A. In addition to any other powers vested in it by law, the department may:

Ask a legal question, get an answer ASAP!
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

1. Accept, receive and administer grants or other funds or gifts from public and private agencies, including the federal government, to carry out any of the purposes of this chapter. All monies resulting therefrom shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the account of the department.

2. Secure necessary scientific, technical, administrative and operational services, including laboratory facilities, by contract or otherwise to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

3. Require, as specified in subsections B and C of this section, any source of air contaminants to monitor, sample or perform other studies to quantify emissions of air contaminants or levels of air pollution that may reasonably be attributable to that source, if the director either:

(a) Determines that monitoring, sampling or other studies are necessary to determine the effects of the source on levels of air pollution.

(b) Has reasonable cause to believe a violation of this chapter, rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or a permit issued pursuant to this chapter has been committed.

(c) Determines that those studies or data are necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, and that the monitoring, sampling or other studies by the source are necessary in order to assess the impact of the source on the emission of air contaminants.

B. The director shall adopt rules requiring sources of air contaminants to monitor, sample or otherwise quantify their emissions of air pollution that may reasonably be attributable to such sources for air contaminants for which ambient air quality standards or emission standards or design, equipment, work practice or operational standards have been adopted pursuant to section 49-424 or section 49-425, subsection A. In the development of the rules, the director shall consider the cost and effectiveness of the monitoring, sampling or other studies.

C. For those sources of air contaminants for which rules are not required to be adopted pursuant to subsection B of this section, the director may require a source of air contaminants, by permit or order, to perform monitoring, sampling or other quantification of its emissions or air pollution that may reasonably be attributed to such a source. Before requiring such monitoring, sampling or other quantification by permit or order, the director shall consider the relative cost and accuracy of any alternatives that may be reasonable under the circumstances such as emission factors, modeling, mass balance analyses or emissions projections. The director may require such monitoring, sampling or other quantification by permit or order if the director determines in writing that all of the following conditions are met:

1. The actual or potential emissions or air pollution may adversely affect public health or the environment.

2. A monitoring, sampling or quantification method is technically feasible for the subject contaminant and the source.

3. An adequate scientific basis for the monitoring, sampling or quantification method exists.

4. The monitoring, sampling or quantification method is reasonably accurate.

5. The cost of the method is reasonable in light of the use to be made of the data.

D. In determining the frequency and duration of monitoring, sampling or quantification of emissions under subsections B and C of this section, the director shall consider the five factors prescribed in subsection C of this section and the level of emissions from the source.

E. Orders issued and permit conditions imposed pursuant to this section may be appealed as appealable agency actions pursuant to Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10.

F. On request of the on-scene commander or the department of health services, the department of environmental quality shall assist at a significant chemical or other toxic fire event, excluding chemical or nuclear warfare or biological agents, and shall provide the following services if funding is available and if the director, in the director’s professional capacity, determines the department’s provision of services is necessary to protect human health and the environment:

1. Collect air samples for likely contaminants resulting from the fire. The department of environmental quality shall coordinate sampling locations, times and pollutants to be sampled with the department of health services and other appropriate health and emergency response officials.

2. Maintain an hourly plume report that includes meteorological conditions that affect dispersal of smoke.

3. In consultation with the department of health services and the on-scene coordinator, prepare a report that includes test results of any sampling, including the sampling rationale and protocol and chain of custody report using applicable environmental protection agency standards. The report shall also include, to the extent practicable, a smoke dispersion map with detail adequate to determine possible areas of impact at the level of detail practicable and a listing of likely releases of any chemical that is categorized by the United States environmental protection agency as a hazardous air pollutant and the corresponding environmental protection agency description of possible health effects of the chemical based on a reliable inventory of hazardous materials at the site or facility.