Exceptional Event Demonstration

Notice of Intent to Submit an Exceptional Event Demonstration to EPA and Opportunity for Public Comment

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) hereby gives notice of intent to submit an exceptional event demonstration request to EPA in accordance with Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50.14 (40 CFR 50.14(c)(3)(i)) and provide an opportunity for public comment in accordance with 40 CFR 50.14(c)(3)(v).  The demonstration shows that on multiple occasions in 2023, smoke plumes were transported into Connecticut from within the United States and from Canada and such plumes adversely affected ozone data in a manner that DEEP believes impacts Connecticut’s compliance status with respect to the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone in the Greater Connecticut nonattainment area (i.e., were regulatorily significant).  

On April 13 and 14, 2023, a smoke plume was transported into Connecticut from Flint Hills, Kansas.  Additional smoke mixed into this plume from local fires in Pennsylvania, New York, and northern New Jersey.  This plume impacted monitored ozone levels at the Groton monitoring site (09-011-0124) such that DEEP seeks to exclude the data collected from April 13 and April 14 from regulatory determinations.  Groton was again impacted on June 30, 2023, and Groton, Cornwall (09-005-0005) and East Hartford (09-003-1003) were impacted on July 1, 2023, such that DEEP seeks to exclude the data collected on these dates at these sites from regulatory determinations.  On July 12, 2023, another smoke plume was transported into Connecticut from western Canada, and Groton was impacted such that DEEP also seeks to exclude the data collected on this day from regulatory determinations.  

The demonstration and supporting documents are available at the link below.

All interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed demonstration.  Comments should be submitted via electronic mail to Amanda.Fritz@ct.gov and should be received by 4:30 PM on May 10, 2024.

ADA PUBLICATION STATEMENT
DEEP is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Please contact DEEP by phone 860-418-5910 or email deep.accommodations@ct.gov if you have a disability and need a communication aid or service; have limited proficiency in English and may need information in another language; or if you wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint.

Technical Support Document for Exceptional Event Analysis- DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT