Union any “destructive device” or “explosive” as defined by J.S.A. 2C:39-1 et seq. Violations of this section shall be prosecuted in accordance with Title 2C, Chapter 39 (“Firearms, Other Dangerous Weapons and Instruments of Crime”) or Title 21, Chapter 1A (The “Explosives Act”) of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey.
2. Possession of weapons or firearms. No person shall carry or have in his possession, while on any property owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union, any weapon or firearm in which or upon which loaded or blank cartridges may be used, except when authorized by law, or when travelling directly to or from any shooting range maintained by the County of Union. Violations of this section shall be prosecuted in accordance with Title 2C, Chapter 39 (“Firearms, Other Dangerous Weapons and Instruments of Crime”).
3. Discharge of firearms unlawful. It shall be unlawful to discharge any firearm on any property owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union, except as authorized by law, and except for those obtaining permits to discharge firearms at a shooting range maintained by the County of Union.  Notwithstanding the above provisions, it shall be lawful to utilize a starter’s blank gun in County-authorized sporting events.
4. Fireworks. No person shall bring into or have in his possession while on any property, or in any park or recreational facility owned or under the control of the County of Union any fireworks. However, An organized display of fireworks shall be permitted provided that the sponsor shall have first obtained a permit from the County Manager, through the Parks and Recreation, and provided further that the sponsor shall comply with all the requirements of Title 21 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey.
5. Paintball Guns. It shall be unlawful for any person to bring into or have in his possession while on any property, or in any park or recreational facility owned or under the control of the County of Union, a paintball gun, paintball markers, paintball grenades or any other “fire-arm type” device/weapon that is capable of releasing a non-traditional bullet such as a paintball, BB, or pellet by any means including gas, air or spring-loaded. A violation of this subsection shall, upon conviction, result in a fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200.00).
6. Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be a violation to possess or discharge any of the aforementioned devices at a County-approved event and in a County-approved and designated area.

Littering

1. Deposit in County-owned property. No person shall throw or deposit or permit any servant, agent or employee to throw or deposit any litter or beverage containers upon any street, roadway, park, playground or other facility owned or controlled by the County of Union except in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles for collection.
2. Deposits in receptacles. Persons placing litter or beverage containers in public receptacles or in authorized private receptacles shall do so in a manner so as to prevent it from being carried or deposited by the elements upon any street, roadway, park, playground or other facility owned or controlled by the County of Union.
3. Deposits of refuse as litter brought onto County property. No person shall deposit in any county refuse container any garbage or garden litter that he has brought onto county property for the purpose of depositing in county refuse containers, whether said garbage or garden litter is bagged or not.
4. Deposits in sewers, fountains and other County facilities. No person shall throw or deposit any litter or beverage containers in any sewer, fountain, pond, lake, stream or other body of water on property owned, maintained or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.
5. Use of trucks and vehicles on County property. No person shall drive or remove any truck or other vehicle within property owned, or maintained by the County of Union unless such vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent any load or contents of litter from being blown or deposited upon any roadway, park, playground or other facility owned or controlled by the County of Union.
6. Littering from aircraft. No person while in an aircraft shall throw out, drop, or deposit upon land or facilities owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of the County of Union any litter, handbill or other object.
7. Littering from motor vehicles. No person while a driver or passenger in a motor vehicle shall throw or deposit any litter or other object upon any property owned, or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.
8. Dumping on County property; penalty.
   1.  No person shall deposit or dump truck-loads or bagfuls of grass clippings, tree clippings, leaves, or other debris upon any roadway, park, playground or other facility owned or under the control of the County of Union, nor shall any person bring garbage from their home to be deposited in County refuse containers. Nor shall any person, corporation, partnership or association, permit any of its agents, servants and/or employees, to deposit or dump truck-loads or bagfuls of grass clippings, tree clippings, leaves or other debris upon any roadway, park, playground or other facility owned or under the control of the County of Union.
   2. Any person who is found guilty of violating any of the provisions of subsection (1) above, shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for the first offense, and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the second and each subsequent offense thereafter, and shall further be subject to pay the costs of removing or cleaning said debris or litter from County property. The Director of Park Planning and Maintenance shall, upon request of the Municipal Court having jurisdiction over the territory wherein the violation shall have occurred, certify in writing the said costs of removal or cleaning.

