Alert Criteria effective December 2018
When weather conditions and/or concentrations of an air contaminant or contaminants are such that immediate action is necessary to prevent further increases in air contamination or damage to life, property or environmental quality, the DEC Commissioner shall designate by order that a "Forecast," "Alert I," "Alert II" or "Emergency" stage of an air pollution episode exists. The Commissioner may also designate by order that an episode exists when a single accident, occurrence or condition has resulted or is likely to result in damage to life, property or environmental quality. DEC uses the federal Air Quality Index and associated Significant Harm Levels for criteria pollutants as alert criteria for air pollution episodes.
| Pollutant | Averaging Time | Standard | Air Quality Advisory Issued (AQI≥101) | "Alert I" AQI (201-300) | "Alert II" AQI (301-400) | "Emergency" AQI (401-500) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 24 hr | 35 (µg/m3) | ≥35.5 | 150.5-250.4 | 250.5-350.4 | >350.4 |
| PM10 | 24 hr | 150 (µg/m3) | ≥155 | 355-424 | 425-504 | >504 |
| Ozone | 1 hr | 0.12 (ppm) | ≥0.125 | 0.205-0.404 | 0.405-0.504 | >0.504 |
| Ozone | 8 hr | 0.070 (ppm) | ≥0.071 | 0.106-0.200 | --- | --- |
| CO | 1 hr | 35 (ppm) | ≥35.5 | 15.5-30.4 | 30.5-40.4 | >40.4 |
| SO2 | 1 hr | 75 (ppb) | ≥76 | 305-604 | 605-804 | >804 |
| NO2 | 1 hr | 100 (ppb) | ≥101 | 650-1249 | 1250-1649 | >1649 |
1 AQI Levels from 40 CFR Part 58 Appendix G, Table 2 (as of December 3, 2018)
Contact Information
DEC's Division of Air Resources (DAR) can provide essential information and data-gathering services during an air pollution episode. DAR will provide for an orderly means of coordinating and communicating DEC air pollution control efforts and instructions during air pollution episodes. For assistance in the event of an air pollution episode, please contact DAR or the State Emergency Management Organization at one of the following numbers.
| Title | Counties | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| NYSDEC Division of Air Resources | Statewide | (518) 402-8452 |
| DEC Region 1 | Nassau and Suffolk counties | (631) 444-0200 |
| DEC Region 2 | Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond counties | (718) 482-4900 |
| DEC Region 3 | Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties | (845) 256-3000 |
| DEC Region 4 | Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Schoharie counties | (518) 357-2068 |
| DEC Region 5 | Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties | (518) 623-1200 |
| DEC Region 6 | Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, and St. Lawrence counties | (315) 785-2239 |
| DEC Region 7 | Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties | (315) 426-7400 |
| DEC Region 8 | Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates counties | (585) 226-9485 |
| DEC Region 9 | Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara, and Wyoming counties | (716) 851-7201 |
| State Emergency Management Organization | Statewide | (518) 292-2200 |
