REPORT FOR CONSULTATION ON THE
HARTFORD-SPRINGFIELD INTERSTATE
AIR QUALITY CONTROL REGION
(CONNECTICUT-MASSACHUSETTS)
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Public Health Service
Consumer Protection and Environmental Health Service
National Air Pollution Control Administration
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REPORT FOR CONSULTATION ON THE
HARTFORD-S PRINGFIELD
INTERSTATE AIR QUALITY CONTROL REGION
(CONNECTICUT-MASSACHUSETTS)
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
U. S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
CONSUMER PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
NATIONAL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
APRIL 1969
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CONTENTS
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION 1
EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING FACTORS 9
EVALUATION OF URBAN FACTORS 29
THE PROPOSED REGION 42
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSAL 43
REFERENCES 51
APPENDIX A 52
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PREFACE
The Secretary, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, is
directed by the Air Quality Act of 1967 to designate "air quality
control regions" as an initial step toward the establishment of region-
al air quality standards. In addition to listing the major factors to
be considered in the designation of region boundaries, the Act stipu-
lates that the designation of a region shall be preceded by a consult-
ation with appropriate State and local authorities.
The National Air Pollution Control Administration, DREW, has
conducted a study of the Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield,
Massachusetts interstate urban area, the results of which are present-
ed in this report. The boundaries of the Region*, as proposed in this
report, reflect consideration of all available and pertinent data;
however, the boundaries remain subject to revision suggested by
consultation with State and local authorities. Formal designation will
be withheld pending the outcome of that consultation.
The Administration is appreciative of assistance received either
directly during the course of this study or during previous activit-
ies in the Hartford and Springfield interstate area from the Connecti-
cut State Department of Health, the Massachusetts Department of Public
Health, and the Lower Pionefer Valley Air Pollution Control District.
Useful data was also supplied by the Capitol Region Planning Agency,
*For the purpose of this report, the word region, when capitalized,
will refer to the Hartford-Springfield Interstate Air Quality Control
Region (Connecticut-Massachusetts). When not capitalized, unless
otherwise noted, it will refer to air quality control regions in general.
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the Massachusetts Department of Commerce and Development, the Lower
Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission, the TRC Service Corporat-
ion, the Connecticut Development Commxsion, the Connecticut Inter-
regional Planning Program, and the Connecticut Clean Air Task Force.
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INTRODUCTION
"For the purpose of establishing ambient
air quality standards pursuant to section 108,
and for administrative and other purposes, the
Secretary, after consultation with appropriate
State and local authorities shall, to the extent
feasible, within 18 months after the date of
enactment of the Air Quality Act of 1967 designate
air quality control regions based on jurisdictional
boundaries, urban-industrial concentrations, and
other factors including atmospheric areas necessary
to provide adequate implementation of air quality
standards. The Secretary may from time to time
thereafter, as he determines necessary to protect
the public health and welfare and after consultation
with appropriate State and local authorities, revise
the designation of such regions and designate
additional air quality control regions. The Secretary
shall immediately notify the Governor or Governors
of the affected State or States of such designation."
Section 107(a)(2), Air Quality Act of 1967
THE AIR QUALITY ACT
Air pollution in most of the Nation's urban areas is a regional
problem. This regional problem demands a regional solution, consisting
of coordinated planning, data gathering, standard setting and
enforcement. Yet. with few exceptions, such coordinated efforts are
notably absent among the Nation's urban complexes.
Beginning with the Section quoted above, in which the Secretary
is required to designate I air quality control regions, the Air Quality
Act presents an approach to air pollution control involving coordinated
efforts by Federal, State, and local governments, as shown in Figure 1.
After the Secretary has (1) designated regions, (2) published air
quality criteria, and (3) published corresponding documents on control
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HEW DESIGNATES
AIR QUALITY
CONTROL REGIONS.
ISJ
HEW DEVELOPS AND
PUBLISHES AIR
QUALITY CRITERIA
BASED ON'SCIENTiRC
EVIDENCE OF AIR
POLLUTION EFFECTS.
HEW PREPARES
AND PUBLISHES
REPORTS ON
AVAILABLE CONTROL
TECHNIQUES
STATES INDICATE
THEIR INTENT
TO SET STANDARDS.
(PUBLIC
HEARINGS)
STATES SET
AIR QUALITY
STANDARDS
FOR THE AIR
QUALITY CONTROL
REGIONS.
1
STATES ESTABLISH
COMPREHENSIVE PLANS
FOR IMPLEMENTING
AIR QUALITY
STANDARDS.
STATES SUBMIT
STANDARDS FOR
HEW REVIEW.
STATES SUBMIT
IMPLEMENTATION PLANS
FOR HEW REVIEW.
STATES ACT TO CONTROL
AIR POLLUTION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH AIR QUALITY STANDARDS
AND PLANS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
Figure 1 FLOW DIAGRAM FOR ACTION TO CONTROL AIR POLLUTION ON A REGIONAL
BASIS, UNDER THE AIR QUALITY ACT.
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technology and associated costs, the Governors of the States must
file with the Secretary within 90 days a letter of intent, indicating
that the States will adopt within 180 days ambient air quality
standards for the pollutants covered by the published criteria and
control technology documents and adopt within an additional 180
days plans for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of
those standards in the designated air quality control region.
The new Federal legislation provides for a regional attack on
air pollution and, at the same time, allows latitude in the form
which regional efforts may take. While the Secretary retains approval
authority, the States involved in a designated region assume the
responsibility for developing standards and an implementation plan
which includes administrative procedures for abatement and control.
Informal cooperative arrangements with proper safeguards may be
adequate in some regions, whereas in others, more formal arrangements,
such as interstate compacts, may be selected. The objective in each
instance will be to provide effective mechanisms for control on a
regional basis.
THE SIZE OF A REGION
Several objectives are important in determining how large an
air quality control region should be. Basically, these objectives
can be divided into three separate categories. First, a region should
be self-contained with respect to air pollution sources and receptors.
In other words, a region should include most of the important sources
in the area as well as most of the people and property affected by
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those sources. In this way, all the major elements of the regional
problem will lie within one unified jurisdiction. Unfortunately,
since air pollutants can travel long distances, it is impractical if
not impossible to delineate regions which are completely self-contain-
ed. The air over a region will usually have at least trace amounts
of pollutants from external sources. During episodic conditions, such
contributions from external sources may even reach significant levels.
Conversely, air pollution generated within a region and transported
out of it can effect external receptors to some degree. It would be
impractical and inefficient to make all air quality control regions
large enough to encompass these low-level effects. The geographic
extent of trace effects overestimates the true problem area which
should be the focus of air pollution control efforts. Thus, the first
objective, that a region be self-contained, becomes a question of
relative magnitude and frequency. The dividing line between "import-
ant influence" and "trace effect" will be a matter of judgement. The
judgement should be based on estimates of the impact a source has
upon a region, and the level of pollution to which receptors are
subjected. In this respect, annual and seasonal data on pollutant
emissions and ambient air concentrations are a better measure of
relative influence than short term data on episodic conditions.
The second general objective requires that region boundaries be
designed to meet not only present conditions but also future conditi-
ons. In other words, the region should include areas where residential
and industrial expansion are likely to create air pollution problems
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in the foreseeable future. This objective requires careful consider-
ation of existing metropolitan development plans, expected population
growth, and projected industrial expansion. Such considerations
should result in the designation of regions which will contain the
sources and receptors of regional air pollution for a number of years
to come. Of course, the region boundaries need not be permanently
fixed, once designated. Boundaries should be reviewed periodically
and altered when changing conditions warrant readjustment.
