NJDEP Air Quality Permitting Program (AQPP)

Identify the Air Quality Forecast to determine if Emergency Generator can or cannot be used for normal testing/maintenance on a specific day.

IMPORTANT NOTE: EMERGENCY GENERATORS CAN BE USED WHENEVER NEEDED FOR ACTUAL EMERGENCIES, REGARDLESS OF THE AIR QUALITY. The procedures below apply only to normal testing and maintenance usage. They do not apply to ACTUAL emergency usage. In order for an event to be classified as an actual emergency (see definition of “emergency generator” at N.J.A.C. 7:27-19.1), there must be a voltage reduction issued by PJM and posted on the PJM internet website (www.pjm.com) under the “emergency procedures” menu.

Background:
Emergency Generators are not allowed to operate for normal testing/maintenance on days in which the air quality is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy, or hazardous, in accordance with the Department's rules at N.J.A.C. 7:27-19.2(d).
New Jersey's Air Quality is based on the National Air Quality Index System, which looks at 5 major pollutant levels currently in the air, compares those pollutant levels to established health standards, and then gives the air a current rating (or grade), such as "good" or "unhealthy." The prohibition from testing/maintaining Emergency Generators on unhealthy, very unhealthy, or hazardous air quality days is designed to:

ensure that NJ's air quality does not get worse on those days with unhealthful air, and
help protect the public health from the harmful effects of unhealthy air.

Procedure:
Check the air quality forecast the day before the tentative Emergency Generator normal testing/maintenance date using the following procedure:

After 4:00 pm on the day before the emergency generator will be used for normal testing/maintenance, go to:

Air Quality Conditions and Forecasts

Read the "Forecast" column for tomorrow's date.
If this column lists the air quality anywhere in NJ as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, or Hazardous, then you CAN NOT do the testing/maintenance tomorrow.
Reschedule your testing/maintenance for another day.
Remember to re-check the Air Quality Forecast after 4:00 pm on the day before the day that the Emergency Generator has been rescheduled to be operated for normal testing/maintenance.