Loitering

1. Orders to leave by a Union County Police officer. In order to ensure safety or preserve the public peace, a person may be ordered to leave a location either on or near any property owned or controlled by the County of Union whenever any Union County Police officer, in the exercise of reasonable judgment, decides that the presence of such person is causing or likely to cause a violation of sub-sections (b) or (c) of this section. Any person who refuses to leave after being ordered to do so by a police officer shall be guilty of a violation of this section.
2. Causing excessive noise or disorder. No person shall cause excessive noise or disorder so as to interfere with the sleep or peace and quiet of any person or neighborhood.
3. Remaining in vehicles at certain hours restricted. No person shall, except where specifically permitted by the Traffic Ordinance of the County of Union, between one (1) hour after sunset and 11:00 p.m., remain in any unlighted vehicle or otherwise at any place, or between 11:00 p.m. and sunrise or, except in emergency, cause or permit any vehicle, during any part of the period between one (1) hour after sunset and one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise, to remain standing for a longer period than thirty (30) minutes except when its occupants are attending a gathering or function held pursuant to a permit.

Pedestrians

1. Conduct of pedestrians. No pedestrian shall walk or run in a roadway in a manner so as to impede the flow of traffic. Every pedestrian shall walk or run in single file as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable. When a recreational path has been provided for pedestrians, they shall use said path and shall not use the roadway.
2. Roller skates or skateboards. No person shall roller skate or skateboard on the roadway or in any parking lot owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.

Posting Bills and Soliciting

1. Distribution. No person shall hand out or distribute or sell any commercial handbill on any land owned, leased, maintained or otherwise under the control of the County of Union; however, it shall not be deemed unlawful for any person to hand out or distribute, without charge, to the receiver thereof, any non commercial handbill to any person willing to accept it.
2. Deposits. No person shall throw or deposit any handbill, circular or advertisement in or upon any vehicle within the confines of property owned, maintained or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.  It shall not be unlawful for a person to hand out or distribute without charge to the receiver thereof, a non-commercial handbill to any occupant in a vehicle who is willing to accept it.
3. Posting or affixing. No person shall post or affix any notice, poster, or other paper or device, calculated to attract the attention of the public, to any lamppost, public utility pole, tree, or on any public structure or building owned, leased, maintained or otherwise under the control of the County of Union except as may be authorized or required by law or except pursuant to a permit issued by the County Manager or his designee.
4. Soliciting alms. No person shall solicit alms or contribution for any purpose while on property owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union.
5. Commercial ventures. No person, corporation, partnership or association, charitable or otherwise shall engage in any business or commercial venture or transaction whether or not for profit, on any property owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union without first having obtained a permit from the County Manager.

Recreational Activities

1. Skating and walking on ice. No person shall skate, sled, walk or go upon any ice, except at such times and upon such places as may be designated therefor, and until such ice is declared by, or under the authority of the County of Union to be in a safe condition therefor.
2. Use of ice deemed to be unsafe. It shall be unlawful for any person to walk, run, or skate on ice which has been deemed to be unsafe by the Parks and Recreation which ice shall be properly marked in a conspicuous manner.
3. Bathing, swimming or wading. No person shall bathe, wade, or swim in any park waters except at such times and in such places as designated by the Parks and Recreation, and unless covered with an appropriate bathing suit so as to prevent indecent exposure.
4. Coasting, sledding or tobogganing. No person shall coast with sleds, toboggans, or other vehicles whether with or without runners or wheels, except at such places as may be designated therefor.
5. Playing of games in designated areas. No person shall throw, catch, kick or strike any baseball, golf ball, football, basketball, or other object except in places designated therefore.

Trespassing

1. Trespassing unlawful. No person shall remain without permission in any building or upon any land or recreational facility owned, leased or otherwise under the control of the County of Union after said building, land or recreational facility is closed.
2. Admission fees. Whenever the County of Union has imposed a fee or charge for the admission into or the use of any of its facilities, no person shall fail to pay the fee or charge.  Any person at any facility wherein a fee is charged shall, upon request of any County employee or official, provide proof of payment of said fee, and upon failure to provide proof of payment of said fee shall be deemed to be a trespasser subject to immediate removal from county property.

Washing or Repairing Motor Vehicles

No person shall wash or repair a motor vehicle in the park system or on other any property which is owned, leased, maintained or otherwise under the control of the County of Union, except for such repairs as are reasonable and necessary to repair a specific defect which has caused the vehicle to become immobilized and which will remove such impediment to permit removal of said vehicle.

Tree Protection (Article VII)

Findings & Establishment of Ordinance

1. There is hereby established the County of Union Tree Protection Ordinance.
2. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders (“the Board”) recognizes the numerous ways in which trees throughout Union County provide an essential benefit to the residents of Union County.  Some examples of the benefits provided by trees include producing oxygen, cleaning our air, providing shade, protecting our streams and rivers, reducing soil erosion, and conserving energy resources.  The Board is committed to sustaining the amount of tree cover on lands owned or maintained by the County of Union and ensuring their continued vitality.  The Board desires to continue the maintenance of County trees in a healthy and safe condition through good forestry and arboriculture practices.  This ordinance establishes policies, regulations, and standards necessary to ensure that the residents of the County of Union will continue to realize the benefits provided by our trees.

