Brian Barton
In the context of pollution, the term non-attainment refers to an area that exceeds the regulated pollution limits for one or more criteria pollutants. These pollutants include ozone (O3), atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Non-attainment areas are designated based on the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which are outlined in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for evaluating and regulating these standards, with the primary goal of protecting human health and the environment. Non-attainment areas are subject to specific requirements, such as the installation of the lowest achievable emission rates (LAER) and emission offsets, and they must demonstrate continuous progress toward improving air quality.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | A non-attainment area is a geographic area that exceeds pollution limits for one or more criteria pollutants. |
| Criteria Pollutants | Ozone (O3), atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and precursor pollutants such as NOx and SO2 for PM2.5. |
| Standards | Primary standards aim to protect human health, especially sensitive populations like asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards aim to prevent impacts on infrastructure, agriculture, and public welfare. |
| NAAQS | National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which are part of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970. |
| EPA Green Book | Contains data from 1992 onwards, detailing non-attainment areas and related information such as county population and pollution severity. As of October 31, 2023, 258 counties were designated as not attaining standards for at least one pollutant. |
| SIPs | State Implementation Plans outline the approach to reducing pollutant levels and emissions of precursor pollutants. They are due for EPA approval within 18-24 months of an area being designated as non-attainment. |
| Nonattainment NSR | Applies to new major sources or modifications at existing sources for pollutants in non-attainment areas. Requires LAER (lowest achievable emission rate), emission offsets, and public involvement. |
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What You'll Learn
Criteria pollutants and their limits
In the United States, a non-attainment area is one that exceeds pollution limits for one or more criteria pollutants. These criteria pollutants include ozone (O3), atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These pollutants are known to have harmful effects on human health and the environment, and they are commonly found all over the country.
The Clean Air Act of 1970 requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for these six criteria air pollutants. The EPA regulates each criteria pollutant through two different standards: primary and secondary. The primary standards are set at levels designed to protect human health, especially sensitive populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. These standards aim to safeguard vulnerable individuals from the harmful effects of pollutants. On the other hand, secondary standards are established to prevent impacts on infrastructure, agriculture, and public welfare. These standards focus on minimising pollution's adverse effects on our surroundings and resources.
The EPA Green Book provides detailed information about NAAQS designations, classifications, and non-attainment status. It contains data from 1992 onwards, indicating which counties have not met the standards for various pollutants. As of October 31, 2023, 258 counties were designated as not attaining the standards for at least one pollutant. The Green Book also offers maps and data downloads for further analysis.
To address non-attainment areas, states must develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that outline the path to achieving and maintaining NAAQS. These plans are due for approval by the EPA within specific timelines, depending on the criteria pollutant in violation. The revision process for NAAQS involves several phases, including the Planning Phase, Assessment Phase, Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), Risk/Exposure Assessment (REA), Policy Assessment (PA), and Rulemaking Phase. During this process, the EPA considers the latest scientific evidence, risk assessments, public input, and policy options before finalising updates to the NAAQS.
It is important to note that an area may be a non-attainment area for one pollutant and an "attainment area" for others. However, these criteria pollutants are often interconnected, and a non-attainment area may fail multiple standards simultaneously. For example, nitrogen oxides and ozone are strongly correlated, and elevated levels of one can indicate high levels of the other. Therefore, comprehensive measures are necessary to address these complex relationships and effectively reduce pollution levels.
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National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 instruct the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health and welfare. NAAQS defines the maximum amount of a pollutant averaged over a specified period that can be present in outdoor air without causing harm to human health. The Clean Air Act identifies two types of NAAQS: primary and secondary standards.
Primary standards are set to protect human health, including that of sensitive populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. These standards aim to ensure an adequate margin of safety for individuals who may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution.
Secondary standards, on the other hand, focus on protecting public welfare. These standards address the adverse effects of air pollution on various aspects of the environment and human activities, including soils, water, crops, vegetation, man-made materials, animals, wildlife, weather, visibility, and climate. Additionally, secondary standards aim to prevent damage to property, transportation hazards, and negative impacts on economic values, personal comfort, and overall well-being.
The EPA is responsible for periodically reviewing and revising the NAAQS at five-year intervals. This review process involves several phases that include incorporating current scientific understanding, seeking public input, assessing risks, and formulating comprehensive policies. The EPA summarises the scientific literature and risk assessments in documents such as the Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) and the Risk and Exposure Assessment (REA). These documents are then used to develop the Policy Assessment (PA), which provides the reasoning for retaining, revising, or proposing alternative standards. The Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), a subcommittee of the EPA's Science Advisory Board, plays a crucial role in peer-reviewing the NAAQS documents and ensuring they align with the scientific community's consensus.
The NAAQS review process also involves public participation. The proposed NAAQS is released for public comment, and the EPA Administrator considers this feedback before finalising the standards. Once finalised, the NAAQS are published in the Federal Register.
