Composite Training Unit Exercises and Joint Task ... - Govsupport.us

COMPTUEX/JTFEX EA/OEA Final Chapter 3Federal Requirements – The USEPA is responsible for enforcing the Clean Air Act (CAA) of 1970, asamended (1977 and 1990) (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.). Specific geographic areas are classified aseither “attainment” or “nonattainment” areas for each criteria pollutant based upon the comparison ofmeasured data with the NAAQS and state standards. If data are incomplete, or do not support aclassification of attainment or nonattainment, then an area may be considered “unclassified” for thatpollutant.The USEPA requires each state to prepare a State Implementation Plan (SIP) that describes how that statewill achieve compliance with the NAAQS. Section 176(c) of the CAA, the General Conformity Rule,requires Federal agencies to ensure that actions undertaken in nonattainment or maintenance areas areconsistent with the applicable SIP. In order to demonstrate conformity with the CAA, a project mustclearly demonstrate that it does not: 1) cause or contribute to any new violation of any standard in anyarea; 2) increase the frequency or severity of any existing violation of any standard in any area; or 3)delay timely attainment of any standard, required interim emission reductions, or other milestones.Compliance with the General Conformity Rule is presumed if the emissions associated with the Federalaction are below the de minimis emission levels for the region in which the action is proposed.State Requirements – The CAA allows individual states to adopt ambient air quality standards and otherregulations provided they are at least as stringent as Federal standards. The proposed action includesparticipants from three individual states: California, Nevada, and Arizona. The following sectionsprovide a discussion of specific state requirements for these states.California – In California, the SIP consists of separate elements for each air basin. The California CleanAir Act of 1988 (26 California Health and Safety Code Section 1000 et seq.) established CaliforniaAmbient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS) for the seven criteria pollutants regulated by the USEPA, aswell as additional standards for sulfates, hydrogen sulfide, vinyl chloride, and visibility reducing particles.The California Air Resource Board (CARB) is the agency responsible for enforcing regulations designedto achieve and maintain the CAAQS. The CARB has delegated authority to local air quality managementdistricts to manage development of separate elements of the SIP for the air basin under their jurisdiction,and to adopt and enforce rules and regulations arising from the SIP and from State and Federalregulations. The CARB requires that each of the air districts in California develop its own strategy forachieving compliance with the NAAQS and CAAQS, but maintains regulatory authority over thesestrategies, as well as regulating mobile source emissions throughout the state.Nevada – The State of Nevada is divided into three jurisdictions, which manage their own air programsby designation of the Nevada State Legislature. Air quality programs for the rural areas of the state aremanaged by the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Division of EnvironmentalProtection. The urban areas of the state are managed by the Clark County Department of Air QualityManagement (Las Vegas), and the Washoe County District Health Department, Air Quality ManagementDivision (Reno). Statewide Air Quality Standards are established by the Nevada Code, Chapter445B.22097 (Standards of Quality for Ambient Air).Arizona – The Air Quality Division of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)administers the state’s air quality program from the Division’s main office and two regional offices. Theprogram is designed to enforce requirements based on the NAAQS. The ADEQ has not adopted morestringent state ambient air quality standards.State and Federal Air Quality Standards are shown in Table 3.1-1.February 2007 3-2