The third objective is that region boundaries should be compat-
ible with and even foster unified and cooperative governmental
administration of the air resource throughout the region. Air pollution
is a regional problem which extends across several municipal, county,
and even State boundaries. Clearly, the collaboration of several
governmental jurisdictions is prerequisite to the solution of the
problem. Therefore, the region should be delineated in a way which
encourages regional cooperation among the various governmental bodies
involved in air pollution control. In this regard, the existing pattern
of governmental cooperation on the whole range of urban problems may
become an important consideration. Certainly the pattern of cooperation
among existing air pollution\control programs is a relevant factor.
In general, administrative considerations dictate that governmental
jurisdictions should not be divided. Although it would be impractical
to preserve State jurisdictions undivided, usually it is possible to
preserve the unity of county governments by including or excluding
them in their entirety. In certain instances, the county level of
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government does not exist. In these instances city and town boundaries
are followed in determining the region.
To the extent that any two of the above three objectives lead to
incompatible conclusions concerning region boundaries, the region
must represent a reasonable compromise. A region should represent the
best way of satisfying the three objectives simultaneously.
PROCEDURE FOR DESIGNATION OF REGIONS
Figure 2 illustrates the procedures used by the National Air
Pollution Control Administration for designating air quality control
regions.
A preliminary delineation of the region is developed by bringing
together two essentially separate studies the "Evaluation of
Engineering Factors," and the "Evaluation of Urban Factors."
The "Evaluation of Engineering Factors" considers pollutant source
locations and the geographic extent of significant pollutant concentrat-
ions in the ambient air. An inventory of air pollutant emissions
determines the geographic location and quantities of the various pol-
lutants emitted from the sources in a region. Major quantities of
pollution are emitted by automobiles and industry, and from refuse
disposal operations, power generation, and space heating. The subsequent
effect of the pollution emitted into the atmosphere is determined by
measuring ambient air quality. The air quality analysis presented in
this report is divided into two major segments. The first part deals
with the topography and meteorology of the area and measured air quality.
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ENGINEERING EVALUATION
• EMISSIONS INVENTORY
• METEOROLOGY
• AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS
EXISTING AIR QUALITY DATA
DIFFUSION MODEL OUTPUT
URBAN FACTORS
• Jurisdictional Boundaries
• Urban-Industrial Concentrations
• Cooperative Regional Arrangements
• Pattern and Rate of Growth
• Existing State and Local Air
Pollution Control Legislation & Programs
Preliminary
Delineation
of
Regions
Consultation
with State
and Local
Officials
Formal
Designation
by
Secretary-HEW
Figure 2. Flow diagram for the designation of air quality control regions.
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This section deals with the topographical influences on local meteoro-
logical conditions and the subsequent meteorological effect on air
quality. The second part of the analysis describes the results of the
diffusion model applied to the Hartford-Springfield area in order to
predict air quality. Some of the limitations of the model are also
described. In addition, basic conclusions drawn from the model results,
as they relate to the size of the proposed Region, are outlined.
The "Evaluation of Urban Factors" encompasses all considerations
of a non-engineering nature. This evaluation consists of a review of
existing governmental jurisdictions, current air pollution legislation
and control programs, demographic data, current urbanization, and
projected patterns of urbanization.
The findings of the engineering evaluation are combined with the
results of the urban factors evaluation, and an initial proposal for
the air quality control region is made. As indicated in Figure 2, the
proposal is submitted for consultation with State and local officials.
After reviewing the official transcript of the consultation proceed-
ings which provides the viewpoints of State and local officials toward
the proposal, the Secretary formally designates the region. Formal
designation includes a notice in the Federal Register and a notifi-
cation to the Governors of the States affected by the designation.
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EVALUATION OF ENGINEERING FACTORS
EMISSION INVENTORY
A quantitative evaluation of air pollutant emissions provides the
basic framework for air conservation activities. The compilation of
an emissions inventory makes possible the correlation of pollutant
emissions with specific geographic locations. This procedure generally
results in the identification of the ''core'1 of an air quality control
region—that is, the area where the bulk of the pollutant emissions
occur. In this study, the emissions inventory results are further
utilized as input data to a meteorological diffusion model. In this
manner the spatial and temporal distribution of the pollution emitted
into the atmosphere can be systematically predicted. For these reasons,
a presentation of the emissions inventory results serves as a logical
starting point in the engineering evaluation.
The emission inventory was conducted by the Division of Air Quality
and Emission Data of the National Air Pollution Control Administration.
The emissions inventory included the Springfield-Chicopee-Holyoke,
Hartford, New Britain, Waterbury, Meriden and New Haven Standard
Metropolitan Statistical Areas as well as additional towns surrounding
those SMSA's in Connecticut. The total study area, encompassing 2550
I
square miles, contains the bulk of the population and urbanization in
central Connecticut and in the Lower Pioneer Valley. The estimated 1968
population for the survey area is 2,239,000 persons, with 1,916,000 persons
residing in the six SMSA's*. Intense urbanization exists in a continuous
*Figure 14 provides a population breakdown by individual SMSA's.
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10
or near-continuous broad belt from north of Springfield to Hartford
and south to include Waterbury, New Britain, and New Haven.
The Public Health Service rapid survey technique was used, with
some modification, for the estimation of pollutant emissions. The
emissions were calculated from data representative of the year 1967
r\
using Public Health Service emission factors. Table I provides a
breakdown of sulfur dioxide*, total particulate and carbon monoxide
emissions by State and by SMSA according to source type in four general
categories. These categories are transportation, fuel combustion in
stationary sources, refuse disposal and industrial process emissions.
Both States and all sub-areas within Connecticut contribute significant
amounts of S02> CO and total particulate emissions for most source
types with the exception of aircraft emissions and emissions from power
plants.
Geographic source locations over the survey area are defined by
the use of grid coordinates based on the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
System. Figure 3 shows a map of the survey area subdivided into cities and
towns. Figure 4 shows the numbered grid system superimposed over an outline
of the survey area. Grid squares 5 kilometers on a side are used in areas
of most dense population and industrialization. Grid squares 10 kilometers
on a side are used in areas of less dense urbanization.
Figure 5 shows the location of most major point sources. Point
sources are concentrated in or close to Springfield, Hartford, Waterbury,
and New Haven. Most power plants in the area are located alongside the
Connecticut River. Two major power plants located in Bridgeport have also
*Estimates are based on all oxides of sulfur, of which the vast majority
is composed of S0~.
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TABLE I.
SUMMARY OF AIR POLLUTANT EMISSIONS IN THE HARTFORD-
SPRINGFIELD INTERSTATE STUDY AREA, 1967 (TONS/YEAR).
TRANSPORTATION
COMBUSTION OF FUELS, STATIONARY SOURCES
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
INDUSTRIAL PROCESS
EMISSIONS
Gasoline Diesel Aircraft
Industry Steam-Electric Residential Other Incineration Open Burning
4)
T3
•H
g
3
^
•3
i-H
3
5
0)
fl>
4J
Q
rH
3
o
•H
4J
&
A
rH
flj
"
fi
o
3
X
o
S
Q
•s
cd
y
Massachusetts Total
Connecticut Total
Hartford SMSA
Meriden SMSA
New Britain SMSA
New Haven SMSA
Waterbury SMSA
Remainder of Conn.
