Aug 5: Draft Regional Haze and BART Implementation Plans The IEPA announces the release of the draft State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions for Regional Haze and Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART), as required under U.S. EPA’s 1999 Regional Haze Rule.
July 22: The Illinois EPA has submitted an exceptional event request regarding the Granite City PM2.5 measurement recorded on July 5, 2008. The technical support document for the request has been attached.
July 20: Proposed Rules for Volatile Organic Compounds from Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings; Large Appliance Coatings; and Metal Furniture Coatings now available for review: In September 2007, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) issued revised Control Technique Guidelines (CTGs) for the following three Consumer and Commercial Products, Group III categories: Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings; Large Appliance Coatings; and Metal Furniture Coatings. The CTGs describe new requirements on how to reduce emissions of volatile organic materials (VOM) in ozone nonattainment areas.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is preparing proposed rule revisions to 35 Administrative Code, Parts 218 and 219 to implement the current CTGs. The Agency will be accepting comments on the draft revisions until September 1, 2009. Please submit any comments or questions to: epa.VOMcomments@illinois.gov.
Draft Rules for Chicago Nonattainment Area
Draft Rules for Metro-East Nonattainment Area
CTG Document for Paper, Film, and Foil Coatings
CTG Document for Metal Furniture Coatings
CTG Document for Large Appliance Coatings
June 19: Illinois Consumer Products and Architectural and Industrial Maintenance Coatings Rules Adopted - On June 19, 2009 new rules regarding consumer and commercial products as well as architectural and industrial maintenance coatings were adopted and published as final in the Illinois Register Volume 33, Issue 25. The adopted rule, Standards and Limitations for Organic Material Emissions for Area Sources, 35 Ill. Adm. Code 223 regulates the volatile organic material (“VOM”) content of a wide array of consumer products such as adhesives, cleaning products, personal care products, and other household products. The new rules also regulate architectural and industrial maintenance (“AIM”) coatings that are commonly applied to structures, pavements, curbs, and other applications. For a full procedural history of the rulemaking and the final adopted version of the rules please visit the Illinois Pollution Control Board’s website at: http://www.ipcb.state.il.us/cool/external/CaseView2.asp?referer=coolsearch&case=R2008-017
June 16: 2008 Annual Performance Review Report - Annual
Performance Review Reports about the Emissions Reduction Market System
(ERMS) document the progress that results from implementation of this
system. The 2008 report is available now.
May 21: Illinois Ambient Air Monitoring Plan for 2010. Federal
Regulation 40 CFR Part 58 Subpart B 58.10 requires Illinois to
submit to USEPA an annual air monitoring network plan each calendar
year. View the plan for 2010.
May 12: The Illinois EPA submitted to U.S. EPA
its Final Attainment Demonstration for the Chicago nonattainment
area for the 1997 8-hour ozone air quality standard. The
Attainment Demonstration contains Illinois’ plan for attaining
the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the Chicago nonattainment area.
The Illinois EPA is also releasing the Final Maintenance Plan,
which contains Illinois’ plan for maintaining the 8-hour
ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years after U.S. EPA redesignates the
area to attainment. The Illinois EPA intends to submit the Maintenance
Plan with a request that U.S. EPA redesignate the Chicago area
to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on ambient monitoring
data from 2006 through 2008. The Maintenance Plan is a required
element of the redesignation request. Both documents establish
new motor vehicle emissions budgets for the Chicago area.
A public hearing was held on December 16, 2008 in Chicago to receive
public comments on the two documents. The Illinois EPA also received
comments after the hearing. The Agency’s Responsiveness
Summary was included in the submittal to U.S. EPA.
May 12: Board Adopts Final Rule for Consumer Products
and Architectural and Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Coatings
The Illinois Pollution Control Board (Board) has adopted as a final
rule the VOM emission standards and limitations for Area Sources. The
adopted rule regulates the VOM content of a wide range of consumer
products and AIM coatings manufactured, sold, or distributed for
use in Illinois. For AIM coatings, the final rule mirrors
existing regulations in the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) and
in California. For consumer products, the final rule is consistent
with the existing requirements in the OTC for most product categories. The
effective date of this rule is July 1, 2009. A final version
of the rule, as well as the procedural history for its adoption,
can be found at the Board’s website at: http://www.ipcb.state.il.us/cool/external/CaseView2.asp?referer=coolsearch&case=R2008-017.
