In response to the damages sustained along the Atlantic coastline of New Jersey caused by Superstorm Sandy, the U.S. Congress passed a law to provide funding for numerous repair, restoration and fortification projects, and appointed the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) to oversee the disaster relief projects. Due to the sensitivity of the project, the USACE coordinated with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to determine general air emissions conformance requirements and enacted a project-specific Clean Air Act.
Paul Carpenter Associates, Inc. (PCA) was hired by the Elberon to Loch Arbour Project contract as an independent firm to conduct pre-operational air emissions calculations as required to conform to the Clean Air Act. PCA was required to provide a completed air emissions calculator submitted within 30 calendar days of notice of contract award. The calculator estimated oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions based on the operating hours of each anticipated diesel-powered engine along with its load and emission factors, which PCA determined by identifying engine type, year of manufacture, and horsepower. To confirm correct equipment models and their quantity, PCA developed an equipment identification system and affixed coded labels onto each piece of equipment at project commencement and tracked each piece of equipment throughout both Contract 1 and Contract 2 durations.
Additionally, PCA performed monthly on-site construction equipment inspections to verify current equipment use and quantity, submitted monthly air emissions calculations based on actual findings, assessed year-to-date and projected annual emissions to ensure conformity with the Clean Air Act, as well as verification documentation until project completion.