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Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Chapter 85 — Air Pollution Prevention and Control

§ 7619. Air quality monitoring

Statutory text

(a)

In general

After notice and opportunity for public hearing, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations establishing an air quality monitoring system throughout the United States which—

(1)

utilizes uniform air quality monitoring criteria and methodology and measures such air quality according to a uniform air quality index,

(2)

provides for air quality monitoring stations in major urban areas and other appropriate areas throughout the United States to provide monitoring such as will supplement (but not duplicate) air quality monitoring carried out by the States required under any applicable implementation plan,

(3)

provides for daily analysis and reporting of air quality based upon such uniform air quality index, and

(4)

provides for recordkeeping with respect to such monitoring data and for periodic analysis and reporting to the general public by the Administrator with respect to air quality based upon such data.

The operation of such air quality monitoring system may be carried out by the Administrator or by such other departments, agencies, or entities of the Federal Government (including the National Weather Service) as the President may deem appropriate. Any air quality monitoring system required under any applicable implementation plan under section 7410 of this title shall, as soon as practicable following promulgation of regulations under this section, utilize the standard criteria and methodology, and measure air quality according to the standard index, established under such regulations.

(b)

Air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events

(1)

Definition of exceptional event

In this section:

(A)

In general

The term “exceptional event” means an event that—

(i)

affects air quality;

(ii)

is not reasonably controllable or preventable;

(iii)

is an event caused by human activity that is unlikely to recur at a particular location or a natural event; and

(iv)

is determined by the Administrator through the process established in the regulations promulgated under paragraph (2) to be an exceptional event.

(B)

Exclusions

In this subsection, the term “exceptional event” does not include—

(i)

stagnation of air masses or meteorological inversions;

(ii)

a meteorological event involving high temperatures or lack of precipitation; or

(iii)

air pollution relating to source noncompliance.

(2)

Regulations

(A)

Proposed regulations

Not later than , after consultation with Federal land managers and State air pollution control agencies, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register proposed regulations governing the review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events.

(B)

Final regulations

Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Administrator publishes proposed regulations under subparagraph (A), and after providing an opportunity for interested persons to make oral presentations of views, data, and arguments regarding the proposed regulations, the Administrator shall promulgate final regulations governing the review and handling or 1 air quality monitoring data influenced by an exceptional event that are consistent with paragraph (3).

(3)

Principles and requirements

(A)

Principles

In promulgating regulations under this section, the Administrator shall follow—

(i)

the principle that protection of public health is the highest priority;

(ii)

the principle that timely information should be provided to the public in any case in which the air quality is unhealthy;

(iii)

the principle that all ambient air quality data should be included in a timely manner,2 an appropriate Federal air quality database that is accessible to the public;

(iv)

the principle that each State must take necessary measures to safeguard public health regardless of the source of the air pollution; and

(v)

the principle that air quality data should be carefully screened to ensure that events not likely to recur are represented accurately in all monitoring data and analyses.

(B)

Requirements

Regulations promulgated under this section shall, at a minimum, provide that—

(i)

the occurrence of an exceptional event must be demonstrated by reliable, accurate data that is promptly produced and provided by Federal, State, or local government agencies;

(ii)

a clear causal relationship must exist between the measured exceedances of a national ambient air quality standard and the exceptional event to demonstrate that the exceptional event caused a specific air pollution concentration at a particular air quality monitoring location;

(iii)

there is a public process for determining whether an event is exceptional; and

(iv)

there are criteria and procedures for the Governor of a State to petition the Administrator to exclude air quality monitoring data that is directly due to exceptional events from use in determinations by the Administrator with respect to exceedances or violations of the national ambient air quality standards.

(4)

Interim provision

Until the effective date of a regulation promulgated under paragraph (2), the following guidance issued by the Administrator shall continue to apply:

(A)

Guidance on the identification and use of air quality data affected by exceptional events (July 1986).

(B)

Areas affected by PM–10 natural events, .

(C)

Appendices I, K, and N to part 50 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations.

Footnotes

  1. 1 So in original. Probably should be “of”.
  2. 2 So in original. Probably should be followed by “in”.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977

    Pub. L. 95–95 title III § 309 · 91 Stat. 685

    Enacted · 42 U.S.C. § 7619

    July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title III, § 319, as added Pub. L. 95–95, title III, § 309, Aug. 7, 1977, 91 Stat. 781

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title III, § 319, as added Pub. L. 95–95, title III, § 309, Aug. 7, 1977, 91 Stat. 781

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    Sec. 309. air quality monitoring by environmental protection agency Title III of the Clean Air Act is amended by adding the Notice and hearing. Regulations. following new section at the end thereof: “Sec. 319. “air quality monitoring Not later than one year after the date of enactment of 42 USC 7619. the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977 and after notice and opportunity for public hearing, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations establishing an air quality monitoring system throughout the United States which— “(1) utilizes uniform air quality monitoring criteria and methodology and measures such air quality according to a uniform air quality index, “(2) provides for air quality monitoring stations in major urban areas and other appropriate areas throughout the United States to provide monitoring such as will supplement (but not duplicate) air quality monitoring carried out by the States required under any applicable implementation plan, “(3) provides for daily analysis and reporting of air quality based upon such uniform air quality index, and “(4) provides for recordkeeping with respect to such monitoring Recordkeeping. Report to public. data and for periodic analysis and reporting to the general public by the Administrator with respect to air quality based upon such data. The operation of such air quality monitoring system may be carried Operation. out by the Administrator or by such other departments, agencies, or entities of the Federal Government (including the National Weather Service) as the President may deem appropriate. Any air quality monitoring system required under any applicable implementation Ante, pp. 691–696. plan under section 110 shall, as soon as practicable following promulgation of regulations under this section, utilize the standard criteria and methodology, and measure air quality according to the standard index, established under such regulations.”.