Study Area
Massachusetts Total
Connecticut Total
Hartford SMSA
Meriden SMSA
New Britain SMSA
New Haven SMSA
Waterbury SMSA
Remainder of Conn.
Study Area
Massachusetts Total
Connecticut Total
Hartford SMSA
Meriden SMSA
New Britain SMSA
New Haven SMSA
Waterbury SMSA
Remainder of Conn.
Study Area
590
2,360
820
40
170-
580
250
470
790
3,140
1,090
100
220
770
330
630
125,800
656,250
228,300
19,900
46,400
160,600
69,400
131,700
490
690
240
20
50
170
70
140
1,360
1,900
660
60
130
470
200
380
740
1,040
360
30
70
260
110
210
0
Neg.
Neg.
0
0
0
0
0
76
340
340
0
0
0
0
0
3,850
3,070
3,070
0
0
0
0
0
15,900
59,600
18,190
2,440
5,100
12,740
10,050
11,090
2,200
7,110
1,130
190
400
890
3,760
740
230
380
100
10
30
70
130
40
43,100
174,600
16,480
0
0
10,780
0
147,300
8,640
5,330
690
0
0
270
0
4,370
270
550
10
0
0
1
0
540
4,500
16,300
5,040
490
1,500
2,970
1,510
4,780
1,500
4,070
1,120
120
560
710
370
1,190
1,400
3,270
740
100
590
530
270
1,030
7,700
28,900
9,980
920
2,340
5,630
3,430
6,610
1,040
2,970
1,090
70
190
2,580
410
500
460
1,220
520
10
30
990
210
60
130
430
190
Neg.
30
130
30
40
840
4,090
2,040
Neg.
270
1,160
290
320
4,790
7,510
6,540
Neg.
20
910
20
20
0
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
0
0
0
0
1,150
3,260
1,260
Neg.
1,080
240
330
350
6,120
16,200
6,580
Neg.
5,340
1,080
1,660
1,500
Neg.
1,500
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
130
1,260
120
640
4,690
680
Neg.
610
480
940
1,990
6,400
5,900
2,600
Neg.
750
630
1,880
50
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12
•*EAST~~'"} sf
HAMPTON/ / * I GRANBY
x / ( i \
J i e\ \ _
••-\'
SPRINGFIELD '
t^ _-
, ._--J-~ -' ' MONSON
A- '"*EAST'iHAMPDEN\
ONG
";' /-- '""EAST'iHAMPDENl
SOUTHWICK | AGAWAM ^J^ONG^
.. /*"" '••••••. >. j!^/l»»"J-'^<™""t"~ ••*—-i—••—••
' / :" I I
MASSACHUSETTS
CONNECTICUT
:
L..-' SUFFIELD j \ SOMERS
"•••^ I ENFIELD \
GRANBY ___
/ EAST C.^
BY/*'
,— ^LOCKS
"^
WINDSOR
• -
CHESHIRE r MERIDEN p \
\ \ .MIDDLE-
'
0 0
10 0
10
mtlas
10 20
20 3C
30 40
kilometers
FIGURE 3. EMISSION INVENTORY SURVEY AREA.
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13
470oooo
4430000
4420°°°
740000
4560000
45oooo 440000 470000 FIGURE 4. EMISSION INVENTORY NUMBERED GRID SYSTEM.
kilometers
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14
SOURCE TYPE:
A POWER PLANT
• INDUSTRIAL
• SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL
O COMMERCIAL-INSTITUTIONAL
FIGURE 5. LOCATION OF MAJOR POINT SOURCES,
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15
been included in the emissions survey.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are emission density maps for S02, CO, and
total particulates, respectively, based on the grid system. The density
maps are constructed according to yearly average daily emissions for
each pollutant. The densities are computed on the basis of emissions
from both point sources and area sources within each grid zone. The
majority of the SC>2 emissions are attributable to power plants in the
survey area, while industrial sources are also substantial contributors.
The pattern of SO,, emissions (Figure 6) follows closely the pattern of
urbanization in the survey area as well as the pattern of power plant
and industrial point source locations. Carbon monoxide emissions are
primarily attributable to motor vehicles; thus, Figure 7 provides an
indication of the vehicular traffic density distribution over the survey
area. As expected, the more heavily populated areas (Springfield, Hartford,
New Haven) produce the greatest CO emissions. All source types contribute
significant amounts of total particulate emissions. The total particulate
emission density map (Figure 8) reflects the pattern of urbanization
over the study area since the source types themselves are an integral
part of the urban pattern. '
A State-wide emission inventory was conducted by the Travelers
Research Center, Inc., (TRC) as part of a report3 to the Connecticut
Research Commission on the Connecticut air pollution problem. The
results of the TRC inventory tend to validate the findings of the NAPCA
source survey, particularly in reference to the geographic distribution
of emissions. The TRC survey indicated that the winter pattern of S02
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16
WINDSOR / F,£IJJ 7 ASHFIELP
•5^20-E IM KILOMETERS
EMISSIONS IN TONS/MILEZ-DAY
2.0-5.0 ^^ .05-0.1 FIGURE 6. SULFUR DIOXIDE EMISSION DENSITIES.
0.5-2.0 | | < 0.05
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17
IM KlUXETCRS
EMISSIONS IN TONS/MILE2-DAY
BB > 5.0 W%\ .50-1.0
glU 3.0-5.0 jyN^l 10_ 50 FIGURE 7. CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSION DENSITIES.
II 1.0-3.0 I I <0.10
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18
M455
VAI F Ikl KILOHETEKS
EMISSIONS IN TONS/MILE2-DAY
• > 1.0
.50-1.0
.20-.50
.05-.20
.01-.05
I I <0.01
FIGURE 8. TOTAL PARTICIPATE EMISSION DENSITIES.
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19
emissions extends from the Massachusetts-Connecticut State boundary
south along the Connecticut River to Middletown. This pattern of
relatively high SC^ emissions extends eastward from the Connecticut
River to Tolland and Hebron and westward to Simsbury and Bristol.
Relatively high emissions occur in the New Haven area, and in areas north
to and including Meriden. Waterbury and towns to the south of it along
the Naugatuck Valley were found to be areas of relatively high emissions.
Geographic patterns of relatively high suspended particulate emissions
were similar to those for SCv• The pattern of CO emissions reflected the
existence of major highways in the area.
AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS
Introduction
To facilitate an air resource management program, an air quality
control region should include those jurisdictions containing the majority
of air pollutant sources within an urban area. The air quality control
region should also include those jurisdictions containing the majority
of the people and property adversely affected by the source emissions.
The core area of a region can be roughly defined on the basis of pollutant
point source locations and relative emission densities. However, ambient
i
air quality analysis is necessary in order that the peripheral pollutant
receptor areas may be identified and subsequently included in the air
quality control region. This procedure results in an essentially self-
contained region, in that it will include within its bounds virtually the
entire source-receptor system for a particular area. In this way, too,
the possibility of pollutant cross-boundary transport problems will be
minimized.
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20
Two alternate approaches have been used to provide an indication of
air quality in the Hartford-Springfield study area*. The first and most
logical approach for the determination of air quality is to measure
quantitatively pollutant concentrations in the ambient air. For the
purposes of this report, a review of existing air quality data was made.
