Updated PM2.5 Attainment Plan Now Under Development
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the 2012 PM2.5 annual standard of 12 µg/m3 on January 13, 2013. The Clean Air Act (CAA) mandates the District to develop and submit an attainment plan for the 2012 annual PM2.5 standard to EPA.
EPA initially designated the District as Moderate nonattainment for the 2012 PM2.5 standard in 2015. The District submitted the 2016 PM2.5 Plan to address Moderate area requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 standard and to request to be reclassified to Serious nonattainment. EPA approved the Moderate Plan and reclassified the District to Serious nonattainment, effective December 2021. Following the reclassification, the District must submit a Serious Plan to EPA by December 31, 2023, with some initial components due by June 27, 2023.
The District addressed Serious Plan requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 standard, along with other standards, as part of the integrated 2018 PM2.5 Plan. The District and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) submitted this Plan years earlier than required in order to achieve early emission reductions. EPA proposed approval of the Serious Plan for the 2012 PM2.5 standard in December 2021, however, EPA then reversed their prior decision and proposed disapproval in October 2022. In response to the reversal, CARB withdrew the Plan with District concurrence in October 2022.
The District and CARB are now conducting a public process to develop an updated Plan for the 2012 PM2.5 standard. This updated Plan will build on existing air quality strategies, and the comprehensive NOx emissions reduction strategies included in existing ozone and PM2.5 attainment plans will greatly contribute to meeting the federal PM2.5 standard.
Get Involved!
Public engagement is an important part of the planning process to involve the Community’s voices.
The District invites you to get involved in the public engagement process for PM2.5 attainment planning efforts. To receive notices of upcoming public workshops and meetings, sign up for the District’s PM Plans Listserv.
Additional Resources
