| The Air Resources Board made
the first area designations for State ambient air quality standards (State
standards) in 1989. Since then, the ARB has reviewed the designations
each year, making changes as needed. This web site area provides information
about the ARB's activities related to the designation of areas in California
with respect to the State standards. In addition, it provides
information on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and links
to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) website. |
| We have established an e-mail
mailing list for Area Designation activities. As announcements, reports
and other information are posted to this website, we will send e-mail
notifications to everyone on the list. If you wish to receive these
notices, you can subscribe to the mailing list by visiting the Area
Designations List Serve Web Page
and following the instructions there. |
| Current Activities
for State Standards |
| On November 16-17, 2006,
the Board held a public hearing to consider proposed changes to the
State area designations. These changes are based on data collected during
2003 through 2005. This year was the first time the Board considered
the new State 8-hour ozone standard in making the State ozone designations.
Additional details, including the hearing notice, the Initial Statement
of Reasons for Proposed Rulemaking (ISOR), as well as all subsequent
regulatory documents, can be found on the ARB rulemaking site at: http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/area06/area06.htm.
To receive updates on designation activities, please subscribe to the
area designations
list serve.
Prior Activities for
State Standards In
1989, the ARB made the first area designations for State standards.
Summaries of changes in the State designations since 1989 are available
on the web, as well as links to Staff Reports documenting changes for
previous years (summaries
and staff reports). |
|
|
| STATE STANDARDS |
| The Health and Safety Code (H&SC)
section 39607(e) requires the Board to establish and periodically review
area designation criteria. These designation criteria provide the
basis for the Board to designate areas of California as attainment, nonattainment, or unclassified for the State standards. |
| In addition, H&SC section
39608 requires the Board to use the designation criteria to designate
areas of California and to annually review those area designations.
The Board makes area designations for ten pollutants: ozone, suspended
particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide,
sulfur dioxide, sulfates, lead, hydrogen sulfide, and visibility reducing
particles. Each year, the Board reviews the area designations and
updates them as appropriate, based on the three most recent complete
and validated calendar years of air quality data. For example, the Board
considered changes to the State area designations in November 2006,
based on data collected during 2003 through 2005. |
| Links to the State and national
area designations are provided below. The
Air Resources Board approved the 2006 State Area Designations on November 16, 2006.
The State Office of Administrative Law approved the designations and
filed the rulemaking with the Secretary of State on June 26, 2007. The
designations became effective on July 26, 2007.
Maps
of 2006 State and National Area Designations
2006
Regulatory Activities Related to State Area Designations
|
| Comments and questions regarding
this subject may be sent to:
Ms. Theresa Najita
Air Pollution Specialist
Air Quality Data Branch
Planning and Technical Support Division
California Air Resources Board
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento CA 95812
(916) 322-7297
tnajita@arb.ca.gov
|
|
|
| AIR QUALITY STATUS IN CALIFORNIA |
| January
2007 Presentation to the Air Resources Board on the State of the State's
Air Quality (PDF -
1.9 MB) |
|
| NATIONAL STANDARDS |
| The U.S. EPA established
a new eight-hour ozone standard in July 1997, and designated
areas as nonattainment for the eight-hour standard in April 2004.
Area
Designations for New Federal 8-Hour Ozone Standard |
| Comments and questions regarding
this subject may be sent to:
Ravi Ramalingam
Planning and Technical Support Division
Air Resources Board
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento CA 95812
(916) 322-2085
rramalin@arb.ca.gov
|
| The U.S. EPA also established
24-hour and annual average PM2.5
standards in July 1997. It intends to finalize PM2.5 designations
by December 15, 2004.
Area
Designations for Federal PM2.5 Standard |
| Comments and questions regarding
this subject may be sent to:
Ravi Ramalingam
Planning and Technical Support Division
Air Resources Board
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento CA 95812
(916) 322-2085
rramalin@arb.ca.gov
|
