Proposed Vermont State
Implementation Plan (SIP) Revisions
The Air Pollution Control
Division is proposing revisions to the Vermont SIP to address federal
requirements with respect to (1) regional haze; and (2) the interstate
transport of pollutants. The regional haze SIP revisions are being
proposed to address the requirements under the federal Regional Haze
Rule, 40 CFR 51.309. The transport SIP revisions are being proposed
to address the requirements of Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)
with respect to the interstate transport of ozone and fine particulate
matter (PM2.5).
If requested prior to 5:00 p.m. on February 17, 2009, a public hearing
on these proposed SIP revisions will be held on Monday, February 23,
2009, at 6:00 pm in Stanley Hall Room 100 located on the grounds of the
State Office Complex at 103 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT. If
no request for a hearing is received prior to this date, a Notice of
Cancellation of the hearing will be posted on February 18, 2009, on this
web page.
* The 12/18/08 draft of this regional haze SIP revision was submitted
to and received by the Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMs)
for review on December 22, 2008. The 12/30/08 draft was submitted
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review on
January 15, 2009. The 1/15/09 draft is identical to the 12/18/08
draft with the exception that it includes minor revisions to reflect
the 12/23/08 D.C. Circuit Court decision to remand the EPA Clean
Air Interstate (CAIR) Rule without vacatur. Interested persons
should provide comments on the 1/15/09 draft pursuant to the public
notice published on January 15, 2009.
STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
(SIP): An Air Quality Plan required
by the federal Clean Air Act
The Air Planning Section
is responsible for submittal of plans required by the federal Clean Air
Act of 1970 (as amended in 1975 and 1990) to insure Vermont's attainment
and maintenance of federal ambient air quality standards. The common term
used to refer to these federally enforceable plans is "State Implementation
Plan" or SIP. Plan requirements may be triggered in several ways, but the
most general is that a national air quality standard is violated based
on actual air quality measurements collected in the state. Historically,
Vermont has had a few instances of federal air quality standards being
violated and SIP requirements being triggered. Since the early 1980's this
has not been the case. However, because of persistent regional air quality
standards violations that continue in most of the northeastern states (only
Vermont has no current standards violations), Vermont is required by the
federal Clean Air Act to have a SIP for purposes of addressing regional
ozone air quality. SIP revisions are also required to prevent significant
deterioration of air quality in states like Vermont where pollutant levels
are cleaner than national air quality standards, as well as to protect
and improve visibility in Class 1 Federal areas (National Parks and
Wilderness Areas), including the Lye Brook Wilderness Area in Vermont.
Last Updated: 1/15/09 |
Air Pollution Control Division 
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