  2. Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users

    Pub. L. 109–59 title VI § 6013(a) · 119 Stat. 1144

    1. Amended · 42 U.S.C. § 7619

      Pub. L. 109–59 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a)

    2. Inserted · 42 U.S.C. § 7619

      Pub. L. 109–59 inserted heading

    3. Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 7619

      Pub. L. 109–59 substituted “After notice and opportunity for public hearing” for “Not later than one year after August 7, 1977, and after notice and opportunity for public hearing”

    4. Added · 42 U.S.C. § 7619

      Pub. L. 109–59 added subsec. (b)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pub. L. 109–59 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, substituted “After notice and opportunity for public hearing” for “Not later than one year after August 7, 1977, and after notice and opportunity for public hearing”, and added subsec. (b).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (a) In General.— Section 319 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7619) is amended— (1) by striking the section heading and all that follows through “after notice and opportunity for public hearing” and inserting the following: “SEC. 319. AIR QUALITY MONITORING. “(a) In General.— After notice and opportunity for public hearing” ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(b) Air Quality Monitoring Data Influenced by Exceptional Events.— “(1) Definition of exceptional event.— In this section: “(A) In general.— The term ‘exceptional event’ means an event that— “(i) affects air quality; “(ii) is not reasonably controllable or preventable; “(iii) is an event caused by human activity that is unlikely to recur at a particular location or a natural event; and “(iv) is determined by the Administrator through the process established in the regulations promulgated under paragraph (2) to be an exceptional event. “(B) Exclusions.— In this subsection, the term ‘exceptional event’ does not include— “(i) stagnation of air masses or meteorological inversions; “(ii) a meteorological event involving high temperatures or lack of precipitation; or “(iii) air pollution relating to source noncompliance. “(2) Regulations.— “(A) Proposed regulations.— Not later than March 1, 2006, after consultation with Federal land managers and State air pollution control agencies, the Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register proposed regulations governing the review and handling of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events. “(B) Final regulations.— Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Administrator publishes proposed regulations under subparagraph (A), and after providing an opportunity for interested persons to make oral presentations of views, data, and arguments regarding the proposed regulations, the Administrator shall promulgate final regulations governing the review and handling or air quality monitoring data influenced by an exceptional event that are consistent with paragraph (3). “(3) Principles and requirements.— “(A) Principles.— In promulgating regulations under this section, the Administrator shall follow— “(i) the principle that protection of public health is the highest priority; “(ii) the principle that timely information should be provided to the public in any case in which the air quality is unhealthy; “(iii) the principle that all ambient air quality data should be included in a timely manner, an appropriate Federal air quality database that is accessible to the public; “(iv) the principle that each State must take necessary measures to safeguard public health regardless of the source of the air pollution; and “(v) the principle that air quality data should be carefully screened to ensure that events not likely to recur are represented accurately in all monitoring data and analyses. “(B) Requirements.— Regulations promulgated under this section shall, at a minimum, provide that— “(i) the occurrence of an exceptional event must be demonstrated by reliable, accurate data that is promptly produced and provided by Federal, State, or local government agencies; “(ii) a clear causal relationship must exist between the measured exceedances of a national ambient air quality standard and the exceptional event to demonstrate that the exceptional event caused a specific air pollution concentration at a particular air quality monitoring location; “(iii) there is a public process for determining whether an event is exceptional; and “(iv) there are criteria and procedures for the Governor of a State to petition the Administrator to exclude air quality monitoring data that is directly due to exceptional events from use in determinations by the Administrator with respect to exceedances or violations of the national ambient air quality standards. “(4) Interim provision.— Until the effective date of a regulation promulgated under paragraph (2), the following guidance issued by the Administrator shall continue to apply: “(A) Guidance on the identification and use of air quality data affected by exceptional events (July 1986). “(B) Areas affected by PM–10 natural events, May 30, 1996. “(C) Appendices I, K, and N to part 50 of title 40, Code of Federal Regulations.” .

5 of 5 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2005—Pub. L. 109–59 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, substituted “After notice and opportunity for public hearing” for “Not later than one year after , and after notice and opportunity for public hearing”, and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective , except as otherwise expressly provided, see section 406(d) of Pub. L. 95–95, set out as an Effective Date of 1977 Amendment note under section 7401 of this title.

Credits

1955–2005 · 2 acts
  1. 1955July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title III, § 319, as added Pub. L. 95–95, title III, § 309, , 91 Stat. 781
  2. 2005amended Pub. L. 109–59, title VI, § 6013(a), , 119 Stat. 1882.
Show as published

(July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title III, § 319, as added Pub. L. 95–95, title III, § 309, , 91 Stat. 781; amended Pub. L. 109–59, title VI, § 6013(a), , 119 Stat. 1882.)

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