The state of New Jersey is providing the following information about their Revised Diesel Opacity Cutpoints. They are asking that you please distribute this information to any of your members or affiliates who operate vehicles that may be affected by these changes.
On April 3, 2009, the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) adopted amendments to N.J.A.C. 7:27-14, Control and Prohibition of Air Pollution from Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicles, to reduce the opacity cutpoints, strengthen the visible smoke standard for diesel-powered trucks and buses, and clarify the rules' exemption for emergency vehicles. The adopted amendments affect all heavy-duty diesel-powered motor vehicles, except United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulated marine vessels and trains. The Department adopted the amendments in order to encourage increased diesel engine maintenance and repairs, thereby reducing the amount of particulate matter, and other pollutants from diesel exhaust released into the ambient air. In addition, the Department is amending N.J.A.C. 7:27B-4, Air Test Method 4: Testing Procedures for Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicles, specifically N.J.A.C. 7:27B-4.5, by phasing out the alternative opacity standard.
Implementation of the adopted rule and rule amendments will begin December 2, 2009, six months after the operative date of June 2, 2009. These new standards which lower the acceptable smoke opacity levels produced by diesel powered vehicles, will be applied both at the random roadside inspections conducted by the NJ State Police and NJ Motor Vehicle Commission and during the required annual inspections performed by licensed Diesel Emissions Inspection Centers.
View the programs's brochure on the new standards.
Further information on the new standards and the Diesel Inspection and Maintenance Program can be found at www.njinspections.com www.nj.gov/dep/dieselim.com