Rule 391-3-1-.04 - Air Pollution Episodes(1)General: In order to prevent the excessive buildup of air contaminant concentrations during an Air Pollution Episode great enough to cause danger to the public health, the Director will proclaim that an Air Pollution Episode exists when the accumulation of air contaminants 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 the specific area affected. The proclamation of an Air Pollution Episode can be for a specific, limited area affected by certain emissions. In making this determination, the Director will be guided by the following criteria: (a)Alert: The Director will proclaim that an Air Pollution Alert exists when any one of the following air contaminant concentrations is measured at any monitoring site and meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at these levels for 12 or more hours or can be expected to increase, or, for ozone, when the situation is likely to recur within the next 24 hours: 1. Sulfur Dioxide - 800 micrograms per cubic meter (0.3 parts per million), 24-hour average.2. Particulate Matter 10 microns or less (PM10) - 350 micrograms per cubic meter, 24-hour average.3. Particulate Matter 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5) - 150 micrograms per cubic meter, 24-hour average.4. Carbon Monoxide - 17 milligrams per cubic meter (15 parts per million), 8-hour average.5. Ozone (O3) - 170 parts per billion, 8-hour average.6. Nitrogen Dioxide (i) 1130 micrograms per cubic meter (1.2 parts per million), 1-hour average.(ii) 282 micrograms per cubic meter (0.3 parts per million), 24-hour average.(b)Warning: The Director will proclaim that an Air Pollution Warning exists when any one of the following air contaminant concentrations is measured at any monitoring site and meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at these levels for 12 or more hours or can be expected to increase, or for ozone, when the situation is likely to recur within the next 24 hours, unless control actions are taken: 1. Sulfur Dioxide - 1,600 micrograms per cubic meter (0.6 parts per million), 24-hour average.2. Particulate Matter 10 microns or less (PM10) - 420 micrograms per cubic meter, 24-hour average.3. Particulate Matter 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5) - 200 micrograms per cubic meter, 24-hour average.4. Carbon Monoxide - 34 milligrams per cubic meter (30 parts per million), 8-hour average.5. Ozone (O3) - 200 parts per billion, 8-hour average.6. Nitrogen Dioxide (i) 2,260 micrograms per cubic meter (1.2 parts per million), 1-hour average.(ii) 565 micrograms per cubic meter (0.3 parts per million), 24-hour average.(c)Episode Criteria - Emergency: The Director will proclaim that an Air Pollution Emergency exists when any one of the following contaminant concentrations is measured at any monitoring site and meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at these levels for 12 or more hours or can be expected to increase, or for ozone, when the situation is likely to recur within the next 24 hours, unless control actions are taken: 1. Sulfur Dioxide - 2,100 micrograms per cubic meter (0.8 parts per million), 24-hour average.2. Particulate Matter 10 microns or less (PM10) - 500 micrograms per cubic meter, 24-hour average.3. Particulate Matter 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5) - 210 micrograms per cubic meter, 24-hour average.4. Carbon Monoxide - 46 milligrams per cubic meter (40 parts per million), 8-hour average.5. Ozone (O3) - 250 parts per billion, 8-hour average.6. Nitrogen Dioxide (i) 3,000 micrograms per cubic meter (1.6 parts per million), 1-hour average.(ii) 750 micrograms per cubic meter (0.4 parts per million), 24-hour average.(d)Episode Criteria - Termination: Once proclaimed by the Director, an air pollution episode level will remain in effect until the criteria for air contaminant concentrations applicable to the respective level are no longer met. At such time, the next lower status will be assumed.(e)Status Declaration Authority: The Director shall have the authority to make public declarations of Air Pollution Alert, Air Pollution Warning, and Air Pollution Emergency Status [as defined in Emergency Air Episode Plan for the State of Georgia (dated July 2008)] as the Director or agent deems appropriate.(2)Emission Reduction Standby Plans: (a) Upon the request of the Director, any source owner, operator, or lessee shall prepare and furnish to the Director a written Emission Reduction Standby Plan for use in reducing the emission of air contaminants when the source is notified of the existence of an Air Pollution Warning or Emergency in its area of influence. Such plans shall identify the sources of air contaminants, the amount of reduction to be achieved, the method by which the reduction will be accomplished, and the times required to put each such reduction step into effect. The plan will specify progressively more stringent control actions to be taken at each of the air pollution episode levels. The submitted Emission Reduction Standby Plan shall be subject to review and approval by the Director. If the plan is judged to be inadequate by the Director, it shall be disapproved and an amended plan will be prepared and resubmitted by the source owner, operator, or lessee.(b) When notified by the Director of the existence of an Air Pollution Episode of Warning or Emergency in an area influenced by its emissions, the source owner, operator, or lessee shall immediately put into effect the control actions enumerated in the approved Emission Reduction Standby Plan on file with the Director, as appropriate for the specific episode level in effect.(c) During an Air Pollution Episode of Warning or Emergency Status, Emission Reduction Standby Plans as required by subparagraph (2) shall be made available on the premises to any person authorized to enforce the provisions of applicable rules and regulations.(3)Emission Reduction Measures: Emission reduction measures outlined in the Emergency Air Episode Plan for the State of Georgia (dated July 2008) may be taken by the Director upon his or her declaration that an Air Pollution Episode exists for any air contaminants for which air standards have been adopted.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-3-1-.04
O.C.G.A. Sec. 12-9-1et seq.
Original Rule entitled "Air Pollution Episodes" adopted. F. Sept. 6, 1973; eff. Sept. 26, 1973.Amended: F. Oct. 31, 1975; eff. Nov. 20, 1975.Amended: F. Mar. 23, 2009; eff. Apr. 12, 2009.Amended: F. June 30, 2009; eff. July 20, 2009.