Effective April 28, 1999, EPA approved a revision to New Jersey's State Implementation Plan ("SIP") for ozone under the federal Clean Air Act. EPA approved New Jersey's amendments to its regulations governing the control and prohibition of air pollution from oxides of nitrogen ("NOx") that allow major stationary sources of NOx to comply with its obligation to control NOx emissions through the following new methods: seasonal fuel switching; emergency use of fuel oil; exemption for electric generating units during a maximum emergency generating alert; and phased compliance for facilities choosing to repower, actively pursuing innovative control technology, or making a good faith effort to comply. These alternative methods should provide major sources with additional flexibility in achieving compliance with NOx emission limitations. The intended effect of the SIP revision is to reduce emissions of NOx in order to help attain national ambient air quality standards for ozone. NOx is one of the main precursors of ozone, which has been linked to a variety of ill effects to human health and the environment.
