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Las Vegas (Clark County) Particulate Matter Pollution
On May 3, 2004, EPA finalized its approval of the Clark County PM-10 Plan as meeting the Clean Air Act requirements for serious PM-10 nonattainment areas. As part of this action, EPA approved a series of rules adopted by the Clark County Department of Air Quality Management (DAQM) that control fugitive dust sources, including disturbed vacant lots, construction sites, unpaved roads, paved roads and unpaved parking lots. These are the major control measures relied on in the PM-10 Plan to demonstrate attainment of the health-based standard.
EPA had proposed to approve the Plan in January 2003. EPA received public comments on the proposed approval and has responded to those comments in the document below titled "Response to Comments document".
Documents and related information
- Press release (May 3, 2004)
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 42K, About PDF)
- Federal Register Notice Finalizing Approval of the Clark County PM-10 Plan
- Response to Comments document (PDF) (58 pp, 241K, About PDF)
Additional documents related to the proposal
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 316K, About PDF)
- Federal Register Notice proposing approval of the 2003 PM-10 Plan (January 22, 2003)
- Technical Support Document (PDF) (154 pp, 879K, About PDF)
Past EPA Actions
In June of 2000, EPA proposed to disapprove the Moderate and Serious Area plans for attaining the 24-hour and annual health-based standards for PM-10 in the Las Vegas Valley, and to deny Nevada's request for an extension to December 31, 2006, to attain the standards. Specifically, EPA proposed to disapprove the following portions of the plans: Reasonably Available Control Measures and Best Available Control Measures (RACM/BACM); Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) and quantitative milestones; and (in the Serious Plan) the emission inventory and the attainment demonstration.
Subsequently, the State of Nevada, at the request of Clark County, withdrew their PM-10 attainment plan submittal. In December of 2000, EPA filed a finding of failure to submit their required PM-10 Plan.
Clark County was then required to submit a revised plan to EPA within 18 months after the finidng. Without an approved pan, the Clean Air Act mandates sanctions, including:
- More stringent permit requirements for industrial sources
- Freezing of the county's share of federal highway funds (after 24 months)
Related Documents: EPA's Proposed Disapproval of PM-10 Plan (June, 2000)
- Fact Sheet on Proposed Disapproval (June 5, 2000)
- News Release on Proposed Disapproval (June 5, 2000)
- Federal Register Notice of Proposed Disapproval of Las Vegas PM-10 Plan (June 14, 2000)
- Technical Support Document (WPD 186KB, WordPerfect document)
Related Documents: EPA's Finding of Failure to Submit PM-10 Plans (December, 2000)
- Fact Sheet on Finding of Failure to Submit
- News Release on Finding of Failure to Submit (December 20, 2000)
- Finding of Failure to Submit State Implementation Plans for PM-10 for Clark County (PDF) (20 pp, 26K, About PDF)
Contact Information
Eleanor Kaplan (kaplan.eleanor@epa.gov)
Office of Air Planning, EPA Region 9
(415) 947-4147