A.
General. The purpose of this article is to provide
the Department with the authority to decrease the severity and duration
of air pollution episodes by requiring staged reductions in the emission
of air contaminants and general reductions in activities which place
demands upon air pollution sources or which result in generation of
air contaminants either directly or indirectly, in conjunction with
air quality measurements and meteorological forecasts. The goal of
these reductions is the avoidance of conditions which may result in
significant harm to human health or welfare.
A.
Any person responsible for a source of air contaminants of the type set forth below shall, upon written request of the Department, submit a source curtailment plan, consistent with good industrial practice and safe operating procedures, designed to reduce emissions of air contaminants during air pollution episodes. Such plans shall meet the requirements of Subsection C below, and shall be consistent with any further guidance developed by the Department in the administration of this article.
B.
Source curtailment plans required by Subsection A above shall be in writing and shall show the source of emissions, the approximate emissions rate and percentage of reductions to be achieved upon implementation, the time necessary after notification to implement the plan, and a brief description of the manner in which reductions will be achieved at the respective stages or levels of an air pollution episode.
C.
Source curtailment plans shall specify three phases
of curtailment actions. These phases shall correspond to the respective
alert stages or localized incident levels, unless otherwise provided
for in an individual source curtailment plan upon the approval of
the Department. The goal of the first phase of curtailment shall be
to provide for the reduction of emissions to the level required by
the applicable emission limitations of this chapter. Subject to the
approval of the Department, plans may specify that the first phase
emission reductions required of a noncomplying source may instead
be brought about by the curtailment of another source (or sources)
under common control at the same site. The goal of the second phase
of curtailment shall be to provide substantial reduction of emissions
of air contaminants by ceasing, curtailing, deferring or postponing
production and allied operations. The goal of the third phase of curtailment
shall be to eliminate emissions of air contaminants by ceasing curtailing,
deferring, or postponing production and allied operations. Curtailment
shall be obtained without causing injury to persons or substantial
damage to equipment.
D.
Source curtailment plans for incinerators shall specify
what preparations have been made to handle and store, or otherwise
dispose of, refuse without incineration.
E.
Source curtailment plans required by this section
shall be kept on the premises of the source affected and made available
to any person authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
F.
If a submitted plan, as required by Subsection A, is not acceptable to the Department, it shall issue an order directing the responsible person to modify and resubmit the plan within 30 days after receiving notice. The order shall specify the reason or reasons for disapproval and shall specify the changes or additions necessary to make the plan acceptable to the Department. In the event that the person responsible for a source fails to resubmit a plan or fails to resubmit a plan in accordance with the changes or additions recommended by the Department, the Department, in addition to any other remedies available to it under this chapter, shall have the authority to issue an order to that person detailing the procedures for that person to following during the various stages of an air pollution episode and which shall be considered the source curtailment plan for that source.
G.
Any person responsible for operation of a source for which a source curtailment plan has been submitted shall advise the Department in writing of any changes affecting the technical content or the implementation of the plan within 30 days of their occurrence. Such submittals shall be processed according to the procedures described in Subsection F above.
H.
The Department may, upon its determination that particular
sources are adversely contributing to an air pollution episode, order
such sources to implement the procedures of their source curtailment
plans. Upon notification by the Department of the existence of an
episode and the need to implement the source curtailment plan, the
person responsible for the source affected shall immediately implement
such plan. If an air pollution episode or localized incident occurs
during the period when a source curtailment plan is under review by
the Department, such plan shall be implemented, provided, however,
that if such plan is not acceptable to the Department, other curtailment
action shall be taken as specified by the Department.
A.
County-wide Air Pollution Watch declaration criteria
and alert declaration criteria.
(1)
County-wide Air Pollution Watch: A County-wide Air
Pollution Watch shall be declared by the Department when either of
the following conditions has been met:
(a)
The Department has received a meteorological
forecast that for the next thirty-six-hour period or more a condition
exists in which atmospheric dispersion parameters may lead to an air
pollution episode throughout Allegheny County; or
(b)
The Department has received a meteorological
forecast that for the past 12 hours a condition has existed in which
atmospheric dispersion parameters may lead to an air pollution episode
throughout Allegheny County, and that this condition will continue
for at least the next 24 hours.
(2)
First Stage Alert: The Department may declare a First
Stage Alert to exist if, during a County-wide watch period, any of
the following values have been equalled or exceeded at any official
monitoring station judged by the Department to be in acceptable working
condition, and the Department has obtained a forecast that for the
next 24 hours or more atmospheric dispersion parameters conducive
to the poor dispersion of air contaminants will exist. The First Stage
Alert values are:
(a)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2):
0.30 ppm, twenty-four-hour average.
