15A NCAC 02D .0302. EPISODE CRITERIA

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

(1)           Air Pollution Forecast.  An internal watch by the Division and local air pollution control agencies shall be activated by a National Weather Service advisory that an atmospheric stagnation advisory is in effect, or the equivalent local forecast of stagnant atmospheric conditions.

(2)           Alert.  The alert level is that concentration of pollutants at which first stage control actions are to begin.  The director shall proclaim an alert when any of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site:

(a)           sulfur dioxide -- 800 ug/m3 (0.3 p.p.m.), 24-hour average;

(b)           particulate -- 375 ug/m3, 24-hour average;

(c)           sulfur dioxide and particulate combined -- product of sulfur dioxide ug/m3, 24-hour average, and particulate ug/m3, 24-hour average, equal to 65,000;

(d)           carbon monoxide  --  17 mg/m3 (15 p.p.m.), eight-hour average;

(e)           ozone -- 400 ug/m3 (0.2 p.p.m.), one-hour average;

(f)            nitrogen dioxide  -- 1130 ug/m3 (0.6 p.p.m.), one-hour average; 282 ug/m3 (0.15 p.p.m.), 24-hour average;

(g)           PM10--350 ug/m;, 24-hour average;and meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at these levels for 12 or more hours or increase or, for ozone, the situation is likely to recur within the next 24-hours unless control actions are taken.

(3)           Warning.  The warning level indicates that air quality is continuing to degrade and that additional abatement actions  are necessary.  The Director shall proclaim a warning when any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site:

(a)           sulfur dioxide  --  1600 ug/m3 (0.6 p.p.m.), 24-hour average

(b)           particulate -- 625 ug/m3, 24-hour average;

(c)           sulfur dioxide and particulate combined -- product of sulfur dioxide ug/m3, 24-hour average, and particulate ug/m3, 24-hour average, equal to 261,000;

(d)           carbon monoxide  --  34 mg/m3 (30 p.p.m.), eight-hour average;

(e)           ozone -- 800 ug/m3 (0.4 p.p.m.), one-hour average;

(f)            nitrogen dioxide  --  2260 ug/m3 (1.2 p.p.m.), one-hour average; 565 ug/m3 (0.3 p.p.m.), 24-hour average;

(g)           PM10  --  420 ug/m;; 24-hour average;and meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at these levels for 12 or more hours or increase or, for ozone, the situation is likely to recur within the next 24 hours unless control actions are taken.

(4)           Emergency.  The emergency level indicates that air quality is continuing to degrade to a level that should never be reached and that the most stringent control actions are necessary.  The Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the concurrence of the Governor shall declare an emergency when any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site:

(a)           sulfur dioxide  --  2100 ug/m3 (0.8 p.p.m.), 24-hour average;

(b)           particulate -- 875 ug/m3, 24-hour average;

(c)           sulfur dioxide and particulate combined -- product of sulfur dioxide ug/m3, 24-hour average, and particulate ug/m3, 24-hour average, equal to 393,000;

(d)           carbon monoxide  --  46 mg/m3 (40 p.p.m.), eight-hour average;

(e)           ozone -- 1000 ug/m3 (0.5 p.p.m.), one-hour average;

(f)            nitrogen dioxide  -- 3000 ug/m3 (1.6 p.p.m.), one-hour average; 750 ug/m3 (0.4 p.p.m.), 24-hour average;

(g)           PM10--500 ug/m;, 24-hour average.

(5)           Termination.  Once declared any level reached by application of these criteria shall remain in effect until the criteria for that level are no longer met.  At that time the next lower level shall be assumed.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-215.3(a)(1); 143-215.3(a)(12);

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1998; July 1, 1988; July 1, 1984; June 1, 1980; December 1, 1976.