North Carolina State Implementation Plan for Air Quality
The United States Clean Air Act is administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The United States Clean Air Act requires all states to submit State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for compliance to the EPA. Implementation plans declare what the state will specifically do to comply.
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What's in a SIP?
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All SIPs must contain an abstract and narrative, a set of rules, and supporting technical documents. SIPs also contain the specific agreements between the state and the EPA for air pollution clean-up and control.
Region 4
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Implementation plans must be coordinated regionally. North Carolina is part of EPA Region 4. Region 4 consists of six Indian tribes, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. North Carolina is bordered by South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Trans-state air pollution control issues are addressed in agreements between these states in their SIPs, and those plans are reviewed by EPA Region 4.
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North Carolina's SIP
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The SIP is researched and written by the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources. North Carolina's SIP includes air pollution control requirements--for example no-burn laws, and air quality permitting information, like that required of a coal-fired power plant. Air pollution control requirements also include air pollution sources and emergencies, ambient air and emission control standards, open burning rules and extensive research on pollution sources, by region and large municipality. Permitting information in the North Carolina SIP includes air quality permits, emissions reporting requirements, construction/operation permits, transportation facility procedures and exclusionary rules.
Assessment and Evaluation
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North Carolina's SIP is monitored by the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in coordination with the EPA. Compliance is measured for an agreed period of time, whereupon the specific location or enterprise must "demonstrate attainment." Attainment leads to redesignation of a different air quality status, and the inspectee must then present a maintenance plan.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit air pollution image by loooki from Fotolia.com
