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Air Compliance Assurance FAQs

Air Quality

Air quality, like weather, can change from day to day or with greater frequency. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool that provides citizens of Connecticut with the daily forecast of local air quality. Along with the forecasted daily AQI, the Air Quality Index webpage provides the most up to date ozone forecast. Ozone is monitored because it contributes to the majority of unhealthy air quality days in CT during the warmer months.

Operators of emergency engines are required to check the daily AQI forecast before performing any testing.

Visit Air Quality and Health webpage for moreInformation on the AQI and how it relates to overall health.

Air Quality Complaints

DEEP operates an Air Pollution Complaint Line at (860) 424-3436. This line is open to all citizens with concerns regarding smoke, nuisance dust and odor and other air pollution. It is operated from 8:00am - 4:30pm, Monday through Friday; voice mail is available for complaints made during evening and weekend hours or you can e-mail a complaint to deep.aircomplaints@ct.gov.

Additionally, DEEP webpages have a "Report an Environmental Concern or Problem" button on the left-hand navigation panels.

All information provided to DEEP becomes part of the public record. You may file a complaint anonymously however, the DEEP will not be able to provide you with feedback and it may not be able to adequately investigate your complaint if you do not provide sufficient information with respect to the complaint.

Anonymous complaints may be filed by email however, in many cases, you may be identified by your email address; if you wish to remain anonymous, you may need to file your complaint by phone.

Section 22a-174-18 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies states in part that "No person shall cause or allow any materials to be handled, transported, or stored; or a building, its appurtenances, or a road to be used, constructed, altered, repaired or demolished without taking reasonable precautions to prevent particulate matter from becoming airborne."

Complaints about fugitive dust emissions may be directed to the DEEP Air Complaints Line at (860) 424-3436 or sent by e-mail to deep.aircomplaints@ct.gov.

Anonymous complaints may be filed by email however, in many cases, you may be identified by your email address; if you wish to remain anonymous, you may need to file your complaint by phone.

Compliance

DEEP supports improving compliance with environmental laws and regulations by encouraging the use of self-audits, voluntary disclosure of violations, and the implementation of environmental management systems by the regulated community. If a member of the regulated community submits a self disclosure of violations, DEEP will take those good faith efforts into consideration when assessing the necessary response.

More information may be found on DEEP's Enforcement Policies webpage.

Contacts

Try the DEEP information line at (860) 424-3000 or check the telephone and fax numbers of key contacts webpage.

Monitoring

Monitoring is a broad term that describes the ongoing activities an air emission source employs to determine or provide reasonable assurance that the source is in compliance with emission limitations and standards. Monitoring may include the use of work practices, monitoring systems, or periodic testing such as:

  • Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM)
  • Continuous Opacity Monitoring (COM)
  • Parametric Monitoring (i.e. water flow rates, pressure drop, temperature)
  • Periodic source testing (stack testing)
  • Record keeping (i.e. facility records, operating logs)

The type of monitoring required is dependent upon which federal and state regulations are applicable to your source.

More information on monitoring requirements may be found in the facility's permit(s), as well as federal and state regulations.

Specific questions about monitoring requirements may be directed to the DEEP Compliance Assurance Line at (860) 424-4152.

Odor

Section 22a-174-23 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies states in part that "no person shall cause or permit the emission of any substance or combination of substances which creates or contributes to an odor, in the ambient air, that constitutes a nuisance."

Complaints about nuisance odors may be directed to the DEEP Air Complaints Line at (860) 424-3436 or sent by e-mail to deep.aircomplaints@ct.gov.

Anonymous complaints may be filed by email however, in many cases, you may be identified by your email address; if you wish to remain anonymous, you may need to file your complaint by phone.

Open Burning Permits and Complaints

Open burning is the burning of any matter, where smoke and other emissions are released directly into the ambient air without passing through an adequate stack or flue. Information on open burning may be found on DEEP's Open Burning webpage.

Residents must check with their town for permit requirements prior to burning and may be required to obtain an open burning permit from the town's Local Open Burning Official. Information on open burning may be found on each Connecticut town and city webpage.

Open burning, if you have received a permit from your local Open Burning Official, is prohibited when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to be 75 or higher and/or the Forest Fire Danger Index is rated High, Very High, or Extreme anywhere in the State.

Complaints about open burning may be directed to the DEEP Air Complaints Line at (860) 424-3436 or sent by e-mail to deep.aircomplaints@ct.gov.

Anonymous complaints may be filed by email however, in many cases, you may be identified by your email address; if you wish to remain anonymous, you may need to file your complaint by phone.

Air Emission Testing (Stack Testing)

Air emissions testing is an important tool that is used to determine a facility's compliance with emissions limits. An air emissions test measures the amount of a specific pollutant(s) being emitted through stacks at facilities subject to the requirements of state and federal regulations and permit conditions. Air emissions test guidelines, and intent to test (ITT) instructions and application forms may be found on DEEP's Air Technical Support webpage.

Record-Keeping and Reporting

Record keeping and/or reporting requirements are contingent on several factors including but not limited to: permit requirements, applicable state and federal regulations, as well as any existing enforcement actions such as Consent Orders that a source of air emissions may be subject to.

Multiple Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies have record keeping and reporting requirements and it is important for the regulated source of air emissions to be familiar with any permit or regulatory requirements they may be subject to. In general, the owner or operator of any regulated source of air emissions that is subject to record keeping and reporting requirements will likely be required to create, maintain and submit data, records or reports of monitoring data and other information deemed necessary by the commissioner to evaluate compliance. Such information shall be recorded, compiled and submitted on forms furnished or prescribed by the commissioner as they are made available.

Specific questions about record keeping and/or reporting requirements may be directed to the DEEP Compliance Assurance Line at (860) 424-4152.

Download relevant reporting forms including CEM & COM, Emissions Test, GPLPE, PIQ, Title-V and more from the Compliance Assurance Reporting Forms webpage

DEEP is encouraging the use of the EMIT e-Reporting tool.

If the report(s) is required by a permit, Consent Order, CT regulation, or federal regulation that CT has been delegated the authority of, then submit the required report(s) to DEEP Bureau of Air Management at the following address:

Compliance Analysis & Coordination Unit
Bureau of Air Management
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127

If CT has not been delegated the authority for the particular federal regulation that you are subject to then submit the required report(s)to EPA Region I at the following address:

EPA Region I
US Environmental Protection Agency
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100, Mail code: OES04-2
Boston MA 02109-3912 Attention: Air Clerk

Note: These FAQs are not a substitute for a thorough review of and compliance with all applicable orders, permits, the Connecticut General Statutes, and the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies. Nothing herein relieves any person of the obligations to meet otherwise applicable federal, state and local laws.

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Content Last Updated: February 5, 2020