The Boston Air Pollution Control Commission (APCC) protects air quality in the City of Boston. Its Regulations for the Control of Atmospheric Pollution prohibit the emission of air contaminants in such concentration or of such duration as:
a.) to cause a nuisance; or
b.) to be injurious or tend to be, on the basis of current information, injurious to human or animal life, vegetation, or to property; or
c.) to unreasonably interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property or the conduct of business.
b.) to be injurious or tend to be, on the basis of current information, injurious to human or animal life, vegetation, or to property; or
c.) to unreasonably interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life and property or the conduct of business.
The regulations have specific provisions addressing:
- parking freeze,
- permissible types of fuel in stationary facilities,
- density of smoke from smoke stacks,
- abrasive blasting and chemical cleaning of buildings
- open burning (generally not permitted; contact the Boston Fire Department for more information),
- dust from construction sites,
- abrasive blasting,
- noise from construction sites, ventilation equipment, and other sources,
- smoke from industrial sites,
- and exhaust from idling vehicles.
Because air travels freely across political boundaries, the APCC actively cooperates with other local, regional, state, and federal agencies to develop strategies and implement programs to improve air quality throughout New England.
The APCC writes and enforces regulations, grants permits, advises other City Hall departments, holds public hearings, and cooperates with other local, regional, state, and federal agencies in the pursuit of common goals.
The APCC enforces state and city ordinances against excessive idling of vehicle engines. It also participates in a region-wide campaign to encourage the voluntary retrofitting of diesel-powered vehicles with pollution control equipment.
Air Pollution Control Committee Regulations & Applications
- Regulations for the Control of Atmospheric Pollution
- Abrasive Blasting or Chemical Cleaning Permit
- Noise Regulations
- Guidelines for Construction
- Parking Freeze and Restricted Parking Area Map
- Privacy & Security
- @ 2012 City of Boston. All rights reserved.
