The Air District periodically prepares and updates plans to achieve the goal of healthy air. Typically, a plan will analyze emissions inventories (estimates of current and future emissions from industry, motor vehicles, and other sources) and combine that information with air monitoring data (used to assess progress in improving air quality) and computer modeling simulations to test future strategies to reduce emissions in order to achieve air quality standards. Air quality plans usually include measures to reduce air pollutant emissions from industrial facilities, commercial processes, motor vehicles, and other sources. Bay Area plans are prepared with the cooperation of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).

Ozone Planning

Ozone Attainment Demonstrations are prepared for the national ozone standard and Clean Air Plans are prepared for the California ozone standard.

To comply with the California Clean Air Act, the Air District, in cooperation with MTC and ABAG, adopted the 2005 Ozone Strategy, the most recent triennial update to the regional ozone strategy.

• 2009 Clean Air Plan

The Air District is beginning a process to update the Ozone Strategy per the requirements of the California Clean Air Act. Information regarding the update of the Ozone Strategy will be posted on this page as the process is better defined.

Prior Ozone Attainment Demonstrations

• 2005 Bay Area Ozone Strategy
• 2001 Ozone Attainment Plan
• 1999 Ozone Attainment Plan

• 2000 Clean Air Plan
• 1997 Clean Air Plan
• 1994 Clean Air Plan

Particulate Matter (PM) Planning

The Air District currently attains national air quality standards for particulate matter (PM). Therefore, the District is not required to develop a PM plan at this time. U.S EPA lowered the 24-hour PM2.5 standard from 65 µg/m 3 to 35 µg/m 3 in 2006. EPA is required to designate the attainment status of the Bay Area for the new standard by December of 2009. A plan for the new national standard would then be prepared if the region is designated nonattainment.

The District has adopted a PM Implementation Schedule, per the requirements of SB 656, as discussed below. In 2003 the California Legislature enacted Senate Bill 656 (SB 656, Sher), codified as Health and Safety Code (H&SC) section 39614. This legislation seeks to reduce public exposure to PM 10 and PM 2.5 and to make progress toward attainment of State and national PM 10 and PM 2.5 standards. SB 656 required ARB, in consultation with local air quality districts, to develop and adopt a list of the most readily available, feasible, and cost-effective control measures that could be used by ARB and air districts to reduce particulate matter. The bill required the ARB and air districts to adopt implementation schedules for appropriate ARB and air district measures.

To comply with SB 656, the Air District reviewed the list of 103 potential PM control measures prepared by the Air Resources Board and developed a Particulate Matter Implementation Schedule which was adopted by the District’s Board of Directors on November 16, 2005.

Contact: Greg Tholen, Sr. Envir. Planner: (415) 749-4954   gtholen@baaqmd.gov

Updated Jan. 4, 2007