The second approach consists of predicting air quality over the Region.
This has been done by the use of a meteorological diffusion model. This
technique was particularly desirable in the study area since existing air
sampling networks do not encompass large enough areas so that they may
be used as guides to the establishment of the exact outer limits of the
Region.
Topography, Meteorology, and Measured Air Quality
The Hartford-Springfield area lies in the south portion of the upland
region of New England. Its surface is, in general, that of a gently
undulating upland divided by the lowland of the Connecticut River Valley.
Between the upland and the sea lies a relatively narrow strip of lowland
known as the "seaboard lowland." The Connecticut River Valley varies
in width from approximately 5 to 20 miles. Adjacent to the Connecticut
River the land is low and level or rolling. However, there are ridges
of traprock which rise several hundred feet above the valley floor. The
range of hills forming the boundaries of the valley rise 400 to 600 feet
above the valley floor.
The study area is frequented by extensive winter storm activity and
a day-to-day variability of local weather. During the winter, northerly
*The term "study area" will be used to define the approximate area over
which the emissions inventory was conducted.
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21
winds are predominant, while southerly winds are predominant during the
summer (see Figure A-l). Surface-level winds in the Connecticut Valley
are markedly from a northerly or southerly direction, and are infrequently
from the east or west. This is due to the general broadscale features
of the winds over the region and due, more specifically, to the orientation
of the hills which form the valley sides. The effect of the hills,
which lie mainly in a north-south direction, is to deflect winds up or
down the valley.
Air sampling in the Springfield area is conducted by the Lower
Pioneer Valley Air Pollution Contrel District. Routine sampling of sulfur
oxides, suspended particulates, and settleable particulates is conducted.
Suspended particulate sampling sites are located in South Hadley, Holyoke,
Chicopee, Springfield, West Springfield, Westfield, and Agawam. Sampling
from August 1965 to July 1966 indicated that highest yearly average sus-
pended particulate concentrations occurred in Holyoke (139 ug/m^) and
2
Springfield (136 jig/m ). Another station located in Springfield measured
a low yearly average concentration of 74 ug/m . Winter average concentra-
tions were generally greater than annual averages, while summer averages
were lowest. A yearly average concentration for all 12 sampling sites was
106 wg/nr* and was 100 ug/nr* averaged for four sites in Springfield. The
average concentrations for urban sampling sites exceeded those at non-urban
sites by a significant amount. Both urban and non-urban values, however,
are above typical background levels recorded at non-urban sites in neighbor-
ing States.^
A more extensive 21 station network measures settleable particulates
through the use of dustfall buckets. The 1965-66 yearly average dustfall
was 17 tons/mi.2-month. Holyoke had the highest city average (3 sites)
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22
2 9
of 22 tons/mi, -month followed by Springfield with 19 tons/mi. -month
(5 station average).
Complete S0? sampling data exists for the City of Springfield for
the year 1968. Greatest measured concentrations occurred during the
winter months (.182 ppm January average), and were lowest during the
summer (.034 ppm June average). The 1968 yearly average SC>2 concentration
for Springfield was .068 ppm.
The Connecticut Air Sampling Network is operated by the State
Department of Health with monitoring for S02, sulfation rate and settle-
able and suspended particulates. Measured suspended particulate concentra-
tions in the major cities in central Connecticut for the year 1967 were
greater than typical non-urban or background levels measured in other
sections of the northeast United States . Hartford and Naugatuck had
yearly mean concentrations of 90 ug/m , while New Haven (86 ug/nr*),
Waterbury (79 ug/m^), Torrington (57 ug/m^), and Middletown (49 ug/m^)
had lower measured concentrations. These measured values appear to bear
little relation to community size. It is probably safe to assume that
concentrations substantially above the natural background level occur
throughout the urbanized portions of central Connecticut connecting these
major cities. Settleable particulate levels, while showing wide variability
in values from the years 1966 to 1968, reflect the existence of significant
amounts of dustfall in Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Naugatuck,
Waterbury and Torrington.
Sampling for the gaseous pollutants, SO,-, and CO, has been limited in
Connecticut. Average S02 concentrations for the first half of 1968 were
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23
.05 ppm in Hartford and .06 ppm in New Haven*. A study of S02 pollution
in the Hartford area-* indicated that greatest concentrations occurred
in the winter, and were particularly high in Hartford and New Britain.
These measurements for the yearly average S02 concentration in Hartford
(over a period from 1966-1967) were comparable to concentrations recorded
by the State Department of Health. S02 measurements in Middletown^
indicated an average concentration of .022 ppm during the winter of
1965-1966. Carbon monoxide sampling-* in the City of Hartford resulted
in a 1967 winter average value of 2.7 ppm and a 1.9 ppm summer average.
A sampling site located in East Windsor measured concentrations of .9 ppm
and .7 ppm for the winter and summer averaging periods, respectively.
Diffusion Model Results
A meteorological diffusion model has been used to estimate suspended
particulates, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide concentrations in the
ambient air at specified ground-level receptor points. The model predicts
these concentrations from the mathematical treatment of pollutant emissions
and meteorological data**. While inherent limitations in the model are
recognized, its value lies in providing reasonable spatial distributions
of long term (seasonal and annual)*** average pollutant concentrations.
Figure 9 shows theoretical suspended particulate concentrations in
Connecticut State Department of Health measurements.
**See Appendix A for a more detailed discussion.
***Averaging times are as follows:
Winter: December, January, and February
Summer: June, July, and August
Annual: All 12 months of the year
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FIGURE 9. THEORETICAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATE CONCENTRATIONS
IN UG/M3; WINTER AVERAGE.
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25
Q
iig/nr for the winter averaging period. It is during this time that
emissions are the greatest and that particulate pollution build-up (a
result of meteorological conditions during the winter averaging time),
as predicted by the model, is greatest. This fact has been confirmed
from actual air quality data. As a result, a greater land area is
affected by any specific concentration contour.
The predicted concentrations shown in Fugure 9 should not be con-
sidered absolute since they do not conform closely in magnitude to
measured concentrations. However, the pollutant distribution pattern
indicates relatively high suspended particulate concentrations centered
on Hartford and Naugatuck. The overall diffusion pattern reflects the
existence of an urbanized corridor stretching from New Haven northeast
to Hartford and then along the Connecticut River to Holyoke and Northampton.
The influence of inventoried emissions appears to affect equally the air
quality over a peripheral area (at the 10 ug/m^ isopleth) extending north
to Hadley, east to Monson, Tolland and East Haddam, and west to Westfield,
Burlington, and Woodbury.
Theoretical sulfur dioxide concentrations are shown in Figure 10.
Results for the winter averaging period are presented since any given
concentration contour predicted by the model affects the greatest land
area during that period. A 3-hour half-life for S02 has been assumed as
the rate of decay of sulfur dioxide. This procedure has been found to
result in the most reasonable predicted concentrations. In general, the
model underestimates measured concentrations. Highest predicted concen-
trations occur centered over Springfield, Middletown and Milford. The
0.01 concentration contour appears to enclose substantially the same
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26
FIGURE 10. THEORETICAL SO
IN PPM; WIN1
THEORETICAL S02 CONCENTRATIONS
IN PPM; WINTER AVERAGE (ASSUMED
3 HOUR HALF-LIFE) .
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27
area as does the 10 ug/nr suspended particulate isopleth, as outlined
previously. The pattern of the isopleths again reflects the urban
pattern of central Connecticut and metropolitan Springfield, and can also
be correlated with the pattern of emissions over the study area (see
Figure 6).
