Environment DEC
From the June 2003 issue
New Policy to Control Fine Particulate Emissions
DEC Commissioner Erin M. Crotty has announced a draft policy to assess and minimize emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), mitigating this pollutant's impacts on public health and the environment.
Particulates and Their Effects
Airborne particulate matter consists of various substances suspended in the air as solids or liquid droplets. Fine particles-those less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM 2.5)-present potential health problems because they can penetrate into the deepest parts of the lungs. Scientific studies indicate a possible connection between fine particulate matter and respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis. Elderly people and young children are most susceptible to health risks posed by PM2.5. Particulate matter may also contribute to haze.
The primary sources of PM2.5 are fossil fuel combustion from stationary sources such as oil-fired power plants and mobile sources, such as diesel vehicles. Certain industrial sources, like smelting, and large wildfires also emit fine particulate matter.
Chemical reactions in the atmosphere can produce PM2.5 through a process called secondary formation. These reactions involve gases such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxides (SOx) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Secondary formation may take hours or days to complete.
How the Policy Works
DEC's draft policy sets guidelines to assess the level of PM2.5 emissions from a proposed facility, measure the impacts of those emissions and when necessary, mitigate their impact. Under the draft policy, if a facility is subject to review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) or is a major power plant being reviewed under Article X, the project applicant would have to quantify its potential PM2.5 emissions.
If estimates of total emissions exceed 15 tons per year, an air quality impact analysis, consisting of computer modeling, would be required to determine the project's incremental contribution to PM2.5 ambient air concentrations. Based on this analysis, a full Environmental Impact Statement may be undertaken to assess the severity of the impact, evaluate alternatives and institute reasonable mitigating measures to minimize project impacts.
The draft policy was published in the Environmental Notice Bulletin on May 14, 2003. You may also write for a copy to Steve Flint, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Second Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233.
A 30-day public comment period on the draft policy will run until June 13, 2003. Written comments may be submitted to Steve Flint at the above address.
June 12 update - The public comment period has been extended until July 14, 2003.
