Section 22a-174-6 - Air pollution emergency episode procedures(a) When air pollutant concentrations monitored by the Department indicate that short term high pollutant levels may be expected which are likely to have an adverse impact on human health, the Commissioner shall prepare for the declaration of an appropriate air pollution emergency episode.(b)Industrial Emergency episode criteria. In determining that any stage of an air pollution industrial emergency episode exists, the Commissioner shall be guided by the following criteria: (b)(1) First Stage: Industrial Air Pollution Alert. An air pollution industrial alert shall be declared whenever the concentration of one or more of the pollutants listed below reaches the described level at any monitoring site operated by the Department: A SO2 concentration of 800 µg/m3 (0.3 ppm), 24-hour average;
A PM10 concentration of 350 µg/m3, averaged over 24-hours, measured in accordance with the provisions of Appendix C of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 58 revised as of July 1, 1989; or
A NO2 concentration of 1130 µg/m3 (0.6 ppm), 1-hour average; 282 µg/m3 (0.15 ppm), 24-hour average; and meteorological conditions are such that the pollutant concentrations can be expected, unless control actions are taken, to remain at the above levels or increase over a period of twelve (12) or more hours.
(b)(2) Second Stage: Industrial Air Pollution Warning. An industrial air pollution warning shall be declared whenever one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site operated by the Department: A SO2 concentration of 1,600 µg/m3 (0.6 ppm), 24-hour average;
A PM10 concentration of 420 µg/m3, averaged over 24-hours, measured in accordance with the provisions of Appendix C of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 58 revised as of July 1, 1989; or
A NO2 concentration of 2,260 µg/m3 (1.2 ppm), 1-hour average; 565 µg/m3(0.3 ppm), 24-hour average; and meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected, unless control actions are taken, to remain at the above levels or increase over a period of twelve (12) or more hours.
(b)(3) Third Stage: An industrial air pollution emergency shall be declared when any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site operated by the Department: A SO2 concentration of 2,100 µg/m3 (0.8 ppm), 24-hour average;
A PM10 concentration of 500 µg/m3, averaged over 24-hours, measured in accordance with the provisions of Appendix C of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 58 revised as of July 1, 1989; or
A NO2 concentration of 3,100 µg/m3 (1.6 ppm); 1-hour average; 750 µg/m3 (0.4 ppm), 24-hour average; and meterological conditions are such that this condition can be expected to continue for twelve (12) or more hours.
(b)(4) Termination. Once any stage of an industrial air pollution emergency episode has been declared, it shall remain in effect until the Commissioner announces its termination.(c) Plans of action at each stage of an industrial air pollution emergency episode.(c)(1) First Stage: Industrial Air Pollution Alert. Whenever the Commissioner declares an industrial air pollution alert, persons responsible for the operation of a source of air pollution shall as rapidly as possible take all required steps for pollution reduction as described in table I. Persons responsible for the operation of a source of air pollution which emits, or has the capacity to emit, more than 100 tons of pollutants per year, as determined before the application of control equipment, shall put into effect the preplanned abatement strategy for an industrial air pollution alert. Table I
Steps for Air Pollution Reduction at an Industrial Air Pollution Alert
1. There shall be no open burning, except as authorized by the Commissioner in writing to safeguard public health and safety.2. The use of incinerators for the disposal for any form of solid waste shall be limited to the hours between 12 noon and 4 p.m.3. Boiler lancing or soot blowing required for fuelburning equipment shall be performed only between the hours of 12 noon and 4 p.m.4. Fuels having low ash and sulfur content shall be used.5. Electric power generation shall, whenever possible, be diverted to facilities outside the alert area.6. Steam load demands shall be reduced.7. Manufacturing operations shall be curtailed, postponed, or deferred.8. Trade waste disposal operations which emit solid particles, gas vapors or malodorous substances shall be deferred.9. Heat load demands for processing shall be reduced.(c)(2) Second Stage: Industrial Air Pollution Warning. Whenever the Commissioner declares an industrial air pollution warning persons responsible for the operation of a source of air pollution shall as rapidly as possible take all required steps for pollution reduction as described in table II. Persons responsible for the operation of a source of air pollution which emits, or has the capacity to emit, more than 100 tons of pollutants per year, as determined before the application of control equipment, shall put into effect the preplanned abatement strategy for an air pollution industrial warning. Table II
Steps for Air Pollution Reduction at an Air Pollution Industrial Warning
