JOHN ELIAS BALDACCI 

GOVERNOR 

MEMORANDUM 

TO: Board of Environmental Protection 

FROM: Jeffrey S. Crawford, Bureau of Air Quality 

DATE: March 6, 2008 

RE: State Implementation Plan (SIP) Submittals- Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) Plan 

DAVID P LITTELL 

COMMISSIONER 

Adoption . 

Statutory and _Regulatory Reference: 

A. Statutory authority. 

STATE OF MAINE 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

38 MRSA Section 585-A provides that the Board of Environmental Protection 

"may establish and amend regulations to implement ambient air quality standards 

and emission standards . These regulations shall be designed to achieve and 

maintain ambient air quality standards and emission standards within any region 

and prevent air pollution." 

Section 107(a) of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (CAA) provides that 

"Each State shall have the primary responsibility for assuring air quality within 

the entire geographic area comprising such State by submitting an implementation 

plan for such State which will specify the manner in which national ambient 

primary and secondary ambient air quality standards will be achieved and 

maintained within each air quality control region in such State." 

Section 110 of the CAA provides that each state shall, after reasonable notice and 

public hearing, adopt and submit a plan which provides for the implementation, 

maintenance and enforcement of national ambient air quality standards . This 

plan, known as a State Implementation Plan (SIP) consists of the regulations and 

planning documents a state has developed to meet these air quality standards . As 

the rulemaking body of the Department of Environmental Protection, the Board 

may hold public hearings, and has traditionally been responsible for approving 

non-regulatory SIP submittals. 

AUGUSTA 

17 STATE HOUSE STATION BANGOR PORTLAND PRESQUE ISLE 

AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333-0017 106 HOGAN ROAD 312 CANCO ROAD 1235 CENTRAL DRIVE, SKYWAY PARK 

(207) 287-7688 FAX: (207) 287-7826 BANGOR, MAINE 04401 PORTLAND, MAINE 04103 PRESQUE ISLE, MAINE 04769-2094 

RAY BLDG., HOSPITAL ST . (207) 941-4570 FAX: (207) 941-4584 (207) 822-6300 FAX: (207) 822-6303 (207) 764-0477 FAX: (207) 760-3143 

web site : www.maine .gov/dep printed on recycled paper 
B. Specific legal mandates requiring adoption . 

Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the CAA requires each state to adopt a SIP within three 

years after promulgation of a national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) 

containing adequate provisions : 

Prohibiting, consistent with the provisions of this title, any source or other type of 

emissions activity within the State from emitting any air pollutant in amounts 

which will 

(I) 

(II) 

contribute significantly to nonattainment in, or interfere with maintenance 

by, any other State with respect to any such national ambient air quality 

standard, or 

interfere with measures required to be included in the applicable 

implementation plan for any other State under part C to prevent 

significant deterioration of air quality or to protect visibility. 

Location/Applicability: 

The proposed SIP amendments apply statewide. 

Description: 

On July 16, 1997, EPA issued updated final air quality standards for 8-hour ozone and PMZ,51 . 

Due to litigation, there were significant delays in the implementation of the new standards and 

associated planning efforts by both EPA and the states, including section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) 

submittals. On April 25, 2005, EPA published a finding that States had failed to make the 

required section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) SIP submissions pertaining to the interstate transport of ozone 

and PM2.5 . The finding of failure to submit action requires EPA to issue a final Federal 

Implementation Plan (FIP) to meet the requirements of section 100(a)(2)(D)(i) for both the 8-

hour ozone and PMZ_5 standards unless EPA approves a state SIP submission to meet those 

requirements . 

Using air quality data analysis techniques and air quality modeling conducted by EPA in support 

of the Clean Air Interstate Rule, this SIP revision demonstrates that emissions from Maine do not 

contribute significantly to other state's nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 8-hour 

ozone or PM2.5 NAAQS, or otherwise interfere with visibility protection or other state's efforts to 

prevent significant deterioration of air quality. 

On December 6, 2007, the Board posted the proposed SIP amendments to a 30-day public 

comment period, with an opportunity to request a public hearing. The Department did not 

receive any comments or requests to hold a public hearing on this proposal . 

1 Particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2 .5 microns. 
Environmental Issues : 

Ground level ozone is responsible for exacerbating a variety of respiratory ailments, such as 

asthma. Although children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems are most at risk, 

even healthy individuals may experience increased respiratory ailments and other symptoms 

when they are exposed to ambient ozone while engaged in activity that involves physical 

exertion . Though these symptoms are often temporary, repeated exposure could result in 

permanent lung damage. 

Fine particulates, or PMZ.5, also pose a significant public health threat, with health effects 

including premature death and increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits 

(primarily the elderly and individuals with cardiopulmonary disease) ; increased respiratory 

symptoms and disease (children and individuals with cardiopulmonary disease such as asthma); 

decreased lung function (particularly in children and individuals with asthma); and alterations in 

lung tissue and structure and in respiratory tract defense mechanisms . 

Departmental Recommendation: 

The Department recommends that the Board adopt the proposed SIP amendments as submitted. 

Estimated Time of Presentation : 

10 minutes.