OAR 340-206-0030
Episode Stage Criteria for Air Pollution Emergencies

Three stages of air pollution episode conditions and a pre-episode standby condition are established to inform the public of the general air pollution status and provide a management structure to require preplanned actions designed to prevent continued accumulation of regulated pollutants to the level of significant harm. The three episode stages are: Alert, Warning, and Emergency. DEQ is responsible to enforce the provisions of this division which requires actions to reduce and control emissions during air pollution episode conditions. An air pollution alert or air pollution warning must be declared by the Director or appointed representative when the appropriate air pollution conditions are deemed to exist. When conditions exist which are appropriate to an air pollution emergency, DEQ must notify the Governor and declare an air pollution emergency pursuant to ORS 468.115 (Enforcement in cases of emergency). The statement declaring an air pollution Alert, Warning or Emergency must define the area affected by the air pollution episode where corrective actions are required. Conditions justifying the proclamation of an air pollution alert, air pollution warning, or air pollution emergency must be deemed to exist whenever DEQ determines that the accumulation of air contaminants in any place is increasing or has increased to levels which could, if such increases are sustained or exceeded, lead to a threat to the health of the public. In making this determination, DEQ will be guided by the following criteria for each regulated pollutant and episode stage:

(1)

“Pre-episode standby” condition, indicates that ambient levels of regulated pollutants are within standards or only moderately exceed standards. In this condition, there is no imminent danger of any ambient regulated pollutant concentrations reaching levels of significant harm. DEQ must maintain at least a normal monitoring schedule but may conduct additional monitoring. An air stagnation advisory issued by the National Weather Service, an equivalent local forecast of air stagnation or observed ambient air levels in excess of ambient air standards may be used to indicate the need for increased sampling frequency. The pre-episode standby condition is the lowest possible air pollution episode condition and may not be terminated.

(2)

“Air pollution alert” condition indicates that air pollution levels are significantly above standards but there is no immediate danger of reaching the level of significant harm. Monitoring must be intensified and readiness to implement abatement actions must be reviewed. At the air pollution alert level the public is to be kept informed of the air pollution conditions and of potential activities to be curtailed should it be necessary to declare a warning or higher condition. An air pollution alert condition is a state of readiness. When the conditions in both subsections (a) and (b) are met, an air pollution alert will be declared and all appropriate actions described in OAR 340-206-8010 (Air Pollution Episode ALERT Conditions Source Emission Reduction Plan Emission Control Actions to be Taken as Appropriate in Alert Episode Area) and 340-206-8040 (Air pollution episode conditions due to Particulate which is primarily fallout from volcanic activity or windblown dust. Ambient Particulate control measures to be taken as appropriate in episode area.) must be implemented:

(a)

Meteorological dispersion conditions are not expected to improve during the next 24 or more hours;

(b)

Monitored regulated pollutant levels at any monitoring site exceed any of the following:

(A)

Sulfur dioxide — 0.3 ppm — 24-hour average;

(B)

Particulate matter:
(i)
PM10 — 350 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) — 24-hour average;
(ii)
PM2.5 — 140.5 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) — 24-hour average;

(C)

Carbon monoxide — 15 ppm — 8-hour average;

(D)

Ozone — 0.2 ppm — 1-hour average;

(E)

Nitrogen dioxide:
(i)
0.6 ppm — 1-hour average; or
(ii)
0.15 ppm — 24-hour average.

(3)

“Air pollution warning” condition indicates that pollution levels are very high and that abatement actions are necessary to prevent these levels from approaching the level of significant harm. At the air pollution warning level substantial restrictions may be required limiting motor vehicle use and industrial and commercial activities. When the conditions in both subsections (a) and (b) are met, an air pollution warning will be declared by DEQ and all appropriate actions described in OAR 340-206-8020 (Air Pollution Episode WARNING Conditions Emission Reduction Plan) and 340-206-8040 (Air pollution episode conditions due to Particulate which is primarily fallout from volcanic activity or windblown dust. Ambient Particulate control measures to be taken as appropriate in episode area.) must be implemented:

(a)

Meteorological dispersion conditions are not expected to improve during the next 24 or more hours;

(b)

Monitored regulated pollutant levels at any monitoring site exceed any of the following:

(A)

Sulfur dioxide — 0.6 ppm — 24-hour average;

(B)

Particulate matter:
(i)
PM10 — 420 ug/m3 — 24-hour average;
(ii)
PM2.5 — 210.5 ug/m3 — 24-hour average;

(C)

Carbon monoxide — 30 ppm — 8-hour average;

(D)

Ozone — 0.4 ppm — 1-hour average;

(E)

Nitrogen dioxide:
(i)
1.2 ppm — 1-hour average; or
(ii)
0.3 ppm — 24-hour average.

(4)

“Air pollution emergency” condition indicates that regulated pollutants have reached an alarming level requiring the most stringent actions to prevent these levels from reaching the level of significant harm to the health of persons. At the air pollution emergency level extreme measures may be necessary involving the closure of all manufacturing, business operations and vehicle traffic not directly related to emergency services. Pursuant to ORS 468.115 (Enforcement in cases of emergency), when the conditions in both subsections (a) and (b) are met, an air pollution emergency will be declared by DEQ and all appropriate actions described in OAR 340-206-8030 (Air Pollution Episode EMERGENCY Conditions Emission Reduction Plan) and 340-206-8040 (Air pollution episode conditions due to Particulate which is primarily fallout from volcanic activity or windblown dust. Ambient Particulate control measures to be taken as appropriate in episode area.) must be implemented:

(a)

Meteorological dispersion conditions are not expected to improve during the next 24 or more hours;

(b)

Monitored regulated pollutant levels at any monitoring site exceed any of the following:

(A)

Sulfur dioxide 0.8 ppm — 24-hour average;

(B)

Particulate matter:
(i)
PM10 — 500 ug/m3 — 2-hour average;
(ii)
PM2.5 — 280.5 ug/m3 — 2-hour average;

(C)

Carbon monoxide 40 ppm — 8-hour average;

(D)

Ozone 0.5 ppm — 1-hour average;

(E)

Nitrogen dioxide:
(i)
1.6 ppm — 1-hour average; or
(ii)
0.4 ppm — 24-hour average.

(5)

“Termination”: Any air pollution episode condition (alert, warning or emergency) established by these criteria may be reduced to a lower condition when the elements required for establishing the higher conditions are no longer observed.
[NOTE: This rule is included in the State of Oregon Clean Air Act Implementation Plan that EQC adopted under OAR 340-200-0040 (State of Oregon Clean Air Act Implementation Plan).]
[NOTE: All tables are found in OAR 340-206-8010 (Air Pollution Episode ALERT Conditions Source Emission Reduction Plan Emission Control Actions to be Taken as Appropriate in Alert Episode Area), -8020, -8030, -8040.]

Source: Rule 340-206-0030 — Episode Stage Criteria for Air Pollution Emergencies, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=340-206-0030.

Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 340-206-0030’s source at or​.us