Whenever any county improvement authority chooses to exercise the powers granted by P.L. 1973, c.330 (C.40:37A-100 et al.) with respect to the selection of a site location or locations for any facility of its garbage and solid waste disposal system, it shall so inform the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and shall make or cause to be made, after consultation with the commissioner, such preliminary surveys, investigations, studies, borings, maps, plans, drawings and estimates of costs and revenues relating to the type and location of such garbage and solid waste disposal facilities, or any part thereof, which the authority may deem necessary to purchase or construct in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the county or any beneficiary county. In addition, the authority may make or cause to be made a study and a map of all existing garbage and solid waste disposal treatment and disposal facilities proposed for or already operating in the county or any beneficiary county. The undertaking of all such studies and surveys and the provision of the necessary maps, sketches, data and plans in connection therewith, shall be deemed a county purpose and the costs thereof may be paid out of general funds of the county or beneficiary county; but all such costs shall be reimbursed to the county or any beneficiary county by the county improvement authority.
N.J.S. § 40:37A-101