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National Ambient Air Quality Standards and State Implementation Plans: North Carolina Division of Air Quality

This document provides information about the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), State Implementation Plans (SIP), and the current attainment status in North Carolina. It also explains the process of designations and redesignations, as well as the role of State Implementation Plans in attaining and maintaining the NAAQS.

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National Ambient Air Quality Standards and State Implementation Plans: North Carolina Division of Air Quality

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  1. National Ambient Air Quality Standards and State Implementation PlansNorth Carolina Division of Air Quality Air Quality Committee January 8, 2014 Sushma Masemore, P.E. Planning Section Chief

  2. Key Acronyms • CAA – Clean Air Act • NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards • SIP – State Implementation Plan • CFR – Code of Federal Regulations

  3. NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards • Clean Air Act -> EPA -> NAAQS • 6 “criteria pollutants” • Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10) • Ozone (O3) • Carbon Monoxide (CO) • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) • Lead • EPA regulates these pollutants by developing human health-based and environmentally-based criteria for setting permissible levels.

  4. NAAQS – National Ambient Air Quality Standards • Primary • Standards to protect public health, including the health of “sensitive” populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. • Secondary • Standards to protect public welfare, including protection against decreased visibility, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

  5. NAAQS (as of October 2011) http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html *Units of measure for the standards are parts per million (ppm) by volume, parts per billion (ppb) by volume, and micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3).

  6. NAAQS Reviews • CAA requires EPA to review every 5 yrs • Current schedule for ongoing NAAQS reviews (as of Sept 12, 2013)

  7. Designations • After standards are finalized…EPA must designate areas as meeting (attainment) or not meeting (nonattainment) the standard, or undetermined (unclassifiable). • Monitoring data are used to determine an area’s design value • Design values are concentration measurements averaged over a specific time interval and are used in designations and redesignations • Process • 1 yr after NAAQS: states recommend boundaries and designations • 120 days prior to final designations: EPA notifies states • 2 yr after NAAQS: EPA makes final designations

  8. North Carolina’s Current Attainment Status • Only the Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury area is designated nonattainment of the 2008 Ozone NAAQS.

  9. What is a State Implementation Plan (SIP)? • An overall air quality plan for attaining or maintaining the NAAQS. • Codified in 40 CFR Part 52, each state has its own subpart • Public given opportunity to review and comment • Infrastructure SIPs (due 3 years after NAAQS revision) • Shows that the state has the basic air quality management program to implement the NAAQS • Attainment/Maintenance SIPs (usually 3 years after nonattainment designation) • Identifies emissions control requirements and associated rules necessary for attainment or maintenance

  10. Courtesy; James, 2012

  11. Redesignations • State submits a request satisfying specific elements in CAA Section 107, including • Area has attained the NAAQS • Improvement is due to permanent and enforceable emission reductions • Maintenance plan is approved • All other SIP requirements are met • Requires EPA rulemaking (codified in Part 52 and Part 81) • EPA’s final approval redesignates an area from nonattainment to attainment/maintenance

  12. Thank you. Questions?

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