May 12: The
IEPA announces the release of the Final Smoke Management Plan
(SMP) - Pursuant to the U.S. EPA’s 1998 “Interim
Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires” and
U.S. EPA’s 1999 Regional Haze Rule, the Illinois EPA has
developed a statewide Smoke Management Plan to address smoke
from prescriptive fires (prairie and forest) used to achieve
resource benefits. The goals of the SMP are to coordinate with
land managers to develop a basic framework of procedures and
requirements for managing smoke from prescribed fires; to avoid
significant deterioration of air quality and potential NAAQS
violations; to mitigate the nuisance and public safety hazards
posed by smoke intrusions into populated areas; and to avoid
visibility impacts in Federal Class I Areas. IEPA’s
document is available here.
March 12, 2009: Recommended Boundaries for the 8-hour
Ozone Air Quality Standard
IEPA provided to U.S. EPA recommendations for nonattainment area
boundaries in Illinois for the revised 8-hour ozone National Ambient
Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). Section 107(d) of the Clean Air Act
requires Illinois to provide such recommendations for the 8-hour
ozone NAAQS, which was promulgated on March 12, 2008. IEPA’s
recommendations identify areas in Illinois that are attaining the
new standard, cannot be classified, or are not attaining the new
standard. U.S. EPA can accept or modify the state’s recommendations
and are expected to finalize nonattainment designations no later
than March 2010. IEPA’s recommendations and technical support
information are available here:
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Permit streamlining
project for minor construction permits - In June 2007 the
Bureau of Air, Permit Section initiated a streamlining project
aimed at minor construction permit applications. A "Kaizen Event" was
held in June 2007 and a plan of action aimed at improving the
minor construction permit application process was developed.
Mercury and Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Rulemaking
Information on Illinois’ rule to reduce mercury emissions
from coal-fired power plants by 90 percent is now online.
Illinois Alternate Fuels
Rebate Program
The Alternate Fuels Rebate Program provides rebates for businesses,
local governments, organizations, and individuals in the State
of Illinois who acquire an alternate fuel vehicle, convert an existing
conventional vehicle to an alternate fuel vehicle, or purchase
domestic renewable fuel to operate an alternate fuel vehicle.
Illinois Clean School Bus Program
The Illinois EPA has a goal under
the Illinois Clean School Bus Program, to provide a healthier
environment for Illinois school children. The Illinois Clean
School Bus Program will provide funding to assist schools/school
districts to reduce emissions from diesel-powered school buses.
Stage I & II Vapor
Recovery Programs
Updated information on these programs is now available along with
the registration form which is available for download in Adobe
Acrobat (PDF) format.
MACT Training Programs
Each quarter, Illinois EPA in conjunction with the Lake Michigan
Air Director's Consortium and the Region V Training Committee
plan to focus on a different MACT (Maximum Achievable Control
Technology) standard.
Air Quality Annual Report
Highlights information obtained from the Bureau of Air's statewide
air monitoring network, which incorporates more than 300 monitors
that track the measurements of a variety of pollutants and air
toxic compounds.
Illinois Green Fleets
A voluntary program where businesses, government units, and other
organizations in Illinois gain recognition and additional marketing
opportunities for having clean, alternative fuel vehicles in
their fleet.
Electric Power Plant and
Generating Unit Projects Since 1998 - list is updated regularly.
Summary Information on Fuel
Ethanol Plants in Illinois - Based on Information in the
Bureau of Air’s Permit And Application Files. The list
is updated regularly.
Summary Information on
Bio-diesel Plants in Illinois - Based on Information in the
Bureau of Air’s Permit And Application Files. The list
is updated regularly. |