Predicted summer CO levels are shown in Figure 11. Greatest emissions
occur during this period, and greatest concentrations in the ambient air
are predicted by the model. Limited air quality data does not confirm
this, however, since measurements at two sampling sites revealed greatest
CO concentrations during the winter (see page 23). Past application of
the diffusion model has shown that CO concentrations tend to be under-
estimated. Comparison with the limited data from the Hartford area
indicates that this is true of the results shown in Figure 11 as well.
The area enclosed by the .15 ppm contour appears to be that most signifi-
cantly affected by the inventoried source emissions. Beyond that contour
the concentration gradient decreases significantly.
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28
FIGURE 11. THEORETICAL CARBON MONOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS
IN PPM; SUMMER AVERAGE.
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29
EVALUATION OF URBAN FACTORS
INTRODUCTION
The Air Quality Act of 1967 calls for the designation of air quality
control regions based on "jurisdictional boundaries, urban-industrial
concentrations, and other factors" in order to provide for the adequate
implementation of air quality standards. The designation of air quality
control regions must also be based on a consideration of existing coopera-
tive regional arrangements, State and local air pollution control pro-
grams and enabling legislation, and patterns and rates of urban growth.
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
Existing and potential air pollution problems can be related geo-
graphically to areas subject to present or anticipated residential and
industrial development. Similarly, air pollution problem areas can
generally be identified by studying population statistics since human
activity is the basic cause of air pollution. Figure 12 shows 1965
population distribution by Planning Regions (See Figure 15) in Connecticut
and by County in Massachusetts. The population density values are in
persons per square mile. In Massachusetts, existing population is gener-
ally concentrated along the Connecticut River. The cities of Springfield,
Chicopee and Holyoke contain the most dense population in the Massachu-
1
setts portion of the study area. In Connecticut, a continuous band of
densely populated cities and towns stretches from the Connecticut-Mass-
achusetts State line south along the Connecticut River to Middletown. High
density areas also extend eastward from the Connecticut River to Vernon
and westward to Bristol, Watertown and Waterbury. Also, a band of high-
density population extends on a northeast-southwest axis from Meriden to
New Haven.
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30
FIGURE 12. 1965 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION.
IM K»-<3METCRSpERSONS/MILE2
> 1000
500-1000
175-500
< 175
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31
Figure 13 shows 1980 projected population densities (persons per square
mile) by Planning Region in Connecticut. Also shown are 1980 projected
population densities for major portions of Hampden and Hampshire Counties
in Massachusetts. Population statistics for the Connecticut Planning
Regions shown in Figures 12 and 13 indicate an increase in total population
from 1,859,000 persons in 1965 to approximately 2,400,000 persons by 1980.
Greatest absolute growth will occur in the Capitol Planning Region while
greatest growth in terms of additional residents per square mile will occur
in the South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The Central Connecticut
Planning Region will also experience a high increase in growth in terms
of additional residents per square mile. Table II presents the absolute
population statistics for 1965 and 1980 from which the density values in
Figures 12 and 13 were computed.
In Massachusetts, Hampden County will experience the greatest absolute
growth, followed by Hampshire County. Growth in Franklin County is likely
to remain low in terms of both absolute and per cent rate of increases,
although no figures are available to confirm this. The population dis-
tribution in Hampden County will change somewhat as growth occurs outside
the major cities in the presently sparsely populated areas. Thus the pop-
ulation of the central cities (Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke) will de-
cline in importance in relation to the total population of Hampden County.
INDUSTRY
Manufacturing is the predominant income producing component of the
Springfield metropolitan area, though industrial land use comprises & very
small percentage of the developed land in that area. The existing industrial
land use pattern is concentrated in the urban core area (Springfield and
Chicopee) though it is likely that the scarcity of suitable industrial
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32
PERSONS/MILE?
>1500
FIGURE 13. 1980 PROJECTED POPULATION DISTRIBUTION.
1000-1500
400-1000
< 400
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TABLE II. PRESENT AND PROJECTED POPULATION
BY JURISDICTION
33
1980
1965 PROJECTED ADDITIONAL
POPULATION 1980 POPULATION RESIDENTS PER
AREA 1965 DENSITY PROJECTED DENSITY SQUARE MILE
JURISDICTION (Mi.2) POPULATION (PERSONS/Mi.2) POPULATION (PERSONS/Mi.2) 1965-1980
CONN. PLANNING
REGIONS
CAPITOL 766 652,100 850
MID-STATE 259 72,200 279
CENTRAL CONN. 167 206,300 1239
CENTRAL NAUGATUCK
VALLEY 313 215,400 687
VALLEY 57 65,700 1160
S. CENTRAL CONN. 382 492,300 1290
CONN. RIVER
ESTUARY 191 35,000 183
WINDHAM 327 , 56,600 174
LITCHFIELD HILLS 382 63,330 166
811,100
118,600
256,100
289,500
82,200
617,400
61,900
74,200
80,900
1060
458
1534
924
1452
1620
324
228
212
210
179
295
237
292
330
141
54
46
MASS. COUNTIES
HAMPDEN 622 435,300 700
HAMPSHIRE 529 100,100 189
FRANKLIN 708 57,700 82
506,000*
89,300**
N.A.
1050*
280**
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A.
N.A. : INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE
* : ONLY 482 Mi.2 OF COUNTY CONSIDERED
** : ONLY 280 Mi.2 OF COUNTY CONSIDERED
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34
sites in the core area will cause industry to gravitate to the fringes
of the urban concentration. Statistics showing acres developed for
industrial uses from 1955 to 1964 indicate that East Longmeadow ex-
perienced the greatest industrial site development. The stable industries
in this region are paper and allied products, rubber and plastics, elec-
trical machinery and primary metals', while the growing industries are
chemicals, printing and publishing and scientific instruments.
Connecticut is one of the most highly industrialized States in the
nation, and ranks second in the ratio of manufacturing employees to total
non-agricultural employees (42%). Employment for manufacture of trans-
portation equipment is greatest, followed by the manufacture of machinery,
fabricated metals, electrical equipment, and primary metals. In central
Connecticut, industrial activity, as measured by total manufacturing
employment figures, is concentrated in Hartford (149,500 persons) and
New Haven (113,800 persons) Counties. The combined area of the Capitol,
Central Connecticut and Mid-State Planning Regions contains a greater
amount of industrially zoned, but presently vacant, land than any other
portion of the State. The availability of this prime industrial land can
be expected to promote a significant future increase in industrial
activities in central Connecticut. At the present time, the most important
manufacturing towns in central Connecticut are East Hartford, Hartford, New
Haven, Waterbury, New Britain, North Haven, Bristol, Windsor Locks, West
Hartford, Meriden, and Naugatuck, in that order.
EXISTING REGIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Figure 14 shows the boundaries and 1968 populations of the six
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSA's) in central Connecticut
and in Massachusetts. The core cities of these SMSA's are Springfield,
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35
WINDSOR / B6LP ] A5UF1ELP
S PRINGFIELD-CHICOPEE-HOLYOKE
MASS.-CONN.
521,000^
HARTFORD, CONN.