1. There shall be no open burning except as authorized by the Commissioner in writing to safeguard public health and safety.2. The use of incinerators for the disposal of any form of solid waste or liquid waste shall be prohibited.3. Boiler lancing or soot blowing required for fuel-burning equipment shall be performed only between the hours of 12 noon and 4 p.m.4. All unessential operation of motor vehicles shall be terminated.5. Electric power generation shall, to the maximum extent possible, be diverted to facilities outside the warning area.6. Steam load demands shall be reduced the maximum extent possible.7. Manufacturing operations shall be ceased, curtailed, postponed, or deferred.8. Trade waste disposal operations which emit solid particles, gas vapors, or malodorous substances shall be deferred.9. Heat load demands for processing shall be reduced the maximum extent possible.(c)(3) Third Stage Industrial Air Pollution Emergency. Whenever the Commissioner declares an industrial air pollution emergency, persons responsible for the operation of a source of air pollution shall immediately take all required steps for pollution reduction as described in table III, persons responsible for the operation of a source of air pollution which emits, or has the capacity to emit, more than 100 tons of pollutants per year, as determined before the application of control equipment, shall put into effect the preplanned abatement strategy for an industrial air pollution emergency. Table III
Steps for Air Pollution Reduction at an Industrial Air Pollution Emergency
1. There shall be no open burning, except as authorized by the Commissioner in writing to safeguard public health and safety.2. The use of incinerators for the disposal of any form of solid or liquid waste shall be prohibited.3. All enterprises and activities described below shall immediately cease operations:B. All construction work except that essential to secure sites against endangering life and limb.C. All manufacturing establishments except those involved in combatting the air pollution emergency in accordance with preplanned abatement strategies.D. All wholesale trade establishments, i.e., places of business primarily engaged in selling merchandise to retailers, or industrial, commercial, institutional or professional users, or to other wholesalers, or acting as agents in buying merchandise for or selling merchandise to such persons or companies, except those engaged in the distribution of drugs, surgical supplies and food.E. All state and local government offices except those necessary for public safety and welfare, including any involved in combatting the industrial air pollution emergency.F. All retail trade establishments except pharmacies, surgical supply distributors, and stores primarily engaged in the sale of food.G. Banks, credit agencies other than banks, securities and commodities brokers, dealers, exchanges and services; offices of insurance carriers, agents and brokers, real estate offices.H. Wholesale and retail laundries, laundry services and cleaning and dyeing establishments; photographic studios; beauty shops, barber shops, shoe repair shops.I. Advertising offices; consumer credit reporting, adjustment and collection agencies; duplicating, addressing, blueprinting; photocopying, mailing, mailing list and stenographic services, equipment rental services, commercial testing laboratories.J. Automobile repair and servicing and all parking and garage operations.K. All offices, clerical and professional service enterprises including law and accounting offices but excluding doctors' offices and medical laboratories.L. All schools of any kind.M. Establishments rendering amusement and recreational services including motion picture theaters.4. All commercial, manufacturing or service establishments not shut down by this regulation shall institute such actions as will result in maximum reduction of air pollutants from their activities by ceasing, curtailing, or postponing operations which emit air pollutants to the extent possible without causing injury to persons or damage to equipment.5. The use of motor vehicles of any kind shall cease except in emergencies with the express approval of local or state police.(d)(1) Preplanned abatement strategies. Any person responsible for the operation of a source of air pollutants that emits, or has the capacity to emit, 100 tons or more of pollutants a year as determined before the application of control equipment, shall prepare a standby plan for reducing the emission of air pollutants during each of the three stages of an industrial air pollution emergency episode, i.e., Industrial Alert; Industrial Warning; Industrial Emergency. Standby plans shall be designed to reduce or eliminate emission of air pollutants in accordance with the requirements set forth in Tables I-III.(d)(2) Any person responsible for the operation of a source of air pollutants not set forth under subdivision (d) (1) shall, when requested by the Commissioner, prepare standby plans for reducing the emissions of air pollutants during each of the four stages of an industrial air pollution emergency episode. Such standby plans shall be designed to reduce or eliminate emissions of air pollutants in accordance with the requirements set forth in Tables I-III.