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Welcome to the Bureau of Air

The Bureau of Air works to improve air quality by identifying air pollution problems, proposing appropriate regulations, conducting inspections, and reviewing permit applications. It also operates a vehicle emissions testing program.

Recent News

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:

 

 

Current Features

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.

Air Menu

About the Bureau of Air
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Publications
Annual Emission Report (AER)
Air Quality Information
AirFacts
Vehicle Emissions Testing
Partners for Clean Air
Permitting of Air Pollution Sources
Open Burning Permits
Emissions Reduction Market System (ERMS)
Asbestos Program
Other Bureau of Air Programs
NOx SIP Call and CAIR NOx Trading Programs
Illinois Green Fleets
MACT Training
Illinois Clean School Bus Program
Regulatory Development of Key Rules (CAIR/Mercury)
Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group
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