July 12: The public hearing to discuss the State
Implementation Plan Submittals for Chicago and Metro-East Ozone and
PM2.5 Nonattainment Areas
has been cancelled. July 8: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Bureau of Air is accepting public comments on proposed revisions of the Maintenance Plans related to the 1997 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the associated draft motor vehicle emissions budgets. The Maintenance Plans contain the State’s plans for maintaining the 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 NAAQS for at least 10 years after the U.S. EPA redesignates the areas to attainment. Illinois EPA is proposing to revise the Maintenance Plans for the Chicago and Metro-East Ozone Nonattainment Areas and the Chicago PM2.5 Nonattainment Area to extend the maintenance period until 2025, and to establish new motor vehicle emissions budgets for the years 2008 and 2025. When final, the Illinois EPA will submit the revised Maintenance Plans and the motor vehicle emissions budgets to the U.S. EPA as SIP revisions to meet the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA).
The Illinois EPA will accept written comments on the revisions to the Maintenance Plans. The written comments must be postmarked by August 8, 2011, and sent to Illinois EPA, Dean Studer - Hearing Officer, Mail Code #5, 1021 N. Grand Ave. E., P.O. Box 19276, Springfield, IL 62794-9276, 217/558-8280. If a timely request for a Public Hearing is received by August 11, 2011, a hearing will be held on August 18, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. in the Sangamo Room at the Illinois EPA’s Headquarters at 1021 N. Grand Ave. East, Springfield, Illinois, and the written public comment period will be extended to September 16, 2011. The Public Hearing will be cancelled unless a written request for a Public Hearing is received by the Illinois EPA by U.S. Mail, carrier mail, or hand delivered by August 11, 2011. Verification or cancellation of the Public Hearing will be posted on August 12, 2011 on Illinois EPA’s website at: http://www.epa.state.il.us/public-notices/.
June 3, 2011: Illinois' Recommendations for Sulfur Dioxide Nonattainment Areas
The Illinois EPA submitted recommendations to the USEPA regarding the areas of the state to be designated non-attainment for sulfur dioxide, a criteria air pollutant. USEPA significantly tightened the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide in 2010. The Clean Air Act directs states to recommend nonattainment designations to USEPA by June 3, 2011. USEPA can accept or modify the states recommendations and must promulgate final designations by June 3, 2012.
The Illinois EPA has recommended that four areas in Illinois are not meeting the air quality standard for sulfur dioxide and should be designated as nonattainment: La Salle County (La Salle Township); Tazewell County (Pekin and Cincinnati Townships); Cook and Will Counties (Lemont Township in Cook County; and Lockport and DuPage Townships in Will County); and Madison County (Chouteau and Wood River Townships). The Illinois EPA also recommended that all other areas of the state be classified as unclassifiable until more information is available about their attainment status.
Illinois EPA’s recommendation letter to USEPA is available here. Illinois EPA’s technical document, which supports the recommendations, is available here. For copy of Illinois EPA’s recent presentations at public meetings on this topic, click here.
June 1: Illinois Ambient Air MOnitoring Network Plan for 2012. 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 2012.
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National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS) for Area Sources: Many area source NESHAPs are being promulgated by USEPA for smaller facilities. Information and forms for these regulations can be found on the Illinois Small Business Environmental Assistance website at : www.ienconnect.com/enviro.
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.
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. |
