Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

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

Air Quality Trends - SO2

Air quality trends are used to assess if the air quality is improving and thereby determine if control and abatement strategies are effective. Ozone • PM2.5 • Carbon Monoxide • Nitrogen Dioxide • Sulfur Dioxide • Lead

EPA strengthened the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard NAAQS) for SO2 on June 2, 2010.  The revised primary SO2 standard is a new 1-hour standard at a level of 75 parts per billion (ppb).  EPA’s evaluation of the scientific information and the risks posed by breathing SO2 indicate that this new 1-hour standard will protect public health by reducing people’s exposure to high short-term concentrations of SO2.  The following chart shows that monitored 1-hour design values* in Connecticut have been below this standard since the year 2000. 

1-hour SO2 Design Value Trends 

Please select for a larger view of the above graph (PDF)

*To attain this standard, the 3-year average of the 99th percentile of the daily maximum 1-hour average at each monitor within an area must not exceed 75 ppb.

 

Content last updated December 14, 2023