AIR QUALITY PERMITTING ELEMENT

Air Quality Permitting Program

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

The Preconstruction Permits Section (PPS) reviews preconstruction applications for new and modified sources of air pollution for over 17,000 non-major facilities.   Approximately 1,500 air permit applications are received annually.  Some examples of the applications include but are not limited to:  asphalt pavement production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, surface coating operations, wastewater treatment, site remediation equipment, boat manufacturing and quarry operations.  In addition to source specific preconstruction air permit applications, the section has developed general permits that offer a registration type of approval via the internet for about 20 categories of emission sources such as boilers, emergency generators, storage tanks, dry cleaners, and gasoline dispensing facilities.  PPS assesses administrative service fees, which are used to fund the minor facility regulation program.

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