(b)
PM-10: 350 ug/m3,
twenty-four-hour average.
(c)
Carbon Monoxide (CO): 15 ppm, eight-hour average.
(d)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2): either 0.6 ppm, one-hour average, or 0.15 ppm, twenty-four-hour
average.
(e)
Ozone: 0.2 ppm, one-hour average.
(3)
Second Stage Alert: The Department shall declare a
Second Stage Alert to exist if, during a County-wide watch period,
any of the following values have been equalled or exceeded at any
official monitoring station judged by the Department to be in acceptable
working condition, and the Department has obtained a forecast that
for the next twelve-hour period or more atmospheric dispersion parameters
conducive to the poor dispersion of air contaminants will exist. The
Second Stage Alert values are:
(a)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2):
0.60 PPM, twenty-four-hour average.
(b)
PM-10: 420 ug/m3,
twenty-four-hour average.
(c)
Carbon Monoxide (CO): 30 ppm, eight-hour average.
(d)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2): either 1.2 ppm, one-hour average or 0.30 ppm, twenty-four-hour
average.
(e)
Ozone: 0.40 ppm, one-hour average.
(4)
Third Stage Alert: The Department shall declare a
Third Stage Alert to exist if, during a County-wide watch period,
any of the following values have been equalled or exceeded at any
official monitoring station judged by the Department to be in acceptable
working condition, and the Department has obtained a forecast that
for the next twelve-hour period or more atmospheric dispersion parameter
conducive to the poor dispersion of air contaminants will exist. The
Third Stage Alert values are:
(a)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2):
0.80 ppm, twenty-four-hour average.
(b)
PM-10: 500 ug/m3,
twenty-four-hour average.
(c)
Carbon Monoxide (CO): 40 ppm, eight-hour average.
(d)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2): either 1.60 ppm, one-hour average, or 0.40 ppm, twenty-four-hour
average.
(e)
Ozone: 0.60 ppm, one-hour average.
(5)
Third Stage Alert (ozone): The Department may declare
a Third Stage Alert to exist if, during a first or second stage ozone
alert, the Department has obtained a forecast that within the next
thirty-six-hour period third stage ozone levels will be reached.
B.
Localized Air Pollution Watch declaration criteria
and localized incident declaration criteria.
(1)
Localized Air Pollution Watch. A localized Air Pollution
Watch shall be declared by the Department when either of the following
conditions have been met:
(a)
The Department has received a meteorological
forecast that for the next twenty-four-hour period atmospheric dispersion
parameters will exist which are conducive to an air pollution episode
only in a limited portion of Allegheny County; or
(b)
The Department has received a meteorological
forecast that atmospheric dispersion parameters which are conducive
to an air pollution episode only in a limited portion of Allegheny
County have existed for 12 hours and will continue for at least the
next 12 hours.
(2)
First Level Localized Incident: The Department may
declare a First Level Localized Incident to exist if any of the following
values have been equalled or exceeded at an official monitoring station
where a localized watch is in effect, if the station is judged by
the Department to be in acceptable working condition and is located
in a specific portion of Allegheny County for which the Department
has obtained a forecast that for the next 12 hours or more atmospheric
dispersion parameters conducive to the poor dispersion of air contaminants
will exist. The First Level Localized Incident values are:
(3)
Second Level Localized Incident. The Department may
declare a Second Level Localized Incident to exist if any of the following
values have been equalled or exceeded at an official monitoring station
where a localized watch is in effect, if the station is judged by
the Department to be in acceptable working condition and is located
in a specific portion of Allegheny County for which the Department
has obtained a forecast that for at least the next six hours atmospheric
dispersion parameters conducive to the poor dispersion of air contaminants
will exist. Second Level Localized Incident values are:
(4)
Third Level Localized Incident: The Department may
declare a Third Level Localized Incident to exist if any of the following
values have been equalled or exceeded at an official monitoring station
where a localized watch is in effect, if the station is judged by
the Department to be in acceptable working condition and is located
in a specific portion of Allegheny County for which the Department
has obtained a forecast that for at least the next six hours atmospheric
dispersion parameters conducive to the poor dispersion of air contaminants
will exist. Third Level Localized Incident values are:
C.
Termination criteria
(1)
The Department shall terminate any alert or localized
incident when the respective declaration criteria no longer are exceeded
or when a meteorological forecast is received that for the next twenty-four-hour
period conditions conducive to the good dispersion of air contaminants
will exist. The latter criterion only will be used to terminate a
watch.
