DEP CTLR CALLED TRAFFIC TO MLG ON OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC AT SAME ALT; BUT WITH LESS THAN STANDARD SEPARATION. OPERATIONAL ERROR.

Narrative

COMMERCIAL FLT; MLG X EWR PVD; ON DEP WITH NY DEP CTL; HDG 090 DEGS ON RADAR VECTORS WITH CLB CLRNC TO 9000'. WE PASSED ANOTHER JET (MLG Y; I BELIEVE) ON A RECIPROCAL HDG AT OUR ALT THAT SEEMED CLOSER THAN NORMAL. THE CTLR POINTED OUT THE TFC AT OUR 2 O'CLOCK AND WHEN WE QUERIED HIM ON ITS ALT AND RANGE; HE SAID 7000' AND 2 MI. WE WERE PASSING 7000' AT THE TIME. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS NECESSARY. I CALLED THE NY TRACON SUPVR AFTER LNDG IN PVD TO INQUIRE WHAT THE NORMAL SPACING WAS ON DEPS. HE REPLIED 1000' VERT AND 3 NM HORIZ. HE ADDED THAT IF THERE WAS AT LEAST 15 DEGS DIVERGENCE OF COURSES; THOUGH; THAT THE CTLR COULD USE LESS THAN 3 NM. ON A SUBSEQUENT PHONE CALL; HE INDICATED THAT THERE WOULD BE A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION FOR POSSIBLE OPERATOR ERROR. WE WERE CLEARLY NOT IN A LIFE THREATENING NEAR COLLISION SITUATION. IT SURPRISED US TO SEE A JET SO CLOSE AT OUR ALT; HOWEVER; WHICH RAISED THE QUESTION OF A DEVIATION FROM NORMAL PROCS. IF; HOWEVER; 2 NM WAS THE PLANNED SEP; THEN WE ARE CUTTING IT TOO CLOSE IN SUCH A BUSY AREA (AND IT WAS VERY BUSY THAT EVENING. WE WERE GIVEN 5 TURNS/ALT CHANGES WITHIN 3-4 MINS).