637,000
WATERBURY^CONNi
199,500
GJXLR
,VEN, 'CONN.
^359,000 ^
FIGURE 14. STANDARD METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS,
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36
Hartford, New Britain, Meriden, Waterbury, and New Haven. The municipalities
included in these SMSA's are those that are integrated socially and
economically with the core cities, and with each other. The influence of
the Springfield-Chicopee-Holyoke core extends north to Hadley, west to
Westfield and east to Warren. The Hartford SMSA extends south to Cromwell,
west to Canton and east to Ellington. Meriden town itself comprises an
SMSA while the New Britain SMSA consists of four cities and towns.
In Connecticut, counties no longer function as political entities.
Instead, Planning Regions have been defined by the Connecticut Development
Commission as directed by State law. The boundaries of these Planning
Regions are shown in Figure 15. The regional Planning Agencies operating
in each of these Planning Regions are directed by statute to prepare and
adopt regional development plans to provide a framework for local planning.
In addition, their function is to act as a foundation for a continuing
planning process in their respective Planning Regions. The Planning
Agencies have no direct authority to enforce their recommendations or to
require conformance by any municipality to their regional plans. The
boundaries of these regions have been defined to include those municipalities
whose social, cultural, and economic activities are oriented to a particular
urban center. Thus, the Planning Regions would include the town or towns
serving as an urban center and the surrounding municipalities where a
clear inter-relationship between them is evident. The relationship of the
peripheral towns to the urban core was evaluated on the basis of newspaper
circulation patterns, commuting patterns of manufacturing workers, labor
market areas, and so on.
Figure 15 indicates the extent of the Lower Pioneer Valley Regional
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37
^HiMl
MOkTEEEY|__
HAMPDEN'C0.2
wew 1 s f//VSA76C LOWER PIONEER VALLEY REGIONAL PLANNING DISTRICT
CENTRAL CONN.
CONN. RIVER ESTUARY
SOUTH CENTRAL CONN.
CENTRAL NAUGATUCK/VALL
FIGURE 15. PLANNING REGIONS OF CONNECTICUT AND
MASSACHUSETTS.
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38
Planning District in Massachusetts. The District encompasses Hampden and
Hampshire Counties in their entirety, with the exception of eight non-
member communities. These are shown cross-hatched in Figure 15. The
Planning District was established in 1962 under the State regional planning
law which permits cities and towns to jointly promote the orderly develop-
ment of areas within the jurisdiction of planning regions. Planning
regions have been defined by the Massachusetts Department of Commerce
and Development in their 1966 Interim Definition of Regions for the
purpose of facilitating regional organization. One region includes all
of Hampden and Hampshire Counties while another includes Franklin County.
EXISTING AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMS AND LEGISLATION
In the process of defining the bounds of an air quality control
region it becomes important to consider the role of existing State and
local air pollution control programs. It is also important to review
pertinent legislation which allows for the promulgation of air pollutant
control regulations and which grants enforcement powers to agencies at
the State and local levels. Such consideration of existing programs is
mandatory since it is upon them that the ultimate responsibility for
implementing region-wide air quality standards rests.
Responsibility for the control of air pollution in Massachusetts
rests with the State Department of Public Health. The State Legislature
has authorized the Department to adopt (minimum) State-wide air pollution
regulations. The application of such regulations was intended for air
pollutant emissions arising from State institutions, mobile sources,
sources causing inter-municipal pollution effects, and sources which could
and should be controlled by other agencies, but are not. The Department
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39
has the authority to approve rules and regulations promulgated by local
control bodies, and are further authorized to advise local control
bodies in all matters of atmospheric pollution. Existing law gives local
boards of health the authority to adopt and enforce air pollution rules
and regulations (subject to the approval of the State Department of
Public Health).
The State Department of Public Health may, upon request of the board
of health of a town adversely affected by atmospheric pollution from
another town, assume joint jurisdiction to regulate or control such
cause of air pollution. Enabling legislation passed in 1960 authorizes
the Department of Public Health, upon request of two or more contiguous
municipalities within the State, to establish multi-municipal regional air
pollution control districts. The Lower Pioneer Valley Air Pollution
Control District was established in 1966 in accordance with this legis-
lation. This district includes the cities of Springfield, Northampton,
Chicopee, Holyoke, and Westfield and the towns of Agawam, East Longmeadow,
Easthampton, South Hadley, and West Springfield. Rules and regulations to
prevent and control pollution within the District have been adopted by the
Department. The Department has the authority to order the cessation or
abatement of any violations of these regulations, subject to penalty. The
State is reimbursed by the cities and towns within the District for
expenditures made for control activities within it.
In the State of Connecticut, the State Department of Health has the
responsibility for the control of air pollution. Legislative authority
for the control of air pollution lies in the Connecticut Air Pollution
Control Law which became effective in 1967. This Law, known as Public Act
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40
754, establishes an Air Pollution Commission which has the power to control
and prohibit air pollution within the State. The Commission has the
power to initiate and receive complaints and to institute legal proceed-
ings for the enforcement of its regulations. Enforcement authority for
such regulations is placed in the hands of the Commissioner of the State
Department of Health.
Section 16 of the Act provides that, upon approval of the Commission,
any city or town, pursuant to ordinance, may join with any other city or
town or combination thereof in the formation of an air pollution control
district. The Act allows for the adoption of ordinances or regulations for
the control of air pollution by any city, town, borough, or district.
These regulations are to be submitted to the Commission for approval.
Finally, the Act provides for the establishment of a Clean Air Task
Force to formulate recommendations to the Governor and the 1969 session
of the General Assembly for the development and enactment of a compre-
hensive, long-range air pollution control program. These recommendations
as put forth, are to strengthen existing air pollution control legislation.
Specifically, the Task Force has made recommendations concerning the
selection of Commission members and their responsibility to determine
causes and effects of air pollution. The Task Force recommendations would
give greater enforcement powers to the Department of Health and would
increase the severity of penalties for the violation of these regulations.
Additions to the present Act would provide for an inspection system of
air pollution control devices on vehicles. Also, a provision is proposed
to allow for greater exchange with neighboring State air pollution control
agencies if a mutual air pollution problem exists.
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41
It is evident from the direction of legislation in Massachusetts
and Connecticut that State officials recognize air pollution as a regional
problem, to be approached on a regional basis. Legislation in both
Massachusetts and Connecticut allows for the formation of multi-municipal
districts for the control of air pollution. A 10 city and town district
presently exists in Massachusetts in the Lower Pioneer Valley. Regional
air pollution problem areas in Connecticut are recognized. Therefore, it
appears that the idea of a regional approach to administer the air resource
is shared at both the Federal and State levels.
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42
THE PROPOSED REGION
Subject to the scheduled consultation, the Secretary, Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare, proposes to designate an air quality
control region for the Hartford, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts,
metropolitan area. The proposed region consists of the following
jurisdictions:
In the State of Connecticut:
Cities
Bristol
Hartford
Middletown
New Britain
In the State of Massachusetts:
Cities
Chicopee
Holyoke
Northampton
Springfield
Westfield
Towns
Andover
Avon
Berlin
Bloomfield
Bolton
Burlington
Canton
Cromwell
Durham
East Granby
East Haddam
East Hampton
East Hartford
East Windsor
Ellington
Enfield
Farmington
Glastonbury
Granby
Haddam
Hebron
Manchester
Marlborough
Middlefield
Newington
Plainville
Plymouth
Portland
Rocky Hill
Simsbury
Somers
Southington
South Windsor
Suffield
Tolland
Vernon
West Hartford
Wethersfield
Windsor
Windsor Locks
Towns
Agawam
Amherst
Belchertown
Blandford
Brimfield
Chester
Chesterfield
Cummington
Easthampton
East Longmeadow
Goshen
Granby
Granville
Hadley
Hampden
Hatfield
Holland
Huntington
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43
Massachusetts Towns (cont.)