(2)
Upon the termination of any alert or localized incident,
the Department shall make a public announcement to that effect and
shall also notify those persons who were required to implement source
curtailment plans.
(3)
Upon the termination of a second or Third Stage Alert,
or a second or Third Level Localized Incident, the Department shall
prepare and make available to the Board of Health, the Advisory Committee
and to the public a report on the severity and duration of the preceding
air pollution episode and the nature and effectiveness of measures
taken to control the episode.
D.
With respect to the criteria for PM-10 in Subsection A(2), (3) and (4) and Subsection B(2), (3) and (4), the Department may substitute a value based upon the average of all of the quantitative site-specific COH-PM-10 relationships in the County that are deemed reliable by the Department where, in its judgment, a reliable site-specific value has not been determined pursuant to Subsection D above.
E.
The site-specific relationship established for each
air quality monitoring station shall be reevaluated on a periodic
basis.
A.
Air Pollution Watch actions. Upon declaration of an
Air Pollution Watch:
(1)
The Department shall review air quality information
for the past twenty-four-hour period, determine the current operational
status of the air pollution monitoring network, and continue to compute
all relevant air quality indices.
(2)
The Department shall notify all sources of air pollution
that require advance preparation time that a watch has been declared
and that within a short period of time air pollution emissions reductions
may have to be effected.
(3)
The Department shall notify all affected staff and
affected local, state, and federal agencies that a watch is in effect
and that coordination of episode control actions may be required.
B.
First Stage Alert actions. Upon declaration of a First
Stage Alert:
(1)
The Department shall determine which source curtailment
plans should be placed in effect and in which area and notify those
sources to institute First Stage Alert curtailment actions.
(2)
The Department shall notify all affected local, state,
and federal agencies that a First Stage Alert is in effect and that
coordination of episode control actions may be required.
(3)
The Department shall inform the public via the mass
media that a First Stage Alert is in effect. The public may be requested
to curtail use of automobiles and electricity in the alert area and
to otherwise take actions required by this chapter. Individuals sensitive
to high levels of air pollution shall be advised to take precautionary
measures.
(4)
All open burning of tree waste, vegetation, refuse,
or debris of any form shall be prohibited in the alert area, notwithstanding
any open burning permit which has been issued.
(5)
Incinerators used for the disposal of solid or liquid
waste in the alert area shall be permitted to operate only between
the hours of 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m., unless otherwise provided for
by individual source curtailment plans.
C.
Second Stage Alert actions. Upon the declaration of
a Second Stage Alert:
(1)
The Department shall determine which source curtailment
plans should be placed in effect and in which areas and notify those
sources to institute Second Stage Alert curtailment actions.
(2)
The Department shall notify each Allegheny County
Commissioner, each Board of Health Member, and all affected local,
state, and federal agencies that a Second Stage Alert is in effect
and that coordination of episode control actions may be required.
(3)
The Department shall inform the public via the mass
media that a Second Stage Alert is in effect. The public shall be
requested to curtail use of automobiles and electricity in the alert
area and to otherwise take actions required by these regulations.
Commercial establishments involved in retail trade, amusement and
recreation, office buildings, and all other businesses and institutions
shall be requested by the Department to voluntarily reduce their consumption
of electricity and to minimize heating, cooling and ventilating of
their buildings and offices. The Department shall advise those individuals
deemed to be particularly sensitive to high levels of air pollution
to take precautionary measures.
(4)
All open burning of tree waste, vegetation, refuse
or debris, of any form shall be prohibited in the alert area, notwithstanding
any open burning permit which has been issued.
(5)
Incinerators used for the disposal of solid or liquid
wastes in the alert area shall not be operated with the exception
of those used for the incineration of pathogenic materials for which
written permission to operate has been obtained from the Department,
or unless otherwise provided for by individual source curtailment
plans.
D.
Third Stage Alert actions. Upon the declaration of
a Third Stage Alert:
(1)
The Department shall notify each Allegheny County
Commissioner, each Board of Health Member, and all affected Local,
state, and federal agencies that a Third Stage Alert is in effect
and that coordination of episode control action is required.
(2)
The Department shall inform the public via mass media
that a Third Stage Alert is in effect and the extent of the area affected.
Those individuals deemed to be particularly sensitive to high levels
of air pollution shall be advised to take appropriate precautionary
measures. Hospitals shall be informed that a Third Stage Alert has
been declared and that increased demand upon their facilities may
be imminent. Public buildings, apartment houses, commercial facilities,
air pollution sources permitted to operate during a Third Stage Alert,
office buildings, and other buildings, offices and factories listed
in the episode master plan shall be required to minimize heating,
air conditioning, and ventilation.
