06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 109, § 2

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 096-109-2 - Criteria

Conditions justifying the proclamation of an air pollution alert, air pollution warning, or air pollution emergency shall be deemed to exist whenever the Commissioner determines that the accumulation of air pollutants in any place is attaining or has attained levels which could, if such levels are sustained or exceeded, lead to a substantial threat to the health of persons. In making the determination, the Commissioner will be guided by the following criteria:

A. Air Pollution Forecast. An internal watch by the Department shall be actuated by a National Weather Service advisory that an Atmospheric Stagnation Advisory is in effect or the equivalent local forecast of stagnation atmospheric condition.

B. Alert. The Alert level is that concentration of pollutants at which first stage control actions is to begin. An Alert will be declared by the Commissioner when:

(1) Any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site:

SO₂- 0.305 ppm, 24-hour average,

PM₁₀- 355 ug/m³, 24-hour average,

PM2.5-150.5 ug/m³, 24-hour average,

CO- 15.5 ppm, 8-hour average,

Ozone (0₃)- 0.205 ppm, 1-hour average,

Ozone (0₃)- 0.116 ppm, 8-hour average,

NO₂- 0.65 ppm, 1-hour average; and

(2) Meteorological conditions are such the pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at the above levels for twelve (12) or more hours or increase, or in the case of ozone, the situation is likely to reoccur within the next 24-hour unless control actions are taken.

C.Warning. The warning level indicates that air quality is continuing to degrade and that additional control actions are necessary. A warning will be declared by the Commissioner when:

(1) Any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site:

SO₂- 0.605 ppm, 24-hour average,

PM₁₀- 425 ug/m³, 24-hour average,

PM2.5-250.5 ug/m³, 24-hour average,

CO- 30.5 ppm, 8-hour average,

Ozone (0₃)- 0.405 ppm, 1-hour average,

NO₂- 1.25 ppm, 1-hour average; and

(2) Meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at the above levels for twelve (12) or more hours or increase, or in the case of ozone, the situation is likely to reoccur within the next 24-hour unless control actions are taken.

D.Emergency. The emergency level indicates that air quality is continuing to degrade toward a level of significant harm to the health of persons and that the most stringent control actions are necessary. An emergency will be declared by the Commissioner when:

(1) Any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site:

SO₂- 805 ppm, 24-hour average,

PM₁₀- 505 ug/m³, 24-hour average,

PM2.5- 350.5 ug/m³, 24-hour average

CO- 40.5 ppm, 8-hour average,

Ozone (0₃)- 0.505 ppm, 1-hour average,

NO₂- 1.65 ppm, 1-hour average; and

(2) Meteorological conditions are such that this condition can be expected to remain at the above levels for twelve (12) or more hours or increase, or in the case of ozone, the situation is likely to reoccur within the next 24-hour unless control actions are taken.

E. Termination. Once declared, any status reached by application of these criteria will remain in effect until the criteria for that level are no longer met.

06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 109, § 2