Longmeadow Southwick
Ludlow South Hadley
Middlefield Tolland
Monson Wales
Montgomery Ware
Palmer Westhampton
Pelham West Springfield
Plainfield Wilbraham
Russell Williamsburg
Southampton Worthington
As so proposed, the Region would consist of the territorial area
encompassed by the outermost boundaries of the above jurisdictions and
the territorial area of all municipalities located therein and as defined
in Section 302(f) of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. I857h(f). Figure 16
shows the boundaries of the proposed Region, while Figure 17 indicates
the geographic relationship of the Region to surrounding areas.
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSAL
To implement a successful air resource management program, an air
quality control region should be sufficiently large so as to encompass
most pollution sources as well as most people and property affected by
those sources. The boundaries should also encompass those locations
where present and projected urbanization and industrialization will
create or continue to create significant air pollution problems. Finally,
the boundaries chosen should be compatible with and even foster unified
and cooperative regional governmental administration of the air resource.
The proposed Hartford-Springfield Interstate Air Quality Control Region
was designed to satisfy, to the greatest degree possible, these requirements.
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44
FIGURE 16. PROPOSED HARTFORD-SPRINGFIELD INTERSTATE
AIR QUALITY CONTROL REGION.
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45
FIGURE 17. RELATIONSHIP OF PROPOSED
HARTFORD-SPRINGFIELD INTERSTATE AIR
QUALITY CONTROL REGION TO SURROUNDING
AREAS.
PROPOSED METROPOLITAN
BOSTON INTRASTATE AIR
QUALITY CONTROL REGION
PROPOSED HARTFORD-SPRINGFIELD
INTERSTATE AIR QUALITY
CONTROL REGION
NEW JERSEY-NEW YORK-
CONNECTICUT INTERSTATE AIR QUALITY
CONTROL REGION
METROPOLITAN PHILADELPHIA
INTERSTATE AIR QUALITY CONTROL REGION
WASHINGTON, D.C. NATIONAL CAPITAL
INTERSTATE AIR QUALITY CONTROL REGION
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46
In most of the air quality control regions designated or proposed
to date, boundaries have been determined by including or excluding counties
in their entirety. This practice allows for a certain degree of latitude
in evaluating, both from a technical and non-technical point of view, the
geographic extent of the Region boundaries. In Massachusetts, however,
counties do not exist as important decision making levels of government.
Also, counties no longer function as political entities in the State of
Connecticut. This necessitates the selection of Region boundaries along
town lines in both States.
In Connecticut, Planning Regions have been defined according to State
law. Regional Planning Agencies in each of these Planning Regions have
been directed by statute to prepare and adopt regional development plans
to provide a framework for local planning, and to act as a foundation for
a continuing regional planning process. These Planning Regions have been
defined to include a group of cities and towns that are socially, economi-
cally and culturally integrated. For this reason, the boundaries of the
Connecticut portion of the Air Quality Control Region will be drawn along
Planning Region boundaries in order that the subsequent administration of
the air resource on a regional basis will be facilitated.
In Massachusetts, regional planning districts have been defined by the
State Department of Commerce and Development for the purpose of facilitating
regional organization. One such region encompasses both Hampden and Hampshire
Counties while another includes Franklin County in its entirety. Also, the
Lower Pioneer Valley Regional Planning District presently encompasses both
Hampden and Hampshire Counties, with the exception of 8 non-member communities.
Since county boundaries still function for statistical data gathering and
for planning region jurisdictions, it would be advisable to follow
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47
Massachusetts county boundaries when delineating the Region.
The results of the air pollutant emission inventory reveal that areas
of major pollutant emissions coincide with the areas of most dense urban-
ization and industrialization in Central Connecticut and the Lower Pioneer
Valley. The pattern of air pollutant emissions extends on a north-south
axis from Northampton in Massachusetts southward along the Connecticut
River to Middleton and then southwest to Waterbury and New Haven. In
general, the most dense pollutant emissions occur in the Springfield,
Hartford, New Britain, Waterbury and New Haven core areas. Sulfur dioxide
emissions primarily reflect the pattern of power plant and industrial
point source locations. Total particulate emissions reflect the geographical
concentrations and distribution of the pollutant source-complex since most
source types contribute significantly to the total amount of particulate
matter emitted. Carbon monoxide emissions provide a measure of the vehicular
traffic density distribution over the area, since the majority of CO
emissions are attributable to the automobile.
Limited air quality data in both the Lower Pioneer Valley and central
Connecticut confirms the fact that air pollutant concentrations are
greatest in the areas of greatest pollutant emissions. Sampling networks
in the Lower Pioneer Valley and metropolitan Hartford indicate that a
significant variation in air quality exists between urban and .sub-urban
sampling sites. Air quality is less affected toward and at the periphery
of the metropolitan areas. Even at these locations however, measured
suspended particulate concentrations are greater than those measured
at non-urban sites in the northeast United States.
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48
Diffusion model results for three pollutants (S02, CO and suspended
particulates) predict a substantial variation in air quality between the
industrialized, heavily populated core-cities (Springfield, Hartford,
Waterbury and New Haven) and outlying cities and towns. In general, the
equal-concentration contours enclose a broad area stretching from Hadley
and Amherst in Massachusetts, south along the Connecticut River Valley
to Middletown and Haddan^ and southwest to New Haven. Within this large
area, the core-cities are recognizable since they are at or near centers
of high concentrations. The air quality over less densely populated and
industrialized cities and towns appears to be affected to a significant
extent by pollutant emissions emanating primarily from neighboring
highly-urbanized cities and towns.
Although no absolute engineering criteria exists by which the
Region may be determined, it is possible to define the Region on the
basis of relative pollutant emissions and concentrations in the ambient
air. On this basis, it would appear that the following areas should
be considered for inclusion in the Region: Hampden and Hampshire
Counties in Massachusetts, and the Capitol, Mid-State, Valley, Central
Connecticut, South Central Connecticut, Central Naugatuck Valley and
the Connecticut River Estuary Planning Regions in Connecticut.
A study of urban factors reveals that a corridor of dense population
exists from New Haven to Springfield. This band of high-density
population is nearly continuous, with the exception of a few non-
i
urbanized discontinuities. The central cities around which the greatest
urbanization has occured are Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke in
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49
Massachusetts and Hartford, New Britain, New Haven, Waterbury, Meriden
and Middletown in Connecticut. Greatest absolute population growth in
Connecticut will occur in the Hartford metropolitan area while
greatest increases in additional residents per square mile between 1965
and 1980 will occur in the New Haven metropolitan area. Industrial
development is intense throughout central Connecticut, and particularly
so in metropolitan Hartford and New Haven. Greatest growth in the
Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts is expected to occur in Hampden and
Hampshire Counties.
