Episode Criteria

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 pollutants in any place is attaining or has attained levels which could if such levels are sustained or exceeded, lead to a substantial threat to the health of persons. In making this determination, the Director will be guided by the following criteria: A. “Air Pollution Forecast”: An internal watch by the Office of Pollution Control shall be actuated by a National Weather Service advisory that Atmospheric Stagnation Advisory is in effect or the equivalent local forecast of stagnant atmospheric condition. B. “Alert”: The Alert level is that concentration of pollutants at which first stage control actions are to begin. An Alert will be declared when any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site: (1) The SO2 level is equal to or greater than 0.3 ppm (800 μg/m3) for a 24-hour average. (2) The PM10 level is equal to or greater than 350 μg/m3 for a 24-hour average. (3) The CO level is equal to or greater than 15 ppm (17 mg/m3) for an 8-hour average. (4) The ozone (O3) level is equal to or greater than 0.2 ppm (400 μg/m3) for 1-hour average. (5) The NO2 level is equal to or greater than 0.6 ppm (1130 μg/m3) for a 1-hour average or 0.15 ppm (282 μg/m3) for a 24-hour average. (6) In addition to the levels listed for the above pollutants, meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at the above levels for twelve (12) or more hours or increase, or in the case of ozone, the situation is likely to reoccur within the next 24-hours unless control actions are taken. C. “Warning”: The warning level indicates that air quality is continuing to degrade and that additional control actions are necessary. A warning will be declared when any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site: (1) The SO2 level is equal to or greater than 0.7 ppm (1600 μg/m3) for a 24-hour average. (2) The PM10 level is equal to or greater than 420 μg/m3 for a 24-hour average. (3) The CO level is equal to or greater than 30 ppm (34 mg/m3) for an 8-hour average. (4) The ozone (O3) level is equal to or greater than 0.4 ppm (800 μg/m3) for a 1-hour average. (5) The NO2 level is equal to or greater than 1.2 ppm (2260 μg/m3) for a 1-hour average. (6) In addition to the levels listed for the above pollutants, meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at the above levels for twelve (12) or more hours or increase, or in the case of ozone, the situation is likely to reoccur within the next 24-hours unless control actions are taken. D. “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. An emergency will be declared when any one of the following levels is reached at any monitoring site: (1) The SO2 level is equal to or greater than 0.8 ppm (2100 μg/m3) for a 24-hour average. (2) The PM10 level is equal to or greater than 500 μg/m3 for a 24-hour average. (3) The CO level is equal to or greater than 40 ppm (46 mg/m3) for an 8-hour average. (4) The ozone (O3) level is equal to or greater than 0.5 ppm (1000 μg/m3) for a 1-hour average. (5) The NO2 level is equal to or greater than 1.6 ppm (3000 μg/m3) for a 1-hour average or 0.4 ppm (750 μg/m3) for a 24-hour average. (6) In addition to the levels listed for the above pollutants, meteorological conditions are such that pollutant concentrations can be expected to remain at the above levels for twelve (12) or more hours or increase, or in the case of ozone, the situation is likely to reoccur within the next 24-hours unless control actions are taken. E. “Termination”: Once declared, any status reached by application of these criteria will remain in effect until the criteria for that level are no longer met. At such time, the next lower status will be assumed.