Trees in Zuck Arboretum, Drew Forest, Photograph by Lisa Jordan, Flickr
Introduction
The NJDEP Air Quality Permitting Program uses risk assessment to evaluate possible effects on public health from facilities seeking permits to emitting air toxics. Any facility that seeks to emit air pollutants above certain levels must have an air quality permit. Air permits are legally binding documents that include enforceable limits on air emissions that facilities must comply with. In connection to local Madison forests, according to the US Department of Agriculture, air pollutants of most concern to forests are tropospheric ozone and nitrogen deposition. Both ozone and nitrogen affect biodiversity and increase forest susceptibility to drought, pest attacks, windstorms, and fire.
Data
The scientific monitoring of air quality permitted facilities is displayed in the NJDEP Air Quality Permitted Facilities EJ Sites in New Jersey which identifies those sites where the NJDEP has established an air permit in accordance with N.J.A.P.C. 7:27. The Land Use/Land Cover of New Jersey 2015 monitors the amount of acreage of forest in Madison NJ along with the types of forest that are located within Madison borough.
The map above shows Madison Air Quality Permitted Facilities & Forests (highlighted dark green areas indicate forests. Green dots indicate the permitted air quality facilities). Click the three bulleted buttons in the top right corner to view the legend.
Results
In Madison NJ there are 4 identified facilities that the NJDEP has established an air permit with in accordance with the NJDEP Air Quality Permitting Program. These permits allow for observation of the air pollution emitted by these facilities. This ensures proper moderation to ensure their compliance with air pollution regulations outlined in the permit they’ve been granted. The Land Use/Land Cover of New Jersey 2015 indicates there are notable various forests covering the land in Madison NJ that consist of deciduous forests, mixed forest, old fields, coniferous forests, mixed deciduous/coniferous brush/shrubland, deciduous brush/shrubland, and coniferous brush/shrubland. These forests contribute to the overall air quality however but are likely impacted by the toxic pollutants near the forests. This is seen on the forest that is located on Madison’s main street which is closely located to the T&J service center on 31 King Road. This indicates that air pollutants are being emitted close to 1.09 acres of deciduous forest land. Additionally, it is worthy to note that Drew University contains one of the largest forests in Madison NJ with over 64 acres of forest land, this forest contains >50% of crown closure deciduous forest.
This map can be found at: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=1122c7aa3e2d4c5aa2fe6e15eb5a083d
Conclusion
Understanding air quality and the permitted facilities in Madison NJ all NJ allow residents to be aware of the sources of air pollution and their proximity. This information allows individuals to understand the negative effects of air pollutants and be aware of their environment. In connection to the measurement of local forests in relation to air quality, the forests can aid in producing oxygen in Madison NJ which ultimately provides clean air for residences by removing air pollutants from facilities emitting toxic pollutants. This allows for further protection and preservation of local Madison forests from organizations such as Friends of the Drew Forest.
About the Data
The NJDEP Air Quality Permitted Facilities EJ Sites in New Jersey dataset was developed to provide information to interested parties regarding air permit data within the state of New Jersey. This data, in its geographic format, is intended to provide information to the public regarding the location and size of a facility within a certain user-chosen radius. Additional information is forthcoming when access to those databases is granted and integrated into a queryable form. The Land Use/Land Cover of New Jersey 2015 data set, used to observe Madison forests, was done by Aerial Information Systems, Inc., Redlands, CA, under the direction of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Bureau of Geographic Information System (BGIS). LU/LC changes were captured by adding new line work and attribute data for the 2015 land use directly to the base data layer.
To download a one-page slide for this summary, click here.
