NEW JERSEY REGISTER

VOLUME 50, ISSUE 6

ISSUE DATE: MARCH 19, 2018

PUBLIC NOTICES

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AIR QUALITY, ENERGY, AND SUSTAINABILITY

DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY

50 N.J.R. 1050(a)

Consumer Price Index Percentage Adjustments to Air Contaminant Emission Fees

Take notice that, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:27-22.31(j), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (Department) is publishing notice of the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) relative to the 1989 CPI and the resultant per-ton emission fee for fiscal year (FY) 2018.

CPI Percentage Increase

The CPI percentage increase is used to calculate the annual emission fee for major facilities. The CPI percentage increase is calculated each year using the procedure at N.J.A.C. 7:27-22.31(i). For FY 2018 (July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018), N.J.A.C. 7:27-22.31(i) specifies using the average monthly CPI (CPI-U) for the 12-month period beginning September 2016 through August 2017. Monthly CPI-U data is published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Following the procedures at N.J.A.C. 7:27-22.31(i), the CPI percentage increase for FY 2018 is 1.99 percent, and the CPI has been calculated as 199.26 percent relative to the 1989 CPI.

Air Contaminant Emission Fee

An annual emission fee must be paid by each major facility subject to N.J.A.C. 7:27-22. The annual emission fee is calculated each year according to N.J.A.C. 7:27-22.31(b), which applies the CPI adjustment to the base amount per ton of emissions. This base amount is $ 60.00 per ton (N.J.S.A. 26:2C-9.5.d(1)(a)). Applying the CPI adjustment since 1989 to the base amount of $ 60.00 per ton results in an annual emission fee for FY 2018 of $ 119.56. Therefore, a facility subject to this fee must multiply $ 119.56 times the quantity of regulated air contaminant emissions emitted in tons during calendar year 2016 (January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2016).

Invoices will be mailed to major facilities based on emissions reported in the Emission Statement submitted for calendar year 2016. Even if a major facility has not submitted an Emission Statement or received an invoice, it is obligated to pay emission fees within 30 days of publication of this notice.