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WHAT
WE DO
FROM
THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
Welcome
to Environmental Management's web site. Please take a few minutes
to familiarize yourself with the divisions, bureaus, and offices
within Environmental Management. Most importantly, email
your questions and comments to us at: Bryan.Ianni@dep.state.nj.us.
Your feedback is important to me. Let's work together to preserve
our state's valuable natural resources.
Below is a short summary detailing the primary functions of
each Environmental Management program along with links to each
program.
The AIR QUALITY PERMITTING program is responsible for permitting and testing stationary
sources of air pollution - old sources (those already constructed)
and newer facilities - to ensure the facilities do not adversely
affect air quality when operating in your neighborhood or anywhere
in the state.
The AIR TOXICS program
addresses a large group of pollutants known as "Air
Toxics" or "Hazardous Air Pollutants." Since
1979, the DEP has been working to reduce outdoor exposure to
air toxics in our state and adopted a regulation that specifically
addresses air toxics emissions. Since that time, the DEP's
Air
Toxics Program has expanded to include other approaches that
result in the reduction of these emissions.
The AIR QUALITY PLANNING program develops air quality management plans to reduce air
pollution in New Jersey to acceptable levels and/or maintain
air pollution levels below acceptable criteria. Elements of
these plans include: emission inventory development, control
strategy evaluation, coordination with other states, state agencies,
and other regional organizations, and public participation in
the process.
The AIR MONITORING program measures air pollution levels in New Jersey around the
clock and compares them to national health standards. The program
sends updates and forecasts to the wire services and the media,
and also issue advisories when air pollution reaches unhealthful
levels.
The AIR QUALITY
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENT office helps to develop the rules
governing all of the DEP's air programs, including those for
mobile sources (cars, trucks, buses, etc.) as well as stationary
sources (factories, power plants, etc.) of air pollution. The
section also assists in the development of State Implementation
Plan (SIP) submittals, and is responsible for developing certain
air pollution control programs, including emissions trading.
The BUREAU OF MOBILE SOURCES program is responsible for reducing the amount of particulate matter emitted by diesel vehicles by reducing vehicle idling, implementing the mandates of the Mandatory Diesel Retrofit Program, and overseeing the Heavy Duty Diesel inspection and maintenance program.
The MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE program is responsible for implementing the motor vehicle emissions Inspection/Maintenance (I/M) Program and the Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program. The Bureau also assists Air Quality Planning in evaluating potential emission control programs for on-road motor vehicles.
The TECHNICAL SERVICES bureau is responsible for the Emission Measurement Section which oversees and quality assures air quality stack emissions tests and Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) to ensure that the DEP, the regulated community and the public have accurate and reliable air emissions data for the purposes of assessing Permit compliance and for making decisions.
The RADIATION
PROTECTION program is responsible for the oversight
of the state's nuclear plants and operation and the transport
of nuclear materials. Additionally, it administers the state's
radon awareness
program through testing and remediation company certifications.
It is also responsible for the oversight of the state's x-ray
technician training and safety of equipment use. On September 30, 2009, New jersey became the 37th Agreement State with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. On this date, the NJEP assumed regulatory authority for all byproduct, source and special nuclear material not sufficient to form critical mass.
The POLLUTION PREVENTION
and RIGHT to KNOW office encourages pollution prevention of hazardous substances and promotes multi-media environmental management and public awareness. The office oversees the reduction of the use of toxic substances, and tracks the storage, use and release of hazardous substances. They also oversee the Small Business Assistance Program which is a technical and administrative support component within this Bureau. The SBAP has access to air quality experts, technically proficient engineers, scientists and managers, and environmental specialists who will provide support and technical assistance needed by small businesses to comply with DEP requirements.
The TOXIC CATASTROPHE PREVENTION ACT
(TCPA) program in the Bureau of Release Prevention requires owners operators of regulated facilities
to have a DEP approved risk management program if they handle,
use, manufacture, store or have the capability of generating
an extraordinarily hazardous substance at certain specified
quantities. These risk management programs help protect facility
employees and the surrounding communities from accidental releases.
The BUREAU OF RELEASE PREVENTION also oversees Discharge Prevention program. Past releases of petroleum products and other hazardous substances to the environment of New Jersey have resulted in significant harm to public health, property and the natural resources of the State. In recognition of the risks associated with such materials, the New Jersey State Legislature has mandated that facilities storing large quantities of these substances take preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of an incident. Established under the New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11), these requirements include testing and inspection of storage tanks, training of employees, and emergency response planning.
The OFFICE
OF QUALITY ASSURANCE (OQA) establishes the technical standards that laboratories and businesses analyzing environmental samples need to meet for the accurate determination of the quality of New Jersey's air, water, soil and solid/hazardous waste matrices. It administers regulations and policies to assure the quality of analytical data used by the department, industry, local government, municipal authorities and private citizens. OQA also prepares and administers the Quality Management Plan which guides the Department’s quality assurance activities. The QMP documents the DEP’s quality system and provides its quality assurance policies and procedure, roles, responsibilities and authorities.
The SOLID AND HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM has primary responsibility for administering New Jersey's solid and hazardous waste programs. The program regulates and permits landfills, resource recovery incinerators, transfer stations, recycling centers and hazardous waste facilities. The program also administers the State's recycling and solid waste planning programs and the escrow account program for closed solid waste landfills that ensures sufficient funding is available to fund the closure of the landfills.
Let us know if you need assistance with any of our activities
or services.
Sincerely,
Office of the Assistant Commissioner
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