49-426.08. Research program on hazardous air pollutants

A. In cooperation with the department of health services, the United States environmental protection agency and the national academy of sciences, the department of environmental quality shall undertake a comprehensive research program to evaluate the existing risk to public health related to hazardous air pollution and to provide options and recommendations for programs to control the release of hazardous substances into the ambient air. In developing the research program, the department shall prepare a research plan and subject that plan to national peer review. The research program shall be funded by monies from the air quality fund established pursuant to section 49-551 and shall include all of the following:

1. Identification of hazardous substances that are or may be emitted into the ambient air in this state and that present, through inhalation or other routes of exposure, a threat of adverse health effects or adverse environmental effects whether through ambient concentration, bioaccumulation, deposition or otherwise.

2. Identification and evaluation of methods for conducting ambient air monitoring, measuring emissions and performing related analyses.

3. A statewide survey to determine, through direct measurement and appropriate estimation techniques, concentrations of those hazardous substances in the ambient air and to estimate source contributions to ambient concentrations from permitted, nonpermitted and natural sources as well as background concentrations.

4. A statewide survey to identify permitted and nonpermitted sources of these substances and to gather information necessary to quantify emissions.

5. Identification and evaluation of alternative risk assessment methodologies.

6. Evaluation of alternative methods to perform atmospheric modeling and determine receptor-source relationships.

7. An assessment of residual risk after the implementation of controls during the terms of the research program.

8. An evaluation of estimated actual risk from exposure to those substances in this state.

9. An evaluation of the feasibility of, need for and potential methods for establishing ambient air quality standards or health based guidelines for those substances.

10. A public education program to provide information and increase public awareness of hazardous air pollutants and the research program.

11. Other data that the director deems useful or necessary for the purpose of developing the research program.

B. Not later than September 1, 1995, the department shall publish a report of its findings and recommendations resulting from the research program conducted pursuant to this section. The report shall include recommendations as to what changes, if any, are needed to current law to protect public health and the environment from the effects of exposure to hazardous air pollution and shall consider the cost of achieving such changes and any non-air quality health and environmental impacts and energy requirements that may result from the changes. The director shall submit the report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall submit the report for national peer review. The director shall conduct meetings throughout this state in order to present the report to members of the general public and to receive comments.