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. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Connecticut's Management of Toxic Air Pollutants

Compliance Assurance

The Department has been aggressively pursuing compliance with both state and federal regulations on toxic air pollutants. An example of the Department's compliance assurance efforts is the autobody initiative. The advent of the Title V Operating Permit Program resulted in the need to provide compliance assistance to the autobody industry to streamline regulatory requirements. Significant resources were committed to offer workshops focusing on voluntary reductions through pollution prevention. In addition, assistance with technical issues and permitting requirements was provided to facilities at these workshops. Reductions were achieved through strict permit limits on toxic air pollutants and volatile organic compounds. Permits limited emissions to less than five tons per year of volatile organic compounds and less than ten tons per year of toxic air pollutants per facility. Inspections were conducted at approximately 441 facilities in 1996-1997. In 1998, close to 450 General Permits to Construct and/or Operate a New or Existing Automotive Refinishing Operation were issued by the Department. In November 2001, the requirements of this General Permit lapsed, since new regulations (Sec. 174-22a-3c) streamlined the process for regulating these facilities.

The Department's initiative on limiting chromium emissions is another targeted effort to control toxic air pollutants. The Connecticut Air Toxics Control Regulation limits emissions of chromium from facilities, a toxic pollutant believed to cause cancer. The EPA has also developed a regulation to control emissions from chromium electroplaters under the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. EPA's regulation requires such facilities to conduct stack tests for chromium to verify compliance with a standard. In 1998, the Department reviewed facilities' stack test procedures and witnessed testing at 15 facilities. Facilities found exceeding emission limitations were subject to enforcement actions. The Department's enforcement staff conducted approximately 70 inspections of electroplating facilities, including many that emit chromium. The Department maintains close coordination with EPA on matters of chrome emissions.

View additional information on the Bureau of Air Management's Compliance Programs.

CT's Management of Toxic Air Pollutants | Monitoring Initiatives

Content Last Updated November 2005