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Home > Programs > Bureau of Environmental Protection > Office of Air Resources > 8 HR Ozone and Transport Documents


 
Decision

In Re: Adoption of the “Rhode Island Attainment Plan for the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard” and the “Revision of the Rhode Island State Implementation Plan to Address Interstate Transport of Pollutants Affecting Attainment and Maintenance of the 8-Hour Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards”

Introduction
On 14 February 2008 a notice was published in the Providence Journal-Bulletin and was mailed to interested parties announcing a public hearing and comment period to accept comments on the proposed adoption of the “Rhode Island Attainment Plan for the 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard” and the “Revision of the Rhode Island State Implementation Plan to Address Interstate Transport of Pollutants Affecting Attainment and Maintenance of the 8-Hour Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards.” The public hearing was held on 20 March 2008 in Room 300 of the Department of Environmental Management Building, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, Rhode Island. The public comment period closed at 4:00 PM on 20 March 2008.

In fulfillment of Federal Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements, the attainment plan uses modeling and other technical analyses to demonstrate that Rhode Island will attain the 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by the end of the 2009 ozone season. The attainment plan also includes the following elements required by the CAA:
  • The 2002 Base Year Emissions Inventory for Rhode Island,


  • A Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) demonstration that VOC and/or NOx emissions in the State will be reduced by at least 15% by 2008,


  • An analysis showing that Rhode Island’s regulatory requirements will be consistent with Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for major sources of VOC and NOx and for sources with Control Technique Guidelines by 2009,


  • A Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM) analysis showing there are no additional emissions control requirements for point and nonpoint sources that could be adopted in Rhode Island that would advance the State’s attainment year,


  • A commitment to adopt additional control measures for the asphalt paving, industrial solvent cleaning, flat wood paneling and adhesives source categories before 2009 consistent with RACT,


  • Contingency measures to be implemented upon failure to meet RFP or attainment milestones, and


  • A mobile source emissions budget for the years 2008 and 2009, which will be used for Transportation Conformity purposes.
The transport plan demonstrates that emissions in Rhode Island do not contribute significantly to elevated levels of ozone and fine particulate matter in areas in other states that are not in attainment of the NAAQS for those pollutants.

The appendices for the 8-Hour Attainment Plan may be obtained from Barbara Morin at 222-4700 ext. 7012.
For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer
rev. 5/1/08