(d)(3) All standby plans shall be in writing, identify the source of air pollutants, contain a commitment as to the amount of reduction to be achieved, and set forth in sufficient detail for the Commissioner to evaluate the manner in which the reduction will be accomplished.(d)(4) During any Industrial Air Pollution Emergency Episode, standby plans shall be made available on the premises to persons authorized to enforce these regulations.(d)(5) The standby plans required by subdivision (d) (1) shall be submitted to the Commissioner by August 1, 1972. Standby plans requested by the Commissioner under subdivision (d) (2) shall be submitted within 90 days of the date of receipt of the request. When in the judgment of the Commissioner a standby plan is not adequate to carry out the objectives set forth in Tables I-III, he may reject the plan and require that it be resubmitted in an acceptable form within 30 days from the date of rejection.(e)Declaration of an industrial air pollution emergency episode in aid of sister state. Notwithstanding that the concentration of pollutants in the air over the State of Connecticut does not meet the criteria set forth in subdivisions (b) (1) to (b) (3) for any stage of an industrial air pollution emergency episode, the Commissioner may nevertheless declare such emergency episode to be in effect at the stage level he deems appropriate when it becomes necessary to reduce the level of air pollutants in Connecticut to avoid intensifying deteriorated air conditions in one or more areas outside the state that are endangering the health and welfare of residents in those areas.(f)Emissions from a limited number of sources. Whenever the Commissioner determines that a specified emergency criteria level set forth in subdivisions (b) (1) to (b) (3) has been reached in a limited area, he may restrict the response to such emergency in the manner he deems appropriate, including notification to those sources contributing to the emergency levels that the abatement actions of Tables I, II, or III, as the case may be, are required and shall be put into effect until the pollutant levels are reduced below the criteria levels.(g)Automotive emergency episode criteria. In determining any stage of an automotive air pollution emergency episode to exist, the Commissioner shall be guided by the following criteria: (g)(1) First Stage: Automotive Air Pollution Alert. An automotive air pollution alert shall be declared whenever the concentration of one or more of the pollutants listed below reaches the described level at any monitoring site operated by the Department of Environmental Protection: CO: 17 µg/m3 (15 ppm), 8-hour average; Oxidant (O3): 400 µg/m3(0.2 ppm), 1-hour average; and meteorological conditions are such that the pollutant concentrations can be expected, unless control actions are taken, to recur the next calendar day.(g)(2) Second Stage: Automotive Air Pollution Warning. An automotive air pollution warning shall be declared whenever evidence shows that air quality is continuing to degrade from the automotive air pollution advisory and alert one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site operated by the Department of Environmental Protection: CO: 34 µg/m3 (30 ppm), 8-hour average; Oxidant (O3) 800 µg/m3 (0.4 ppm), 1-hour average; and meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected, unless control actions are taken, to recur the next calendar day.
(g)(3) Third Stage: Automotive Air Pollution Emergency. An automotive air pollution emergency shall be declared whenever evidence shows that air quality has degraded to a level deemed unacceptable by the commissioner under any circumstances and requiring the most stringent control actions. An automotive air pollution emergency will automatically be declared when any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site operated by the Department of Environmental Protection: CO: 46 µg/m3 (40 ppm), 8-hour average; Oxidant (O3): 1,000 µg/m3 (0.5 ppm), 1-hour average; and meteorological conditions are such that this condition can be expected to recur the next calendar day.
(g)(4) Termination. Once any stage of an automotive air pollution emergency episode has been declared, it shall remain in effect until the Commissioner announces its termination.(h)Plans of action at each stage of emergency.(h)(1) First Stage: Automotive Air Pollution Alert. Whenever the Commissioner declares an automotive air pollution alert, all unessential operation of motor vehicles shall be terminated.(h)(2) Second Stage: Automotive Air Pollution Warning. Whenever the Commissioner declares an automotive air pollution warning, persons operating motor vehicles must reduce operations by the use of car pools and increased use of public transportation and elimination of unnecessary operation.(h)(3) Third Stage: Automotive Air Pollution Emergency. Whenever the Commissioner declares an automotive air pollution emergency, all private non-commercial motor vehicle operations shall cease except where absolutely essential for necessities of life including medical treatment, and commercial vehicle operations shall be reduced to the absolute minimum necessary to transport necessities and provide for public safety and welfare.Conn. Agencies Regs. § 22a-174-6