Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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RACT under the 2008 Ozone NAAQS

What is RACT? RACT is the lowest emission limitation that a source is capable of meeting by the application of reasonably available control technology considering technological and economic feasibility.

On July 20, 2012, Connecticut’s designation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as marginal nonattainment for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) became effective.  Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), this marginal nonattainment designation obligates DEEP to correct pre-1990 Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) requirements (the RACT fix-up). 

However, Connecticut is a member of the Ozone Transport Region (OTR) and is required to adopt RACT for:

(1) all volatile organic compound (VOC) sources covered by a control technique guideline (CTG); and

(2) all major non-CTG sources of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and VOC.

What do NOx and VOC have to do with Ozone?

Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air by sources, but is created by chemical reactions in the air between NOx, VOC and water droplets.  These reactions are accelerated during hot sunny days and these days are typically when ozone levels reach unhealthy levels.  To learn more, EPA has created an informative video describing how ozone is formed, and you can always check the current local levels of ozone by visiting the CT Air Quality Index (AQI) website.

CT RACT State Implementation PlanRegulatory Actions

Regulation Making Record for the revisions to RCSA 22a-174-22e and RCSA 22a-174-22f

Regulation Making Record for revisions to RCSA 22a-174-38

Section 38 (Effective 08/02/2016)

Final RACT SIP Revision

Final RACT SIP Revision (July 17, 2014)

Attachment 1 to Final RACT SIP Revision  (July 10, 2014)

Proposed RACT SIP Revision

Proposed RACT SIP Revision (June 5, 2014)

Attachment 1 to Proposed RACT SIP Revision (July 10, 2014)

Notice of Intent to Revise State SIP for RACT under the 2008 Ozone NAAQS (June 5, 2014)

The comment period is closed. The tentatively scheduled public hearing was cancelled.

DEEP Response to Comments Document (July 18, 2014)

New Jersey D.E.P. Comments (June 30, 2014)

U.S. EPA Comments (July 10, 2014)

NRG Comments (July 11, 2014)

Sierra Club Comments (July 11, 2014)      

Workgroup & SIPRAC Presentations

Archived Meetings and Materials

RACT and the OTC

The Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) is a multi-state organization created under the CAA to advise the EPA on transport issues and to develop and implement regional solutions to the ground-level ozone problem in the OTR. The OTC developed in 2014 a OTC Statement of RACT Principles with recommendations to assist states in attainment and maintenance of the ozone national air quality standards (NAAQS). The OTC member states strongly believe that the implementation of RACT core principles in this document will strengthen emissions limitations, lower overall emissions, and thereby derive air quality and public health benefits.

 

Content Last Updated: October 23, 2019