Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT)

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT)

What is RACT? RACT is the lowest emission limitation that a source is capable of meeting by the application of reasonably available control technology considering technological and economic feasibility.

Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), a new nonattainment designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) requires DEEP to review existing and possibly adopt new RACT for:

(1) all volatile organic compound (VOC) sources covered by a control technique guideline (CTG); and

(2) all major non-CTG sources of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and VOC.

Currently, Connecticut is in nonattainment of both the 2008 and 2015 ozone NAAQS. Connecticut is designated as serious nonattainment for the Greater Connecticut nonattainment area and severe nonattainment for the Connecticut portion of the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. For the 2015 ozone NAAQS, the state is moderate nonattainment statewide. DEEP has performed a RACT analysis each original nonattainment designation and each reclassification for the 2008 and 2015 ozone NAAQS.

What do NOx and VOC have to do with Ozone?

Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air by sources, but is created by chemical reactions in the air between NOx, VOC and water droplets. These reactions are accelerated during hot sunny days and these days are typically when ozone levels reach unhealthy levels. To learn more, you can visit our webpage that describes how ozone is formed, and you can always check the current local levels of ozone by visiting the CT Air Quality Index (AQI) website.

Final RACT SIP Revisions

Reasonably Available Control Measures and Reasonably Available Control Technology Analysis under the 2015 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard - Reclassification to Moderate Nonattainment for the Greater Connecticut Nonattainment Area (May 22, 2023)

Attachment A-1 Final RACT SIP

Attachment B Public Notice

Attachment C Notice and Public Participation Certification

Attachment D Comment and Response Document

Final RACT SIP Revision for the Serious Designation for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS and the Marginal/Moderate Designations for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS (December 23, 2020)

Cover letter

Attachment A-1 Final RACT SIP Revision

Attachment A-1-1 Attachment NRG - consent order No. 8377

Attachment B Public notice as published on the DEEP website on August 10, 2020

Attachment C Notice and public participation certification

Attachment D Comment and response document

Final RACT SIP Revision for the Marginal Designation for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS (July 17, 2014)

Attachment 1 to Final RACT SIP Revision (July 10, 2014)

RACT and the OTC

The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) is a multi-state organization created under the CAA to advise the EPA on transport issues and to develop and implement regional solutions to the ground-level ozone problem in the OTR. The OTC developed in 2014 a OTC Statement of RACT Principles with recommendations to assist states in attainment and maintenance of the ozone national air quality standards (NAAQS). The OTC member states strongly believe that the implementation of RACT core principles in this document will strengthen emissions limitations, lower overall emissions, and thereby derive air quality and public health benefits.

Content Last Updated: May 2, 2024

Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection