Comment Periods Now Open

Plan Approval and Operating Permit Exemptions: CNG Fueling and Oil & Gas Exploration, Development, Production Facilities and Associated Equipment
The Department has published a notice in the Pa. Bulletin re-proposing a technical guidance document which lists sources or classes of sources which may be exempt from the plan approval and permitting requirements of 25 Pa. Code Chapter 127. This includes Category No. 33, pertaining to compressed natural gas fueling, and Category No. 38, pertaining to oil and gas exploration, development, production facilities and associated equipment. Changes had been made to the previously proposed document, on which the public did not have the opportunity to comment. Written comments on Category No. 38 will be accepted until March 19, 2013.

Interstate Pollution Transport Reduction; Final 2013 Ozone Season NOx Emission Limits for Nonelectric Generating Units
On Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 notice was given in the Pennsylvania Bulletin of the final nonelectric generating units (non-egu) NOx emission limits for the 2013 ozone season.

Advisory Committee Meetings

Agendas and materials are posted approximately two weeks before each meeting.

Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee

Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee

Grant Availability

2012 Pennsylvania State Clean Diesel Grant Program
The department has announced the opening of the 2012 Pennsylvania State Clean Diesel Grant Program. The grant announcement was published in the Nov. 3, 2012 issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. The grant program will be available to organizations that operate diesel-powered fleets throughout the commonwealth. The goal of the grant program is to improve Pennsylvania’s air quality by decreasing emissions from diesel-powered highway and nonroad vehicles. The program will support projects that replace, re-power, or retrofit fleet vehicles to lower emissions of pollutants; purchase and install idle reduction technology; or purchase clean alternatively-fueled fleet vehicles. The department will be accepting applications beginning Nov. 5 and closing on Dec. 19, 2012. For additional information, please refer to the Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria and the PA State Clean Diesel Grant Program Guidelines and Application.

News

GENERAL PLAN APPROVAL AND/OR GENERAL OPERATING PERMIT BAQ-GPA/GP-5
Natural Gas Compression and/or Processing Facilities
Conditions, Application, and Instructions are all available on the Air Quality General Permits Page.

Final 2016 Annual and Ozone Season CAIR Nitrogen Oxides Allowance Allocations, Final 2016 New Unit Allowance Allocation, Final Redistribution of 2011-2015 Allowances for Certain Facilities, and Extension of CAIR NOx Set-Aside Program for Offsetting Sulfur Dioxide Emissions
On Saturday, July 28, 2012, notice was given in the Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is providing notice of the finalization of the referenced allocations and extension. On December 10, 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted a final rule approving the Pennsylvania CAIR State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision (74 FR 65446, Dec. 10, 2009). Therefore, these allocations replace those under the EPA’s Federal Implementation Plan. Please note, EPA has filled the facility accounts with 2013 CAIR NOx annual and Ozone allowances. Questions concerning this notice should be directed to Mr. Randy Bordner, Chief, Stationary Source Section, Bureau of Air Quality at (717)772-3921 or to ranbordner@pa.gov.

Single Stationary Source Determinations for the Oil & Gas Industry
This policy applies to case-by-case analyses conducted by DEP’s air program permitting staff when determining whether stationary sources at oil and gas facilities should be considered a single source for permitting requirements applicable to air permitting programs including PSD, Non-attainment NSR, and Title V Permits. The policies and procedures outlined in this guidance are intended to supplement existing requirements.  Nothing in the policies or procedures shall affect regulatory requirements.

• Final Guidance (PDF)
• Public Comments & Responses (PDF)

DEP Launches Long-Term Marcellus Shale Air Monitoring Study in Southwestern Pennsylvania

The Department of Environmental Protection announced today it has begun a long-term, one-year air monitoring study of Marcellus shale development. The study, which will take place in Washington County, will measure ambient airborne pollutants in an effort to determine potential air quality impacts associated with the processing and transmission of unconventional natural gas.

The data from the study will allow DEP to assess any potential long-term impact of emissions from unconventional natural gas operations to nearby communities. This initiative will also assist the DEP in its efforts to address the cumulative impact of these operations in the Marcellus shale region.

For more information, call DEP’s Bureau of Air Quality at 717-787-9702.

• Sampling Protocol (PDF)

The 2011 PA State Clean Diesel Grant Program. 
The Program opened on Oct. 17, 2011, and closed on Dec. 15, 2011. The Department had $561,977 available for this Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant program. The DERA grants were awarded to the following organizations: 

• Convoy Solutions, LLC, of Knoxville, TN 
  Convoy Solutions, LLC, was awarded a grant of $228,985. Their proposed project includes the installation of a Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) parking facility at the Flying J Travel Center located on U.S. Route 11 near Interstate 81. The specific anti-idle technology being deployed is the IdleAir™ TSE system. The IdleAir™ is TSE single system that is capable of providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to any truck, regardless of the availability of on-board truck technology. 
• Hoopes Turf Farm, Inc., of Ulysses, PA
  Hoopes Turf Farm, Inc. (HTF) was awarded a grant of $285,000. HTF has proposed to replace 6 heavy-duty, long-haul, diesel-fueled trucks in their fleet with 6 liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled trucks. The project entails purchasing six 2013 Peterbilt™ Model 388 LNG-fueled tractors. HTF will also purchase a 6,000-gallon Automated LNG Mobile Fueling System that will be made available for public access. HTF’s public-access LNG fueling system will be the first in Pennsylvania.
• Clean Textile Systems LP of Pittsburgh, PA
  Clean Textile Systems LP, also known as CleanCare™, was awarded a grant of $47,992. Clean Textile Systems LP will replace 5 diesel-fueled delivery trucks with 5 compressed natural gas-fueled trucks. The 5 new trucks will displace approximately 6,203 gallons of diesel fuel per year.

