Proposed Air Pollution Episode Alert Criteria
October 2009
The following provides revised air quality thresholds that serve as alert levels in the "Air Pollution Episode Communication Handbook," which is used by the Department to implement 6 NYCRR Part 207, Control Measures For Air Pollution Episode. This rule requires owners of a significant air contamination source to submit a proposed episode action plan to the Department within 90 days of a request by the Department. These plans must contain detailed steps which will be taken by the air contamination source owner to reduce air contaminant emissions during each stage of an air pollution episode. This plan is also intended to implement the requirements of Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(G), Emergency Powers and Contingency Plans, as they apply to New York State. This is addressed through the incorporation of the federal Air Quality Index and associated Significant Harm Levels for the criteria pollutants into this plan as alert levels for pollution episodes.
Additionally, this document contains a list of contacts and responsibilities in the event of an air pollution episode including NYSDEC central office and regional contacts as well as State Emergency Management Office and local emergency contacts.
Air Pollution Episode Criteria and Contacts New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
1.0 Introduction:
Air pollution episodes can occur whenever there are stagnating meteorological conditions or air pollution concentrations become excessively high. The Bureaus of Air Quality Assurance, Stationary Sources, and Air Quality Surveillance, and the Impact Assessment and Meteorology Section provide important information and data gathering services during an air pollution episode. Control measures may have to be implemented. These measures will be determined by the Division of Air Resources and carried out by the field staff through the Regional Director and local governmental agencies. An Air Pollution Episode Control Group will coordinate the Environmental Conservation Department's actions and establish a communications system which will provide an orderly means of coordinating and communicating departmental air pollution control efforts and instructions during air pollution episodes.
2.0 Air Pollution Episode Group:
| Office Phone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coordinator: | Mr. D. Shaw | (518) 402-8452 |
| 1st Alternate: | Ms. K. Dalton | (518) 402-8401 |
| 2nd Alternate: | Mr. J. Spath | (518) 402-8401 |
The Coordinator will call the group together to carry out its assigned duties during an air pollution episode. The Coordinator will also notify the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2 Office, in New York City, the New York Independent System Operator and DEC Region 2 office who will notify the Interstate Environmental Commission of the episode status. A secretary will be assigned to the Coordinator and group during the episode period.
| Office Phone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Secretary: | Ms. D. Donohue | (518) 402-8403 |
| Communications: | Ms. M. Wren | (518) 402-8000 |
2.1 Bureau of Air Quality Assurance
| Office Phone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coordinator: | Ms. K. Dalton | (518) 402-8401 |
| 1st Alternate: | Mr. J. Spath | (518) 402-8401 |
This Bureau documents how well Division of Air Resources program elements are performed relative to established procedures, regulations, and laws, and provides the information that serves as the basis for determining what, if any, corrective actions need to be instituted.
2.2 Bureau of Air Quality Surveillance
| Office Phone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coordinator: | Mr. P. Lavin | (518) 402-8508 |
| 1st Alternate: | Mr. S. Mo | (518) 402-8508 |
| 2nd Alternate: | Mr. B. Lay | (518) 402-8508 |
Responsible for continuous air monitoring operations, data validity and interpretation.
2.3 Impact Assessment and Meteorology Section
| Office Phone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coordinator: | Mr. G. Playford | (518) 402-8403 |
| 1st Alternate: | Mr. R. Gaza | (518) 402-8403 |
The section is responsible for all weather forecasting/interpretation and issuances of Air Quality Health Advisories throughout the entire state including the metropolitan New York City area. The meteorologist will notify the coordinator when an Air Pollution Episode is about to be issued as well as its termination. Staff will act as a liaison for SEMO and the National Weather Service with respect to meteorological issues and provide forecast information during a state emergency. They are also responsible for a meteorological data summary after the episode termination.
2.4 Bureau of Stationary Sources (BOSS)
| Office Phone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coordinator: | Mr. R. Stanton | (518) 402-8403 |
| 1st Alternate: | Mr. R. Leone | (518) 402-8403 |
| 2nd Alternate: | Mr. E. Wade | (518) 402-8403 |
Responsible for recommendations of control actions for each stage of an episode. Responsible for special abatement action recommendations; technical control liaison with field air pollution control engineers; and for keeping the coordinator informed. Responsible for preparation of Commissioner's episode abatement orders for each episode stage and termination. Responsible for summarizing control actions after episode termination. Responsible for keeping a field notification log and phone notification of the field.
