Md. Code Regs. 26.11.05.03

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024

Section 26.11.05.03 - Air Pollution Episode Criteria

A. A condition justifying the proclamation of a Standby Watch, Health Advisory, Alert, Warning, or Emergency shall be deemed to exist whenever the Governor, the Secretary, or the Secretary's designee determines that the accumulation of air pollutants in any place, locality, county, or other area in the State may attain, is attaining, or has attained levels which, if sustained or exceeded, would lead to a threat to the health of the public. In making this determination, the Secretary or his designee shall be guided by the specified conditions in §§B, C, and D, of this regulation.

B. Episode Criteria.

(1) Standby Watch Stage. The Department shall declare a standby watch stage whenever one or more of the following conditions exists:

(a) Forecasted meteorological conditions that are expected to last at least 12 hours and may inhibit pollutant dispersion or increase pollutant concentration.

(b) A Special Dispersion Statement (SDS) has been issued by the Department.

(c) An Air Stagnation Advisory (ASA) has been issued by the Department. Upon declaration of an Air Stagnation Advisory, the Department shall make a public announcement of this declaration within 2 hours.

(d) Measured air pollutant concentrations exceed a PSI of 83.

(2) Health Advisory Stage. The Department shall declare a Health Advisory when measured air pollutant concentrations cause the PSI to exceed 100.

(3) Alert Stage. An Alert shall be declared by the Secretary or his designee when any one or more of the following pollutant levels in §B(3)(c), of this regulation, is attained concurrent with:

(a) A judgment by the Department that the pollutant level is representative of air quality in a significant portion of the region. The Department shall consult the air pollution control agencies of the affected jurisdictions to help evaluate local situations.

(b) Meteorological conditions are such that pollutant dispersion is expected to be inhibited for 12 or more hours.

(c) Pollutant levels:

Pollutant

(i) Sulfur dioxide

(ii) PM10

(iii) Carbon monoxide

(iv) Ozone

(v) Nitrogen dioxide

(4) Warning Stage. A Warning shall be declared by the Secretary or his designee when any one or more of the following pollutant levels in §B(4)(c), of this regulation, is attained concurrent with:

(a) A judgment by the Department that the pollutant level is representative of air quality in a significant portion of the region. The Department shall consult the air pollution control agencies of the affected jurisdictions to help evaluate local situations.

(b) Meteorological conditions are such that pollutant dispersion is expected to be inhibited for 12 or more hours.

(c) Pollutant levels:

Pollutant Level (i) Sulfur dioxide

(ii) PM10

(iii) Carbon monoxide

(iv) Ozone

(v) Nitrogen dioxide

(5) Emergency Stage. An Emergency shall be declared by the Governor when any one or more of the following pollutant levels in §B(5)(c), of this regulation, is attained concurrent with:

(a) A judgment by the Department that the pollutant level is representative of air quality in a significant portion of the region. The Department shall consult the air pollution control agencies of the affected jurisdictions to help evaluate local situations.

(b) Meteorological conditions are such that this condition can be expected to continue for 12 or more hours.

(c) Pollutant levels:

Pollutant

(i) Sulfur dioxide

(ii) PM10

(iii) Carbon monoxide

(iv) Ozone

(v) Nitrogen dioxide

(6) Termination. Termination of all stages of the Air Pollution Episode System shall be called by the Secretary or his designee or by the Governor based on:

(a) Consultation with the federal or Department meteorologist which indicates that the atmospheric conditions justify termination; and

(b) Appropriate reduction in pollutant levels below the Alert Stage criteria.

C. An episode condition has been reached if ambient air quality is measured to be in excess of the designated levels at any monitoring site in the State, except when elevated pollution levels exist in an area that may be reduced by controlling emissions from one or a few individual sources contributing to the condition. The localized condition shall be known as an incident, and the involved individual sources shall be subject to the same provisions as listed for the abatement of episodes.

D. All episode stages may be activated on the basis of deteriorating air quality alone; that is, an atmospheric stagnation forecast need not be in effect. (Subject to the conditions specified in §B(2), (3), (4), and (5).)

Md. Code Regs. 26.11.05.03

Regulation .03A amended effective June 18, 1990 (17:9 Md. R. 1092)
Regulation .03B amended effective March 21, 1989 (16:3 Md. R. 347); June 18, 1990 (17:9 Md. R. 1092)
Regulation .03D amended effective June 18, 1990 (17:9 Md. R. 1092)