The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) held its quarterly Industrial Stakeholders Group (ISG) meeting on February 6, 2026. During the meeting, NJDEP provided updates on the following topics:
- New Permitting Guidance – What Type of Permit Application Do I Need?
- Permit Status Update
- Updated Air Staff Charts
- Modeling Protocol Template Update
- Planning Updates
- Open Discussion
The following sections provide a summary of each of the topics discussed:
New Permitting Guidance – What Type of Permit Application Do I Need?
NJDEP has put together a guidance document to help facilities determine which type of permit application is needed. The guidance document is constructed to function like a flowchart where you can select what applies and jump to the correct application type.
Permit Status Update
NJDEP has been continuing to experience a backlog of old permit applications and renewals. The gradual decline in pending permits for both Title V and minor sources has continued since the last ISG meeting. Generally, the number of permit decisions has still been greater than the number of incoming permit applications. NJDEP continues to urge applicants to use the guidance documents and checklists to ensure that all elements of an application have been completed properly. NJDEP mentioned that if they are experiencing a continued lack of communication and timely responses to notices of deficiencies, they may start to deny certain applications. Therefore, it is very important to submit complete applications and maintain open communication with NJDEP on pending permitting actions.
Updated Air Staff Charts
During this portion of the ISG meeting, NJDEP went through the current Air, Energy & Materials Sustainability (AEMS) contacts at NJDEP. Currently, the assistant commissioner is Paul Baldauf. There are five directors: Frank Steitz (Division of Air Quality & Radiation), Richelle Wormley (Division of Air Enforcement), Peg Hanna (Division of Climate Change Mitigation & Monitoring), Seth Hackman (Division of Sustainable Waste), and Michael Hastry (Division of Waste & UST Compliance and Enforcement). Under the Division of Air Quality & Radiation, Kenneth Ratzman is the Assistant Director of the Air Quality Regulation and Planning Element. Danny Wong manages the Bureau of Stationary Sources, Sharon Davis is the chief of the Bureau of Evaluation and Planning, and Paul Komosinsky manages the Bureau of Release Prevention. It was also noted that Nibras Mir leads the preconstruction permits section, Mayra Reyes leads the general permits section, and Jillian Alexander is the Environmental Justice Coordinator. NJDEP noted that many of the permit writers are relatively new and are currently being trained. They also mentioned that Michael Klein of the Emission Measurement Section has retired and Larry Si is currently covering while his replacement is pending.
Modeling Protocol Template Update
NJDEP spoke in the last ISG meeting about working on a modeling protocol template to ensure that all required information is provided and create more consistency which will increase efficiency in protocol review. The protocol template and spreadsheet have been posted and NJDEP is encouraging that facilities utilize them now. For now, utilization of these templates is not mandatory but will likely be in the future.
Planning Updates
NJDEP submitted a request to EPA to revise the ozone attainment boundary in Northern New Jersey to be separated from Connecticut and New York on January 15, 2026. If their request is approved, the next step would be for NJDEP to go through the process of changing their designation to attainment as the New Jersey monitors are in attainment with the standards.
General Discussion
NJDEP discussed the use of wind screens for stack testing. They emphasized that if a facility plans to use a wind screen during stack testing, they must utilize it at all times and this should be reflected in their air permit.
Draft changes to Technical Manual 1005 “Guidelines for Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS), Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems (COMS), Periodic Monitoring Procedures (PMPs) and Annual Combustion Adjustments (ACAs)” are available on NJDEP’s website. NJDEP anticipates that a final version will be ready by the June 2026 ISG meeting.
Governor Mikie Sherril’s Executive Order No. 5 was discussed as it institutes a statewide effort to streamline permitting in New Jersey.
There was a delay in posting the updated EJ map in January 2026 due to census issues. NJDEP anticipates that the updated map will be posted in March 2026.
NJDEP will be contacting facilities soon regarding the turbine core exchange program. Please see the ISG meeting article from the October 2025 meeting for more information on this program.
Please reach out to our Princeton Office at 609.318.5500 should you want to discuss any of the information contained in this article in more detail.
