18 AAC 50.201 - Ambient air quality investigation

(a) Upon a finding by the department that emissions from an existing stationary source have a reasonable likelihood of causing or significantly contributing to ambient concentrations of one or more air pollutants that exceed an ambient air quality standard, maximum allowable increase, or the limitations of 18 AAC 50.110, the department may require the owner, operator, or permittee to evaluate the effect of the stationary source's emissions of those air pollutants on ambient air or on the limitations of 18 AAC 50.110 that are at issue. An evaluation submitted under 18 AAC 50.306, 18 AAC 50.540, this section, or prior equivalent regulations, and deemed complete by the department, must satisfy the evaluation requirements of this section, and any prior analysis must accurately represent the stationary source's emissions.

(b) Based on an evaluation submitted under (a) of this section or other information in the department's possession and subject to AS 46.14.010(e), the department may require an existing stationary source to reduce emissions or implement another control strategy to reduce the ambient impact of those emissions as necessary to ensure that the concentration of air pollutants in the ambient air does not exceed the ambient air quality standards, maximum allowable increases, or the limitations of 18 AAC 50.110. A reduction or control strategy may be imposed as a source-specific permit condition or as a regulation. Before imposing a reduction or control strategy, the department will consult with the affected owner, operator, or permittee and provide the affected public an opportunity for comment and hearing. To the extent practicable, given the costs of determining an equitable allocation, any emission reduction or control strategy imposed under this section will be equitably allocated among stationary, mobile, and area sources and source categories based upon their relative contribution to the ambient impacts of concern, the cost of additional controls, and other equitable factors.

(c) When determining whether to impose a reduction or control strategy under (b) of this section, the department will consider the uncertainties of ambient air quality analysis, the costs and benefits of resolving the uncertainties, the nature of the ambient impact area, and the proximity and magnitude of adjacent impacts.

(d) The provisions of this section do not apply if the area affected by the emissions of an air pollutant is designated nonattainment for that air pollutant under 18 AAC 50.015.

(e) The provisions of this section do not limit the department's ability to require or conduct ambient air quality analysis or control under the construction permit program established under AS 46.14.120 and this chapter.

Notes

18 AAC 50.201

Eff. 1/18/97, Register 141; am 10/1/2004, Register 171

Authority:AS 46.03.020

AS 46.14.020

AS 46.14.030

AS 46.14.120

Sec. 30, ch. 74, SLA

1993