The BOSS representative will cover the following topics as he notifies each region:
Notification of initiation, status, termination and any status change of the episode.
Summary of meteorological conditions.
Summary of pollution levels - monitoring data.
Commissioner's orders issued and press releases on enforcement of rules and regulations.
Instructs the field to implement their episode procedures. Give other directions as required.
Receive assessment of the local situation from the field.
The BOSS representative will telephone the regional contacts to advise and communicate information concerning the air pollution episode.
2.5 Office of Public Information
| Office Phone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coordinator: | Mr. Y. Roy | (518) 402-9351 |
| 1st Alternate: | Ms. M. Wren | (518) 402-8000 |
Responsible for the issuance of appropriate press releases and other public information items deemed necessary by the group and/or the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation during and at the termination of the episode period.
2.6 Contact Outside of Normal Work Hours
Telephone contact outside of normal business hours should take place through the Department's TIPP 24-hour telephone hotline. The TIPP phone number is
1-800-TIPP DEC (1-800-847-7332).
2.7 Operations Log:
It will be necessary for the episode group to keep an "Air Pollution Episode Operations Log". Each member should "log in" major events which show the status of notification, action, and completion of major responsibility. This log will serve as a major source of information of "what has happened" for each member of the group, alternates and others. Also, this log will be the official record of what occurred during an episode and, as such, could become legal evidence if the need arises.
3.0 Director - Division of Air Resources
| Office Phone | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coordinator: | Mr. D. Shaw | (518) 402-8452 |
| 1st Alternate: | Mr. J. Higgins | (518) 402-8451 |
The Division of Air Resources' Director should be the first person informed by the control group. He is responsible for informing the Department's Executive staff.
4.0 Regional Director - Field Functions
Each Regional Director will prepare and maintain a current and up-to-date air pollution episode communications and operations plan similar to the Central Office plan. The field communications shall list the principals and two alternates each including their responsibilities and office and home phones. The list shall include local government officials (such as designated local health department personnel), as needed to implement air pollution episode plans. The plan shall be such that all appropriate people can be notified day or night and on holidays and weekends. A list of significant sources in each region is required with names and phone numbers of the person to be contacted for each source.
The plan should include a method of recording that all regional responsibilities and notifications are carried out during each stage.
A copy of the field Air Pollution Episode Communications Plan from each region shall be sent to the APEG Coordinator for approval. The region shall inform the Coordinator of any change in their regional communication plan.
Regional Office Representatives (Office phone)
Region 1
Ajay Shah (631) 444-0205
Deepak Ramrakhiani (631) 444-0217
Anna Guan (631) 444-0215
Region 2
Sam Lieblich (718) 482-4888
Richard Fram (718) 482-4025
Robert Bolt (718) 482-4872
Region 3
Ken Grzyb (845) 256-3048
Tom Miller (New Paltz) (845) 256-3149
Maria Antoniou (White Plains) (914) 428-2505 x363
Region 4
Donald Spencer (518) 357-2350
Frank Riedy (518) 357-2356
Gary McPherson (518) 357-2278
Region 5
James Coutant (518) 623-1212
Steve Barlow (518) 623-1216
Mike Sundberg (518) 623-1231
Region 6
Tom Morgan (315) 785-2521
Craig Weil (Utica) (315) 793-2525
Chris LaLone (315) 785-2513
Region 7
Reggie Parker (315) 426-7554
Dave Weaver (315) 426-7552
Tom Elter (315) 426-7552
Region 8
Tom Marriott (585) 226-5304
Tom Wickerham (585) 226-5319
Dan Walsh (585) 226-5317
Region 9
Larry Sitzman (716) 851-7130
Joe Sciascia (716) 851-7130
Al Carlacci (716) 847-4565
STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION - MAIN and REGIONAL CONTACTS
