AIR QUALITY PERMITTING ELEMENT

Bureau of Air Permits

The Bureau of Air Permits (BAP) is responsible for the regulation of stationary sources of Air Pollution in the State of New Jersey. The primary function of the Bureau is to review Air Quality Permit Applications submitted for evaluation and approval. The Bureau is staffed with graduate environmental engineers and scientists, who are familiar with state and federal regulations for protecting air quality, processes which produce air pollution.  Staff evaluates the types and amount of emissions from these processes, devices to control and reduce such emissions and testing and monitoring methods to verify that emissions do not exceed air quality standards.  The Bureau consists of two operational sections, the Operating Permit Section and the Preconstruction Permit Section.  

• The Operating Permits Section

The Operating Permits Section (OPS) implements the federally mandated operating permit program for major facilities.  Over 300 of the largest emitting facilities in New Jersey are required to have air pollution control operating permits. Over 25,000 significant source operations are included in these permits.  These facility wide permits contain all the relevant information for the existing significant source operations at the facility.  Facility specific requirements are developed for each source or source category.  They include all the applicable requirements, related monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for the facility.  The facilities must annually certify compliance with the applicable requirements.  OPS processes initial operating permit applications, modification applications, and five-year renewals of these permits and works closely with the Enforcement Program, and uses the permits to audit compliance.  OPS assesses major facility emissions fees, which are used to fund the major facility regulation program

• The Preconstruction Permits Section

Bureau of Technical Services

The Bureau of Technical Services (BTS) has two operational units.  The Emission Measurement Section (EMS), located in a field office, oversees the testing of stationary source emissions in NJ.  Testing is done in two principle ways.  Periodic testing involves consultant firms taking discrete samples (once per quarter to once per lifetime) to determine the amount of air contaminants being emitted.  Continuous emission monitoring is conducted by having the analytical and recording equipment on the stacks, continuously obtaining emissions concentration information.  This group evaluates test protocols, observes testing, and reviews test reports to ensure the data submitted to the Department is valid.  They work closely with the permitting sections by providing technical analytical advice and also with the enforcement program by interpreting the data from testing.  Test data is also used for planning and rulemaking.

The other section, Air Quality Evaluation (AQE), uses computer models, stack emission limits, air monitoring data, and meteorological data to predict ground level concentrations of air contaminants from sources (mostly new and some existing sources).  The group also evaluates air quality modeling submitted by consultants as part of major permit applications for new and modified sources.  These assessments are used to insure the public is protected from increased long term cancer risk and acute health risks from air toxics.  The predicted ambient concentrations for federal criteria air containments are compared to National Ambient Air Quality Standards to insure no violations would occur.  They work closely with the two permit sections on determining the acceptability of proposed new and modified sources, as well as enforcement and other DEP programs on determining the air quality effects of sources in NJ.  Additionally, they coordinate the DAQ’s air toxics regulatory activities and maintain the inventory of air toxics emissions.

AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT ELEMENT

Bureau of Air Monitoring

The Bureau of Air Monitoring (BAM) is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the State’s ambient air monitoring network for federal criteria air containments and some air toxics.  The primary use of the data from the network is to determine the levels of air pollution to which the public is being exposed, and to notify the public when unhealthy conditions exist.  Data is provided to news outlets and is also available at www.nj.gov/dep/airmon/index.html.  Data are also used to assess the need for, and the effectiveness of, air pollution control strategies. Air quality data is the basis for determining which areas of the state are in compliance with national and state ambient air quality standards and for determining overall trends in air pollution levels.

Bureau of Air Quality Planning

The Bureau of Air Quality Planning (BAQP) is responsible for developing air quality management plans to reduce air pollution in New Jersey to acceptable levels and to maintain air pollution levels below those levels.  The federal Clean Air Act requires the states in which the ambient air quality does not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs).  The entire State is designed nonattainment for ozone and thirteen (13) counties for the annual Fine Particulate NAAQS.  Also, this group develops the plan for improving visibility at the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge.  Emission Statements from about 600 facilities are collected and reviewed by the Bureau.  This data is used for planning and for the emission fee for the major facilities in the Operating Permit program.  BAQP also reviews plans for federally funded projects, including roads and other major projects, to ensure conformity with New Jersey’s air quality plans.

Bureau of Mobile Sources

Mobile sources are the largest source of air pollution in the State. The Bureau of Mobile Sources develops programs and implements strategies to reduce emissions of criteria pollutants and air toxics from mobile sources (on-road and non-road) operating in the State.

Strategies to reduce emissions from gasoline vehicles include the Gasoline Inspection and Maintenance Program; and the Low Emission Vehicle Program. These programs ensure that clean vehicles are delivered for sale in the State and all vehicles operating in the state are well maintained, thereby emitting at the lowest levels possible.

Diesel exhaust is the number one air toxic in the State in terms of cancer risk. The Bureau of Mobile Sources coordinates the NJDEP’s efforts to reduce that risk through a combination of local, state, regional and national initiatives and strategies including: implementing the mandatory retrofit program which requires certain diesel vehicles be retrofitted to reduce tailpipe emissions; reducing emissions from idling, diesel construction equipment and goods movement activities at the States' ports; and implementing a Diesel Inspection and Maintenance Program which ensures that heavy duty and light duty diesel vehicles are well maintained and emitting at acceptable levels.