It would appear that inclusion of both Hampden and Hampshire
Counties in the Region would satisfy the condition that air quality
control regions include most of the present and projected population
in an urban area. These two counties are expected to contain the bulk
of the population growth in the Pioneer Valley. Growth in Franklin
County to the north is expected to remain low. In addition, Hampden
and Hampshire Counties form the boundaries of the Lower Pioneer Valley
Regional Planning District.
Most of the urbanization in central Connecticut is located in the
Capitol, Central Connecticut, Mid-State, Valley, Central Naugatuck
Valley and South Central Connecticut Planning Regions. The inclusion
i
of these Planning Regions in the Air Quality Control Region would
result too, in the inclusion of most of central Connecticuts1* populat-
ion in the Region. However, an important condition which an air
quality control region must meet is that it be compatible with and
foster cooperative governmental administration of the air resource.
Consideration given to this condition calls for the separation of the
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50
two major metropolitan areas in central Connecticut Hartford and
New Haven for the purposes of establishing an air quality control
region. Thus, only the Capitol, Central Connecticut and Mid-State
Planning Regions have been proposed for inclusion in the Region. The
Central Connecticut and Mid-State Planning Regions appear to be more
closely linked to the Hartford metropolitan area, on the basis of
technical and non-technical considerations, than they are to metropoli-
tan New Haven.
The exclusion of the Planning Regions in central Connecticut which
encompass the Waterbury, Meriden, and New Haven metropolitan areas, will
not prevent them from being included in a regional air pollution control
effort at a later date. The National Air Pollution Control Administration
(NAPCA) has recently named additional areas of concern across the Nation,
to be designated as air quality control regions. Along with this list of
additional metropolitan areas, to be designated, NAPCA has announced an
expanded policy regarding the designation of regions in metropolitan areas
not specifically named. This policy expresses NAPCA1s confidence that,
upon experiencing the benefits of implementing air pollution control on a
regional basis, the States will, by their own initiative, adopt the regional
approach to air pollution control. NAPCA encourages the States to initiate
proposed boundaries in the additional metropolitan areas. Pursuant to this
expanded policy, the New Haven area may be proposed by appropriate authorities
of the State ot Connecticut as an air quality control region. Similar pro-
posals may be initiated by the States of Connecticut and Massachusetts for
areas which they feel will benefit from the regional approach to conserving
our air resource.
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51
REFERENCES
1. Public Health Service. Rapid Survey Technique for Estimating
Community Air Pollution Emissions. Publication No. 999-AP-29,
Environmental Health Service, U.S. DHEW, Division of Air
Pollution, Cincinnati, Ohio, October 1966.
2. Public Health Service. Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission
Factors. Publication No. 999-AP-42, Environmental Health
Series, U.S. DHEW, National Center for Air Pollution Control,
Durham, North Carolina, 1968.
3. The Travelers Research Center, Inc. The Development Of A
Simulation Model For Air Pollution Over Connecticut, Volume I,
Summary Report. Hartford, Connecticut, October 1967.
4. Public Health Service. Air Quality Data from the National Air
Surveillance Networks and Contributing State and Local Networks,
1966 Edition. Publication No. APTD 68-9, U.S. DHEW, National
Air Pollution Control Administration, Durham, N.C., 1968.
5. TRC Service Corporation. Air Pollution Study of the Capitol
Region, Summary Report. Hartford, Connecticut, December 1967.
6. TRC Service Corporation. An Air Pollution Study of Middletown,
Connecticut. Hartford, Connecticut, September 1966.
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52
APPENDIX A. DESCRIPTION OF DIFFUSION MODEL
The diffusion model is based on the Gaussian diffusion equation,
12 *^ A
described by Pasquill ' and modified for long-term averages-3 »^ for
application to the multiple-source situation typical of an urban complex.
The basic equation assumed that the concentration of a pollutant within
a plume has a Gaussian distribution about the plume centerline in the
vertical and horizontal directions. The dispersion of the plume is a
function of the emission rate, effective source and receptor heights,
atmospheric stability and the distance from the source. The plume is
assumed to move downwind according to the mean wind.
The model was used to predict concentrations of S02, and CO, and
total suspended particulates. The averaging times were the summer and
winter seasons and the year. In order that the theoretical pollutant
levels could be determined, it was necessary to evaluate certain meteoro-
logical input parameters. These parameters are wind direction and frequency
of occurrence in each direction, effective wind speeds for each direction,
and mixing depths for various averaging times.
Figure I-A shows the wind roses for the summer, winter, and year
for the Hartford-Springfield area*. They represent graphically the
frequency of occurrence of the wind from the various compass directions.
This data, along with effective wind speeds for the respective compass
directions was used as input data to the computerized model. The charac-
teristic prevailing wind directions for each of the averaging times as
*U.S. Weather Bureau Data for Bradley International Airport, 1951 through
1960.
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WINTER
SUMMER
ANNUAL
PER CENT FREQUENCY
OF OCCURENCE
FIGURE 1-A. WIND DIRECTION PER CENT FREQUENCY OF OCCURENCE
FOR VARIOUS AVERAGING TIMES.
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depicted by the length of the wind rose radials, produce a direct influence
over the dispersion of pollutants.
Table I-A shows average mixing depths for the winter, summer, and annual
averaging periods*. A significant diurnal variation in the mixing depth is
indicated. These mixing depths define the volume of air above the surface
through which pollutants are allowed to mix, and are assumed to have no
spatial variation (i.e., mixing depth is constant) over the receptor grid
system.
Table I-A
Average Mixing Depths for Hartford
by Season and Time of Day (meters)
Season
Morning Average
Afternoon Average
Average, Morning
and Afternoon
Winter
Summer
Annual
(four seasons)
705
535
625
900
1500
1176
803
1018
901
The diffusion model was used to compute the ground level concentrations
of pollutants at 225 receptor points. Their locations were defined by an
orthogonal grid system with mest points 15 kilometers apart. This grid,
210 km. on a side, was centered in the City of Hartford. An effective
source height of 75 meters was assumed for all pollutant point sources,
while topographical features were neglected for area-source emissions and
for the 225 receptor points.
*Computed mixing depths documented by Holzworth5'6 and by recent tabulations
furnished to the Meteorological Program, NAPCA, by the National Weather
Record Center, ESSA.
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APPENDIX B. REFERENCES
1. Pasquill, F. "The Estimation of the Dispersion of Windborne
Material," Meteorology Magazine, 90, 33-49, 1961.
2. Pasquill, F. Atmospheric Diffusion, Van Nostrand Co., New
York, New York, 190 pp., 1962.
3. Public Health Service. Workbook of Atmospheric Dispersion
Estimates. Publication No. 999-AP-26, Environmental Health
Series, U.S. DHEW, National Center for Air Pollution Control,
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1967.
4. Martin, D.O., Tikvart, J.A. "A General Atmospheric Diffusion
Model for Estimating the Effects on Air Quality of One or
More Sources," Paper No. 68-148, 61st Annual Meeting, APCA,
St. Paul, Minnesota, June 1968.
5. Holzworth, G.C. "Mixing Depths, Wind Speeds and Air Pollution
Potential for Selected Locations in the United States,"
J. Appl. Meteor.. No. 6, pp. 1039-1044, December 1967.
6. Holzworth, G.C. "Estimates of Mean Maximum Mixing Depths in
the Continguous United States," Mon. Weather Rev. 92, No. 5,
pp. 235-242, May 1964.
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