State Emergency Management Office
1220 Washington Avenue
Suite 101, Building 22
Albany, NY 12226-2251
State Emergency Coordination Center - Staffed 24 Hrs (518) 292-2200
REGION I
Phone: (631) 952-6322
REGION II
Phone: (845) 454-0430
REGION III
Phone: (518) 793-6646
REGION IV
Phone: (315) 438-8907
REGION V
Phone: (315) 331-4880
COUNTY EMERGENCY CONTACTS NEW YORK STATE
ALBANY County
Disaster Preparedness & Civil Defense
75 Remsen Street
Albany, NY 12047
(518) 765-2352
ALLEGANY County
Office of Emergency Services
4884 State Route 19
Belmont, NY 14813
(585) 268-7658
BROOME County
Office of Emergency Services
Public Safety Facility
153 Lt. VanWinkle Dr.
Binghamton, NY 13905
(607) 778-1911
CATTARAUGUS County
Emergency Services
303 Court Street
Little Valley, NY 14755-1092
(716) 938-9191
CAYUGA County
Emergency Management Office
160 Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021
(315) 252-7242
CHAUTAUQUA County
Office of Emergency Services
2 Academy Street Suite A Room 106
Mayville, NY 14757-1007
(716) 753-4341
CHEMUNG County
Emergency Management Office
103 Washington St.
POB 588
Elmira, NY 14902-0588
(607) 735-8600
CHENANGO County
Emergency Management Office
14 West Park Place
Sheriff's Building
Norwich, NY 13815
(607) 334-5380
CLINTON County
Office of Emergency Services
16 Emergency Services Dr.
Plattsburgh, NY 12903
(518) 561-3370
COLUMBIA County
85 Industrial Track
Hudson, NY 12534
(518) 828-4114
CORTLAND County
Office of Fire & Emergency Management
60 Central Ave.
Cortland, NY 13045-5590
(607) 753-7533
DELAWARE County
Office of Emergency Services
280 Phoebe Lane, Suite 3
Delhi, NY 13753
(607) 746-2000
DUTCHESS County
Office of Emergency Response
392 Creek Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 471-1414
ERIE County
Emergency Services Dept.
