The air quality plan of Maricopa area, a ‘nonattainment’ area, designed by the state of Arizona to reduce the emission of coarse particulate matter (PM-10) by 5% each year until the national standard is attained, fails to correctly inventory the sources of PM-10.
On the event of the plan being disapproved and the deficiencies not met in timely manner, EPA will impose more stringent facility permitting requirements after 18 months and highway funding restrictions after 24 months.
EPA, however, will approve those elements of the plan that will help reduce air pollution in the county, including ones regulating leaf blowers, unpaved areas, burning and other sources of particulate matter.
The region, which falls under Maricopa County’s air quality plan, encompasses the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Glendale, and 17 other jurisdictions and unincorporated county lands and the town of Apache Junction in Pinal County.
EPA regional administrator of Pacific Southwest Jared Blumenfeld said that Phoenix has an air quality problem that EPA is committed to solving.
“The state’s plan does not achieve the emission reductions needed for Maricopa County. While it does take some steps to control pollution, more aggressive measures are needed to achieve air quality standards,” Blumenfeld said.
