(a) Any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, if the department finds, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the board adopted under the provisions of clause (5) of section 5¹ of this act, that a generalized condition of air pollution exists and that it creates an emergency requiring immediate action to protect human health or safety, the department, with the concurrence of the Governor, shall order or direct persons causing or contributing to the air pollution to immediately reduce or discontinue the emission of air contaminants.

(b) In the absence of a generalized condition of air pollution, if the department finds that emissions from the operation of one or more air contamination sources are creating an imminent danger to human health or safety, the department may, without regard to the provisions of section 4 of this act,² order the persons responsible for the operation of the air contamination sources in question to immediately reduce or discontinue the emission of air contaminants.

(c) An order issued under subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall fix a place and time, not later than twenty-four hours thereafter, for a hearing to be held before the hearing board. Within twenty-four hours after the commencement of such hearing, and without adjournment thereof, the hearing board shall affirm, modify or set aside the order of the department.

(d) This section shall not be construed to limit any power which the Governor or any other officer may have to declare an emergency and act on the basis of such declaration.