Regulation and SIP Management
State Implementation Plan
The State Implementation Plan (SIP) is developed to show how a state will meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common pollutants, called "criteria pollutants," as set forth by the Clean Air Act.
A SIP is the accumulated record of many documents that form a blueprint and timeline for the state's plans to assure compliance with the NAAQS for criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, lead, and particulate matter), as outlined in the Clean Air Act. SIPs include, among other things, control plans, regulations, inventories of emissions within the state, and transcripts of public involvement in the SIP-development process. Once approved, the SIP is enforceable by the state and EPA. Elements of South Carolina's SIP have been in place since 1972. Though there have been many amendments, there is only one South Carolina SIP. For more information, see EPA's SIP webpage.
What's in the SIP?
Several individual elements can make up the state's complete "SIP." There are many different components of the SIP, including:
- Infrastructure SIP elements
- Nonattainment SIP elements
- Attainment Demonstrations
- Maintenance Plans
- Section 129 Plans
Some DHEC Air Quality Regulations are part of the SIP, some are not part of the SIP.
The regulations that are part of the SIP are:
- Regulation 61-62.1 - Definitions, Permits Requirements, and Emission Inventories
- Regulation 61-62.2 - Prohibition of Open Burning
- Regulation 61-62.3 - Air Pollution Episodes
- Regulation 61-62.4 - Hazardous Air Pollution Conditions
- Regulation 61-62.5 - Standards 1, 2, 4, 5, 5.2, 6, 7, and 7.1
- Standard 1 - Emissions from Fuel Burning Operations
- Standard 2 - Ambient Air Quality Standards
- Standard 4 - Emissions from Process Industries
- Standard 5 - Volatile Organic Compounds
- Standard 5.2 - Control of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX)
- Standard 6 - Reserved (Deleted May 27, 2011)
- Standard 7 - Prevention of Significant Deterioration
- Standard 7.1 - Nonattainment New Source Review (NSR)
- Regulation 61-62.6 - Control of Fugitive Particulate Matter
- Regulation 61-62.7 - Good Engineering Practice Stack Height
- Regulation 61-62.96 - Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Budget Trading Program
- Regulation 61-62.99 - Nitrogen Oxides Budget Program Requirements for Stationary Sources Not in the Trading Program
DHEC Air Quality regulations that are not part of the SIP are:
- Regulation 61-30 - Environmental Protection Fees
- Regulation 61-62.5 - Standards 3, 3.1, 5.1, and 8
- Regulation 61-62.60 - SC Designated Facility Plan and New Source Performance Standards
- Regulation 61-62.61 - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)
- Regulation 61-62.63 - National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Source Categories
- Regulation 61-62.68 - Chemical Accident Prevention Program
- Regulation 61-62.70 - Title V Operating Permit Program
- Regulation 61-62.72 - Acid Rain
- Regulation 61-86.1 - Standards of Performance for Asbestos Projects
For more information please contact the Bureau of Air Quality at (803) 898-4123 or by email.