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APPENDIX D
THE BUREAU OF AIR/
DIVISION OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
Organization and Programs
The Bureau of Air consists of two
divisions: the Division of Air Pollution
Control and the Division of Vehicle
Inspection and Maintenance. The focus of
this section is on the programs of the
Division of Air Pollution Control which is
responsible for developing, implementing
and enforcing regulations to assure that the
air we breathe is clean and healthful. This
mission is accomplished by finding,
correcting and controlling air pollution
hazards. The Division of Air Pollution
Control also works to prevent air quality
problems from occurring in areas which
have clean air.
The basic strategy to improve air quality is
to control the pollutants which are emitted
by industry and motor vehicles. This
strategy requires the IEPA to monitor the
air, identify emission sources, impose
limitations on the amount of emissions
which can be released to the air and take the
necessary enforcement action against
violators.
The Division of Air Pollution Control is
divided into five sections: Air Monitoring,
Air Quality Planning, Compliance and
Enforcement, Permits, and Field
Operations. Each of these sections is
briefly described below.
Air Monitoring
The Division of Air Pollution Control
operates a statewide air quality monitoring
network which includes more than 200
monitors. The Air Monitoring Section is
responsible for the maintenance of this
network, which operates year round
monitoring the quality of the air that we
breathe.
The IEPA monitors the air for a variety of
pollutants including particulate matter,
sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide,
lead and nitrogen dioxide. Specialized
sampling projects for other hazardous
pollutants are also conducted by the Air
Monitoring Section.
Illinois residents can be proud of the IEPA's
record of efficiency in data collection. The
system ranks as one of the best in the nation
with over 90 percent efficiency in the
collection of high quality data. This high
efficiency rate guarantees that the network
is operating with a minimum amount of
"down-time" thereby providing the IEPA
with a complete and accurate description of
air quality in Illinois.
The Air Monitoring Section is also
responsible for validating and summarizing
the data in this report. It provides
notification of air quality exceedances and
issues any episodes as required. Special air
quality studies are performed which
identify pollution trends and evaluate
special air quality problems.
Air Quality Planning
The Air Quality Planning Section is
responsible for developing Agency
programs which are designed to achieve
and maintain National Ambient Air Quality
Standards and to prevent deterioration of air
quality. This is accomplished by:
Assessment of strategies and
technologies for the elimination or
reduction of air pollutant emissions.
Conducting and reviewing detailed
air quality studies using
computerized air quality models.
