VOLUME 48, ISSUE 2

ISSUE DATE: JANUARY 19, 2016

PUBLIC NOTICES


ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AIR QUALITY, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY


48 N.J.R. 142(a)


Notice of Opportunity for Comment and Public Hearing on Five-Year Progress Report for Regional Haze SIP Revision
 
State of New Jersey's Regional Haze Five-Year Progress Report, State Implementation Plan (SIP) Revision
 
   Take notice that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (Department) has prepared a five-year progress report (Progress Report) for the Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for public review and comment. The Progress Report documents New Jersey's continued progress in reducing emissions within the State resulting in improved visibility levels. The Progress Report demonstrates that the Department is on track to meet New Jersey's 2018 visibility goal at its Class I area: the Brigantine Wilderness Area in the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (Brigantine Wilderness Area).
 
   The components of this Progress Report meet the United States Environmental Protection Agency's regional haze rule requirements for the regional haze five-year progress report. The Progress Report explains the implementation status of all regional haze SIP measures, both within and outside the State, to achieve the reasonable progress goal (RPG) for the Brigantine Wilderness Area; summarizes the emissions reductions achieved throughout the State through implementation of all regional haze SIP measures; assesses the visibility conditions and changes for the most impaired and least impaired days at the Brigantine Wilderness Area; tracks changes in emissions in New Jersey by visibility impairing pollutant, types of sources, and emission activity; assesses whether any significant changes in emissions have limited or impeded regional haze progress; assesses whether the current Regional Haze SIP and strategies are sufficient to meet the established reasonable progress goal at Brigantine Wilderness Area; reviews New Jersey's visibility monitoring strategy; and determines adequacy of the existing regional haze SIP to ensure reasonable progress towards the established visibility goal for the Brigantine Wilderness Area.
 
   Copies of the Department's Progress Report for the Regional Haze SIP revision are available on the Department's website at www.nj.gov/dep/baqp/sip/siprevs.htm and from the Department's Bureau of Evaluation and Planning at 401 E. State Street, second floor, in Trenton, New Jersey. A copy of this notice is also available on the Department's website at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/baqp/.
 
   A public hearing concerning the Department's Progress Report will be conducted on February 23, 2016, only if requested by February 16, 2016. A request for a public hearing may be submitted to the Department by e-mail (NJDEP-BAQP@dep.nj.gov) or by mail at the addresses shown below. If no request for a public hearing is received by close of business on February 16, 2016, the hearing will be cancelled by a notice posted on the Department's website at: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/baqp/. If a public hearing is requested, it will be conducted as follows:
 
   Tuesday, February 23, 2016, at 1:00 P.M. until the close of comments
   New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
   Public Hearing Room
   401 East State Street, 1st floor
   Trenton, New Jersey
 
   Written comments on the Progress Report may be submitted by close of business, March 19, 2016. Please e-mail comment(s) as a document attachment to: NJDEP-BAQP@dep.nj.gov and include "5-Year Progress Report for Regional Haze SIP Comments, BEP 2016-0001" in the subject line of the e-mail.
 
   The Department encourages electronic submittal of comments. In the alternative, comments may be submitted on paper to:
 
   New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
   Attn: 5-Year Progress Report for Regional Haze SIP Comments, BEP 2016-0001
   Bureau of Evaluation and Planning
   401 East State Street, 2nd Floor
   Mail Code 401-7H
   P.O. Box 420
   Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420