Contact:  Nancy Herb, 717-783-9269.

DEP Comments on Revisions to the US EPA's proposed "Revisions to Federal Implementation Plans to Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone"

• Comment Letter (PDF)
• Enclosure 1 (PDF)

Northcentral Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Short-Term Ambient Air Sampling Report
As previously in the northeast and southwest, and in response to the increased number of well sites and concerns about the impact of the Marcellus Shale natural gas development activities on air quality, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection launched a short-term, screening-level air quality sampling initiative in the northcentral region in August 2010, culminating in December 2010. This report includes the findings of the screening air sampling surveys conducted by PA DEP in Bradford, Lycoming, and Tioga Counties, and background sampling conducted in Sullivan County. (PDF 1.3MB)

Northeastern Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Short-Term Ambient Air Sampling Report
As previously in the southwest, and in response to the increased number of well sites and concerns about the impact of the Marcellus Shale natural gas development activities on air quality, the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection launched a short-term, screening-level air quality sampling initiative in the northeast region in August 2010, culminating in October 2010. This report includes the findings of the screening air sampling surveys conducted by PA DEP in Susquehanna County and background sampling conducted in Sullivan County. (PDF 2.3MB)

Evaluation of Total Particulate Matter Emissions From Coal-Fired Electric Generation Units
In November 2008, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection initiated a source testing project to evaluate particulate matter emitted from coal-fired electric generating units (EGUs) in Pennsylvania. The study was designed to determine the quality and accuracy of total particulate matter emission testing available to the Department for this source category which includes all coal-fired and waste coal-fired electric utility steam generating units. (PDF)

Southwestern Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Short-term Ambient Air Sampling Report
In response to the increased number of well sites and concerns about the impact of the Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling activities on air quality, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP or Department) launched a short-term, screening- level air quality sampling initiative in the southwest region in April 2010; the project was completed in August 2010. (PDF 2MB)

Final Report - Pennsylvania Biofuel Development and In-State Production Incentive Act (Act 78 of 2008)
The Pennsylvania Biofuel Development and In-State Production Incentive Act, enacted on July 10, 2008, mandates the use of renewable fuels and promotion of the production of renewable fuels in Pennsylvania in order to grow the state's economy and reduce it's dependence on foreign fuels. The Act establishes biodiesel and ethanol volume standards once certain production triggers have been met.

The act also requires that an ambient air quality study be completed by an independent third party qualified to conduct an ambient air quality study to determine the impact of the act on the Commonwealth's ability to achieve and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

For Your Reference

2013 Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan

• View Monitoring Plan (PDF 2MB)(6/30/12)
• Comment/Response Document (PDF)(6/30/12)

Final Report - Special Carlisle Area Fine Particulate Air Monitoring Study
As a result of concerns raised by local residents due to the increased emissions from truck traffic, Carlisle area residents, the Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania (CAB), and the Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) conducted an ambient air quality study focusing on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the Carlisle area. Results of the study and the entire report can be viewed by clicking on the link above.

Evaluation of the Air Quality Program
This report, which is required under Section 4.3 of the Air Pollution Control Act (APCA or Act 95 of 1992), evaluates the effectiveness of programs adopted to implement Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.

Control Techniques Guidelines This page has information about the Control Techniques Guidelines (CTGs) documents issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 1994 through 2008. The CTGs are documents issued by the EPA to provide States with the EPA’s recommendation on how to control the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from a specific type of product or source category in an ozone nonattainment area.

ANNUAL EMISSION FEE PRICES In accordance with § 127.705(e), the emissions fee for air pollutants emitted in calendar year 2011 is $56/ton of "regulated pollutant" as defined in § 127.705(d).

DIESEL IDLING LAW On October 9, 2008, the Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act was signed into law (Act 124). Taking effect 120 days from enactment, the law restricts most diesel-powered motor vehicles over 10,000 pounds from idling more than five minutes in any continuous 60-minute period, with a number of exemptions. Click here for information about Pennsylvania's new Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act.

Centralia Mine Fire Mercury Study
The DEP’s Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) and the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) partnered to
conduct a study of mercury emissions from a coal mine fire, with financial support from the United States EPA and OSM. The final report is now available.

2013 Dry Cleaner Compliance Calendar Now Available

COLLEGEVILLE AREA AIR MONITORING REPORT DEP is investigating trichloroethylene levels in the air for two reasons: historic groundwater contamination and nearby air emission sources.
Site Information and Raw Data
1st Report (PDF)(1/19/07)
2nd Report (PDF)(3/07/08)
3rd Report (PDF)(11/17/09)

Air Quality Index
Pollution Levels
2007 Annual Report
Program Evaluation

Fine Particulate Matter
Ground-Level Ozone
Get Forecast by E-mail

The Big Picture
Clean Air Plans
AQ Partners
Drive Clean PA