Non-attainment areas are regions that exceed the pollution limits for one or more criteria pollutants specified in the NAAQS. These areas are designated as failing to meet the standards for pollutants such as ozone, atmospheric particulate matter, lead, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides. Non-attainment areas must develop plans to achieve the NAAQS, and failure to attain the standards by the target date can result in penalties, including the withholding of federal funds.
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The Clean Air Act Amendments
In the United States, a non-attainment area is one that exceeds pollution limits for one or more criteria pollutants. These pollutants include ozone (O3), atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The criteria pollutants and their respective limits are defined in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which were part of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970.
The 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments were proposed by President George H.W. Bush in 1989 and aimed to curb acid rain, urban air pollution, and toxic air emissions. The amendments called for establishing a national permits program and an improved enforcement program to ensure better compliance with the Act. The House of Representatives and the Senate passed Clean Air bills that included provisions for phasing out ozone-depleting chemicals, addressing accidental releases of toxic air pollutants, and enhancing research and development.
The EPA maintains a Green Book that provides detailed information about area NAAQS designations, classifications, and nonattainment status. The book includes data from 1992 onwards, showing which counties have not attained standards for various pollutants. As of October 31, 2023, 258 counties were designated as not attaining the standards for at least one pollutant, with a total of 2094 counties having been non-attainment areas for at least one pollutant since 1992.
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State Implementation Plans (SIPs)
In the context of pollution, a non-attainment area refers to a region that exceeds the pollution limits for one or more criteria pollutants. These pollutants include ozone (O3), atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The criteria and their respective limits are outlined in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), which are part of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970.
Each SIP is tailored to the unique local factors of a non-attainment area and must be submitted for approval by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The revision process for SIPs typically involves several phases, including the planning phase, assessment phase, and rulemaking phase. During the planning phase, new scientific evidence is reviewed, and public input is considered. The assessment phase involves quantitative risk assessments, followed by the Integrated Science Assessment (ISA) and Risk/Exposure Assessment (REA) phases, which provide a comprehensive basis for policy decisions. The policy options are then reviewed by senior EPA management, and a draft policy is released for further public review before finalizing the EPA NAAQS update.
Infrastructure SIPs are supported by non-attainment area SIPs, which are specifically designed for regions that exceed pollution limits. The deadline for submitting infrastructure SIPs for EPA approval is within three years of a new or revised NAAQS. In contrast, non-attainment area SIPs are due for approval within 18 to 24 months of an area being designated as a non-attainment area. The EPA maintains a Green Book that provides detailed information about NAAQS designations, classifications, and non-attainment status for various pollutants. This book also includes historical data from 1992 onwards, showing the number of counties designated as non-attainment areas for specific pollutants.
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Nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) permitting
In the context of pollution, a non-attainment area is a region that exceeds the limits for one or more criteria pollutants, as outlined in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These pollutants include ozone (O3), atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). The NAAQS, established under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970, set primary and secondary standards to protect human health and prevent impacts on infrastructure, agriculture, and public welfare.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the NAAQS through the use of the EPA Green Book, which contains detailed information on nonattainment status and designations. As of October 31, 2023, 258 counties were designated as not meeting the standards for at least one pollutant, and since 1992, a total of 2094 counties have been non-attainment areas for at least one year.
To address pollution and improve air quality, the EPA has implemented the New Source Review (NSR) Permitting program, established by Congress in 1977 as part of the Clean Air Act Amendments. The NSR program provides information on clean air permitting and access to state and regional permitting programs, as well as current regulatory requirements. The NSR program includes the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations, which aim to prevent further air quality degradation in nonattainment areas.
The NSR program also involves the development of State Implementation Plans (SIPs), which demonstrate how a state can implement necessary changes to meet new NAAQS and identify the methods to be used. Infrastructure SIPs are supported by nonattainment area SIPs, which are tailored to the unique local factors of each nonattainment area. These SIPs must be submitted for approval by the EPA within specific time frames, with nonattainment area SIPs typically due 18 to 24 months after designation of a nonattainment area.
The revision process for the NAAQS follows six general phases, including the Planning Phase, Assessment Phase, Integrated Science Assessment (ISA), Risk/Exposure Assessment (REA), Policy Assessment (PA), and Rulemaking Phase. The process involves scientific review, public input, risk reassessment, policy development, and final EPA updates to the NAAQS. The EPA maintains a list of non-attainment areas and provides resources such as interactive maps and data downloads to track progress and inform the public.
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Frequently asked questions
A non-attainment area is a geographic location that exceeds pollution limits for one or more criteria pollutants. These pollutants include ozone (O3), atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies non-attainment areas by tracking the six criteria pollutants, which are known for their harmful effects on human health and the environment. The EPA maintains a list of non-attainment areas, which is updated through a six-phase revision process that includes public input and scientific assessments.
When an area is designated as a non-attainment area, a state implementation plan (SIP) must be submitted to the EPA. This plan outlines the state's approach to reducing pollutant levels and any emissions of precursor pollutants. The state works with local authorities to implement programs that reduce emissions from sources such as cars, fuels, and industrial facilities. Economic development may be impacted indirectly by the non-attainment designation due to the costs associated with meeting clean-up goals and emission reduction requirements.