Definitions

For purposes of this ordinance, the following terms and phrases shall have the following meaning:

1. “Abuse” shall mean the physical destruction or damage of any County-owned tree.
2. “Compaction” shall mean the packing down of soil by means of stockpiling of debris within the root zone of any county-owned tree or shrub or passing over, or parking within, the root zone of any County-owned tree or shrub with heavy equipment, trucks or automobiles. Compaction of soil in the root zone of a tree or shrub causes suffocation.
3. “County-owned tree” shall mean any tree growing in whole or in part on property owned or maintained by the County of Union.
4. “Destruction” shall mean the rendering of any County-owned tree useless or ineffective. This definition shall also include the felling of any tree.
5. “Drip Line” shall mean that area surrounding the tree or shrub to which the outer most leaves of the tree or shrub extend.
6. “Grading”, “Trenching” or “Compacting the Root Zone” shall mean the damaging of the soil near any tree, such that the root structure or health of the tree may be negatively affected.
7. “Mutilation” shall mean cutting off or destroying an essential part of a tree, such as a limb or the rendering of any tree imperfect by cutting up or altering any part of it.
8. “Person” shall mean the masculine or feminine or plural and may include a partnership, firm, corporation, or other legal entity as circumstances dictate.
9. “Root Zone” shall mean that part of the plant that is below the soil and the area surrounding it. Typically, the root zone is the area from the plants trunk out to the drip line of the plant.
10. “Shrub” shall mean any woody plant with a caliper of less than one inch (1”).
11. “Suffocation” shall mean the deprivation of essential oxygen to the roots of trees.
12. “Tree” shall mean any woody plant with a caliper of one inch (1”) or greater.
13. “Trimming” shall mean the removing of any leaves or branches by cutting or breaking.

Ownership and Control of Trees on County Property 

The County of Union shall have exclusive control over all trees, shrubs, and other plantings now or hereafter located on any property owned or maintained by the County, including but not limited to, all parks, reservations, golf courses, and other recreational or conservation areas.  The County maintains the exclusive right and power to plant, care for, maintain, remove, and replace such trees, shrubs, and other plantings as necessary in accordance with good forestry and arboriculture practices.

Violations

The following acts shall be considered a violation of this ordinance and subject to the penalties provided herein:

1. The abuse, destruction, mutilation, cutting, or trimming of any County-owned tree or shrub; or
2. The removal of any tree from County property; or
3. Attaching any rope, wire, signs, posters or any similar objects to County-owned trees; or
4. Causing or permitting any substance that is harmful to trees or shrubs to come into contact with its roots, trunk or foliage; or
5. Installing any concrete or pavement over tree or shrub root zones; or
6. Grading, trenching, or compacting within the root zone or drip line of any county-owned tree.

It is a separate violation of this section for an action proscribed above as to each tree or shrub affected.  It is also a separate violation of this section each day that a condition proscribed in section (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f) occurs or continues.

Penalties

A person who violates any provision of this ordinance, for a first offense, shall be fined a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each violation; for a second and subsequent offense shall be fined a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) and/or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding ninety (90) days for each violation.  In lieu of imprisonment, the Court should consider requiring community service related to horticultural restoration and maintenance.  Nothing contained herein shall prevent the County from seeking restitution, in a civil action, for the cost of repair or replacement, as appropriate, for any damaged trees or shrubs.

Enforcement

The County of Union’s Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation is hereby charged with the responsibility for the enforcement of this ordinance and may serve notice to any person in violation thereof; however, such notice shall not be a prerequisite for the issuance of a summons.  The Director will notify the Union County Police Department (“County Police”) of any violation(s), who shall investigate said violation(s).  The County Police is independently authorized to issue any summons for violations of this ordinance, as appropriate.  The County Counsel and/or municipal prosecutors are hereby authorized to prosecute violators in any legal proceedings as may be required.

Severability

Should any part or provision of this ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole or any remaining part thereof.

Supersedes Prior Ordinance

This ordinance is intended to supercede Ordinance 581-2003.

Effective Date

This ordinance shall take effect at the time and in the manner provided by law.

Findings & Establishment of Ordinance

1. Establishment. There is hereby established the County of Union Encroachment Ordinance.
2. Findings. Information obtained from the County of Union Department of Parks and Recreation has indicated an increase in the number of encroachment violations by residents bordering County-owned lands.  The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has made it a priority to maintain the integrity of County-owned lands for the beneficial use of all residents.  The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders has furthermore made it a priority to maintain and preserve County-owned lands in a healthy and environmentally good condition.  This ordinance establishes policies, regulations, and standards necessary to ensure that residents do not encroach upon County-owned lands.