45 Elm St.
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 898-3696
ESSEX County
Office of Emergency Services
702 Stowersville Rd., P.O.B. 30
Lewis, NY 12950
(518) 873-6410
FRANKLIN County
Emergency Services
55 Bare Hill Rd.
Malone, NY 12953
(518) 483-1219
FULTON County
Civil Defense
County Complex
2712 State Hwy.
Johnstown, NY 12095
(518) 736-2100
GENESEE County
Office of Emergency Management
Services
7690 State Street
Batavia, NY 14020
(585) 343-5000
GREENE County
Office of Emergency Services
25 Volunteer Dr.
Cairo, NY 12413
(518) 943-2424
HAMILTON County
Office of Emergency Services
P.O.B. 605
Lake Pleasant, NY 12108
(518) 548-6223
HERKIMER County
Office of Emergency Management
71 Reservoir Rd.
Herkimer, NY 13350
(315) 867-1254
JEFFERSON County
Office of Fire & Emergency Management
753 Waterman Dr.
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 786-2601
LEWIS County
Office of Emergency Management
P.O.B. 233
Outer Stowe Street
Lowville, NY 13367-0233
(315) 376-3511
LIVINGSTON County
Emergency Management Services
3360 Gypsy Lane
Mount Morris, NY 14510
(585) 243-7100
MADISON County
Office of Emergency Preparedness
County Office Building
P.O.B. 577
Wampsville, NY 13163
(315) 366-2258
MONROE County
Office of Emergency Preparedness
1190 Scottsville Road, Suite 200
Rochester, NY 14624
(585) 528-2222
MONTGOMERY County
Office of Emergency Management
P.O. Box 1500
Business Street
Fonda, NY 12068-1500
(518) 853-5500
NASSAU County
Emergency Management Office
100 Carman Avenue
Hempstead, NY 11554
(516) 572-4195
City of NEW YORK
Office of Emergency Management
11 Water Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 422-8700
NIAGARA County
Office of Emergency Services
5574 Niagara St. Ext.
P.O.B. 496
Lockport, NY 14095
(716) 438-3393
ONEIDA County
Office of Emergency Services
120 Base Road
Oriskany, NY 13424
(315) 765-2500
ONONDAGA County
Dept. of Emergency Management
421 Montgomery Street, Rm. 163
Syracuse, NY 13202
(315) 435-8690
ONTARIO County
2914 County Road 48
Canandaigua, NY 14424
(585) 396-4310
ORANGE County
Dept. of Emergency Services
22 Wells Farm Road
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 615-0400
ORLEANS County
Emergency Management Office
14064 West County House Road
Albion, NY 14411
(585) 589-4414
OSWEGO County
Emergency Management Office
200 North Second Street
Fulton, NY 13069
(315) 343-1313
OTSEGO County
Office of Emergency Services
140 County Highway 33W
Cooperstown, NY 13326
(607) 547-5351
PUTNAM County
Office of Emergency management
112 Old Route Six
Carmel, NY 10512
(845) 225-4300
RENSSELAER County
Bureau of Pubic Safety
4000 Main Street
Troy, NY 12181-0389
(518) 270-5255
ROCKLAND County
Office of Fire & Emergency Services
35 Fireman's Memorial Dr.
Pomona, New York 10907
(845) 364-8600
SARATOGA County
Office of Emergency Services
25 West High Street
Ballston Spa, NY 12020
(518) 885-6761
SCHENECTADY County
Emergency Management Office
531 Liberty Street
Schenectady, NY 12305
(518) 374-7744
SCHOHARIE County
Emergency Management Office
P.O. Box 690
Schoharie, NY 12157-0690
(518) 295-8114
SCHUYLER County
Emergency Management Office
106 Tenth Street
Watkins Glen, NY 14891
(607) 535-8222
SENECA County
Emergency Management Office
1 DiPronio Drive
Waterloo, NY 13165
(315) 539-9241
ST. LAWRENCE County
Office of Emergency Services
48 Court Street
Canton, NY 13617
(315) 386-4591
STEUBEN County
Office of Emergency Services
6979 Rumsey St. Ext.
Bath, NY 14810
(607) 664-2801
SUFFOLK County
Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services
Yaphank Ave., Bldg. # C0110
Yaphank, NY 11980-0127
(631) 852-4900
SULLIVAN County
Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
P.O.B. 5012
Monticello, NY 12701
(845) 583-7100
TIOGA County
Office of Emergency Management
103 Corporate Dr.
Owego, NY 13827
(607) 687-1010
TOMPKINS County
Dept. of Emergency Response
92 Brown Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 273-8000
ULSTER County
Emergency Management Office
238 Golden Hill Lane
Kingston, NY 12401
(845) 338-1440
WARREN County
Office of Emergency Services
1340 State Route 9
Lake George, NY 12845
(518) 761-6490
WASHINGTON County
Office of Emergency Services
Washington County Municipal Center
383 Broadway
Fort Edward, NY 12828
(518) 747-7520
WAYNE County
Emergency Management Office
7336 Route 31
Lyons, NY 14489
(315) 946-9711
WESTCHESTER County
Office of Emergency Management
200 Bradhurst Ave.
Mount Pleasant, NY 10532
(914) 231-1819
WYOMING County
Office of Emergency Management
County Public Safety Bldg., Suite 221
151 North Main Street
Warsaw, NY 14569
(585) 786-2255
YATES County
Office of Emergency Management
227 Main St.
Penn Yan, NY 14527
(315) 536-3033
Source: http://www.semo.state.ny.us/uploads/Planning_Guide_May_2009.pdf
| Pollutant | Averaging Time (Units) |
Standard | Forecast | Stage I AQI (201-300) |
Stage II AQI (301-400) |
Emergency AQI (401-500) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5* | 24 hr (µg/m3) |
35 | 36-hour Stagnation advisory w/at least 12 hours remaining --- Expectation of sunshine and stagnation tomorrow |
140.5-210.4 | 210.5-280.4 | >280.4 |
| PM10** | 24 hr (µg/m3) |
150 | 355-424 | 425-504 | >504 | |
| Ozone** | 1hr (ppm) |
0.12 | 0.205-0.404 | 0.405-0.504 | >0.504 | |
| Ozone** | 8hr (ppm) |
0.075 | 0.116-0.374 | --- | --- | |
| CO** | 1 hr (ppm) |
35 | 15.5-30.4 | 30.5-40.4 | >40.4 | |
| SO2** | 3 hr (ppm) |
0.5 | 0.305-0.604 | 0.605-0.804 | >0.804 | |
| NO2** | 1 hr (ppm) |
0.080-0.100*** | 0.65-1.24 | 1.25-1.64 | >1.64 |
* From "Under consideration" at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/gen/aqi_issue_paper_020707.pdf
** The rest are from (see last page): http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-15326.pdf
*** Draft NO2 NAAQS Proposal (74FR34404), July 15, 2009 (p.34466): http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2009/July/Day-15/a15944.pdf
