a. No person shall own or operate a leaf composting facility located on agricultural or horticultural land, or on lands owned or operated by a recognized academic institution, unless that person shall have obtained authorization or approval thereof from the Department of Environmental Protection.
b. To be eligible for authorization pursuant to this act, the proposed leaf composting facility shall be located on land which qualifies for differential property tax assessment pursuant to the "Farmland Assessment Act of 1964," P.L.1964, c.48 (C.54:4-23.1 et seq.), or on lands owned or operated by a recognized academic institution as defined in section 2 of P.L.1987, c.102 (C.13:1E-99.12).