Definitions

For purposes of this ordinance, the following terms and phrases shall have the following meaning:

1. “Encroachment” shall mean either the advancement by any person on to County-owned lands for use other than its intended purpose; or advancement by any person on to County-owned lands to use the County-owned lands as their own; or advancement by any person on to County-owned lands for use other than an appropriate legal purpose. Encroachments range from the obvious, that is, the willing, knowing and improper use of County-owned lands as one’s own. However, it is also intended to encompass the dumping of grass and other vegetative and non-vegetative debris on County-owned lands.
2. “County-owned lands” shall mean any land, in whole or in part, owned or maintained by the County of Union.
3. “Person” shall mean the masculine or feminine or plural and may include a partnership, firm, corporation, or other legal entity as circumstances dictate.

Ownership and Control of All County Property

The County of Union shall have control of all County-owned lands, including but not limited to all parks, reservations, golf courses, and other recreational or conservation areas, and shall have the power to maintain and preserve all County-owned lands in a healthy and environmentally sound manner.

Violations

A person shall not cause, or through others cause, an encroachment of County-owned lands.  An encroachment that continues shall be deemed a new encroachment each day it continues to exist.

Penalties

A person who violates any provision of this ordinance, for a first offense, shall be fined a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00); for a second and subsequent offense shall be fined a sum not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) and/or imprisonment in the county jail for a term not exceeding ninety (90) days.  In lieu of imprisonment, the court should consider requiring community service related to horticultural restoration and maintenance. Nothing contained herein shall deprive the County from seeking restitution, in a civil action, for the cost or repair or replacement, as appropriate, for any damage of County-owned lands.

Enforcement

The County of Union Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Inspections is hereby charged with the responsibility for the enforcement of this ordinance and may serve notice to any person in violation thereof, however, such notice shall not be a prerequisite for an issuance of a summons.  The Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Inspections  may notify the County Police of any violations and the County Police shall investigate said violations.  The County Police is independently authorized to issue any appropriate summonses for violations of this ordinance.  The County Counsel and/or municipal prosecutors are hereby authorized to prosecute any legal proceedings as may be required.

Severability

Should any part or provision of this ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole or any part thereof other than the part held to be invalid.

Supersedes Prior Ordinance

This ordinance is intended to supercede Ordinance No. 580-2003.

Effective Date

This ordinance shall take effect at the time and in the manner provided by law.

Local Supplemental Violations Bureau Schedule (Article IX)

The following Local Supplemental Violations Bureau Schedule for Non-Traffic matters shall be in effect for offenses committed on and after the effective date of this Amendment:

Non-Traffic Section

This ordinance shall take effect at the time and in the manner provided by law.

Hydraulic Fracturing (Article X)

1. Establishment.  There is hereby established an Ordinance prohibiting hydraulic fracturing on County-owned property.
2. Findings.  The Union County Board of Freeholders (“the Board”) recognizes that the exploratory, drilling and extraction operations incident to hydraulic fracturing pose significant risks to public health, safety and welfare, as well as the natural resources of the County of Union.  Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” is a drilling technique which uses vast quantities of water mixed with chemicals and solids pumped into shale formations at high pressure to fracture the shale formations.  As a result, the water, known as wastewater, becomes contaminated with heavy metals that present a risk to the people and property of the County of Union.
3. Definitions.  For purposes of this ordinance, the following terms shall have the following meaning:
   1. “County-owned property” shall mean any property in whole or in part owned, maintained, or controlled by the County of Union.
   2.   “Hydraulic Fracturing” shall mean the drilling technique of expanding existing fractures or creating new fractures in rock by injecting water, often with chemicals, sand, or other substances, and often under pressure, into or underneath, the surface of the rock for purposes including, but not limited to, well drilling and natural gas exploration and production.  The term “hydraulic fracturing” shall include “fracking,” hydrofracking,” “hydrofracturing,” and other cooloquial terms utilized to describe this drilling technique.
   3. “Reconnaissance” shall mean the express definition as codified pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:1M-18(a)(1), (2), (3) and (4).
4. Prohibition Of Hydraulic Fracturing On County-Owned Property. The County of Union, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:1M-18(a), hereby prohibits and bans any and all drilling for natural gas, and exploration of natural gas beyond the reconnaissance phase, on any and all County-owned property.
5. Severability. Should any part or provision of this ordinance be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole or any remaining part thereof.
6. Effective Date. This ordinance shall take effect upon the approval or acquiescence of the Department of Environmental Protection as expressly provided for pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:1M-18(b).