(3)
Second Stage Alert prohibitions of open burning and
incineration shall remain in effect during the Third Stage Alert.
(4)
The Department shall determine which source curtailment
plans should be placed in effect and in which areas and notify those
sources to institute Third Stage Alert curtailment actions.
(5)
The Department shall determine the likely extent of
the area containing sources responsible for the exceedance of Third
Stage levels. For that area, the Department shall determine which
activities described hereafter, in addition to those with source curtailment
plans, shall immediately be curtailed to the extent possible without
causing injury to persons or substantial damage to equipment, and
shall make appropriate public announcements to this effect.
(a)
Mining and quarrying.
(b)
Construction work.
(c)
Airplane flights into and out of the major airports
within that area, with the exception of those required for public
health or safety as approved by the Department.
(d)
Other activities and places of business announced
by the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.
(e)
All places of employment described hereafter
which are located in areas known to have significant concentrations
of motor vehicle activity.
[1]
Manufacturing establishments.
[2]
Places of business and public offices and institutions,
with the exception of the following:
[a]
Retail food stores.
[b]
Health-care facilities.
[c]
Pharmacies.
[d]
Government agencies, boards, authorities,
courts, and other public or private offices whose services are needed
to administer and enforce the Air Pollution Episode Program or have
been determined by the Department to be vital to the public safety,
health or welfare.
[e]
News media.
[f]
Others as approved by the Department.
E.
Localized incident actions. Upon the declaration of
a localized incident:
(1)
The Department shall review air quality information
for the past twenty-four-hour period, determine the current operational
status of the air pollution monitoring network, and continue to compute
all relevant air quality indices.
(2)
The Department shall notify all affected staff and
affected local, state, and federal agencies that a localized incident
is in effect and that coordination of episode control actions may
be required. The Department shall notify each Allegheny County Commissioner
and each Board of Health member upon the declaration of a Second or
Third Level Incident.
(3)
The Department shall determine which source curtailment
plans should be placed in effect and in which area and notify those
sources to institute curtailment actions for the appropriate declared
localized incident level.
(4)
The Department shall inform the public via the mass
media that a localized incident is in effect. Individuals sensitive
to high levels of air pollution shall be advised to take precautionary
measures.
[Added 8-15-1997]
A.
In addition to the requirements of § 505-54, the USX Corporation shall submit a PM-10 self-audit emergency action plan (referred to in this section as the Plan) for the Clairton Works, consistent with good industrial practice and safe operating procedures, designed to reduce emissions of air contaminants during high concentrations of particulate matter. This plan shall meet the requirements of Subsection C below, and shall be consistent with any further guidance developed by the Department in the administration of this article.
B.
The plan required by Subsection A above shall be in writing and shall specify the system of monitoring particulate matter, the size or sizes of particulate matter that are being monitored, at least three levels of alert stages, and the actions that will be taken by the USX Clairton Coke Works at each alert stage.
C.
The plan shall specify at least three phases of actions.
The plan will identify the levels that activate these phases. The
goal of the first phase of action shall be to provide for the assurance
of proper operation of all units. The goal of the second phase of
action shall be to provide reduction of emissions of air contaminants
by modifying, ceasing, curtailing, deferring or postponing production
and allied operations. The goal of the third phase of action shall
be to provide substantial reduction to emissions of air contaminants
by modifying, ceasing, curtailing, deferring, or postponing production
and allied operations. Curtailment shall be obtained without causing
injury to persons or substantial damage to equipment.
D.
The plans required by this section shall be kept on
the premises of the source affected and made available to any person
authorized to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
E.
If the plan, as required by Subsection A, is not acceptable to the Department, the Department shall issue an order directing the responsible person to modify and resubmit the plan within 30 days after receiving notice. The order shall specify the reason or reasons for disapproval and shall specify the changes or additions necessary to make the plan acceptable to the Department. In the event that the person responsible for a source fails to resubmit a plan or fails to resubmit a plan in accordance with the changes or additions recommended by the Department, the Department, in addition to any other remedies available to it under this chapter, shall have the authority to issue an order to that person detailing the procedures for an early warning system and emergency plan.
F.
Any person responsible for operation of the source shall advise the Department in writing of any changes affecting the technical content or the implementation of the plan within 30 days of their occurrence. Such submittals shall be processed according to the procedures described in Subsection E above.
G.
USX Clairton Works shall implement the procedures
of the plan.
