Which area is PSD applicable to?

Which area is PSD applicable to?

• A. Attainment or unclassified areas for major new or modified sources.
• B. Nonattainment areas for all sources.
• C. Rural areas only.
• D. Industrial zones only.

Answer: (A)

PSD focuses on preventing deterioration in places that are currently meeting air quality standards or are not yet classified. It applies when a major new source or a major modification is proposed in areas designated attainment or unclassified for the pollutant in question. This setup ensures that adding emissions doesn’t degrade air quality in locations that are already compliant with standards. In nonattainment areas, different NSR rules apply (requiring controls like LAER), so PSD doesn’t cover those zones. It isn’t limited to rural or industrial areas by geography; the key factor is the area’s attainment status. Therefore, PSD applies to attainment or unclassified areas for major new or modified sources.

PSD focuses on preventing deterioration in places that are currently meeting air quality standards or are not yet classified. It applies when a major new source or a major modification is proposed in areas designated attainment or unclassified for the pollutant in question. This setup ensures that adding emissions doesn’t degrade air quality in locations that are already compliant with standards. In nonattainment areas, different NSR rules apply (requiring controls like LAER), so PSD doesn’t cover those zones. It isn’t limited to rural or industrial areas by geography; the key factor is the area’s attainment status. Therefore, PSD applies to attainment or unclassified areas for major new or modified sources.