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EPA proposes attainment of clean air for San Joaquin Valley

Release Date: 07/06/2006
Contact Information: Lisa Fasano 415-947-4307

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today is proposing to find the San Joaquin Valley air basin is attaining federal particulate matter or PM-10 standards.

The Valley has shown three years of clean air monitoring data for this pollutant.

“We believe this is a significant achievement in the Valley’s ongoing effort to reduce air pollution,” said Deborah Jordan, the Air Division director for EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. “This achievement is one step toward cleaner air for the Valley, but there is still a great deal of work needed to reduce smog and fine particle air pollution."

Today’s proposal is based on the California Air Resources Board May request to find Valley air quality in attainment of the PM-10 standards based on the three years of clean air monitoring data, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The data are reported from the Valley’s official air monitoring network, which is operated in accordance with the EPA’s regulations and guidelines.

Today the EPA is further proposing to suspend the SJV’s PM-10 contingency measures requirement with this attainment finding consistent with EPA’s Clean Data Policy.

Following publication in the federal register, the public will have 30 days to provide comments on today’s proposal. The EPA will consider all comments before making its final decision. The proposal and information regarding how to submit comments can be viewed at https://www.epa.gov/region09/air/sjvalleypm/index.html .

PM-10 are particles that are10 microns in size or smaller, about 1/10 the size of a human hair. Particulate matter can accumulate in the respiratory system, penetrate deeply into the lungs and can contribute to health effects such as asthma and decreased lung function.