On October 26, 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the primary and secondary ozone (O3) 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) from 0.075 parts per million (ppm) to 0.070 ppm. Within two years after setting or revising a NAAQS, EPA must designate areas as meeting (attainment) or not meeting (nonattainment) the standard. EPA’s final designations are based on the most recent three years of air quality monitoring data, recommendations from the state, and additional technical information. If an area is not meeting the standard, the state is required to prepare a SIP that identifies how the area will attain or maintain the NAAQS to comply with the provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The SIP includes regulatory and non-regulatory control measures for reaching attainment by a specific deadline.
On June 4, 2018, EPA designated the Las Vegas Valley (HA 212) as a marginal nonattainment area for the 2015 O3 NAAQS effective August 3, 2018 (83 FR 25776) and the area was required to achieve attainment of the standard by August 3, 2021. To achieve attainment by this date, HA 212 was required to show that its O3 design value, based on 2018-2020 air quality data, was equal to or less than 0.070 ppm. In 2021, DAQ submitted 17 exceptional event demonstrations to exclude 28 ozone exceedances in 2018 and 2020 due to impacts from wildfire smoke or stratospheric intrusions and requested that EPA exclude the associated air quality data from the 2018-2020 design value calculation. On July 22, 2022, EPA proposed not to approve those demonstrations and to find that HA 212 failed to meet its attainment date based on a 2018-2020 design value of 0.074 ppm (87 FR 43764). On January 5, 2024, EPA issued a final rule reclassifying the Las Vegas Valley as a moderate nonattainment area for the 2015 ozone NAAQS (88 FR 775) and requiring the area to achieve attainment by August 3, 2024.
This new classification requires DAQ to submit an attainment SIP that meets the requirements for moderate areas established in CAA 182(b). Key requirements for moderate areas include:
- Baseline Emission Inventory ü
- Emission Statements ü
- Nonattainment New Source Review ü
- Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) requirements
- Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM)
- 15% Rate of Progress (ROP) requirements
- Attainment Demonstration with Modeling
- Contingency Measures
- Basic vehicle Inspection/Maintenance program
ü= these requirements have already been met
Developing a Moderate Attainment SIP is an iterative process. To ensure inclusive public involvement in the development of our attainment SIP, DAQ will engage both industry and clean air advocates in its stakeholder process. Public meetings will be held to provide updates and information on regulatory timelines and the actions DAQ will take to meet the new requirements for a moderate classification and provide opportunities for questions. Details on stakeholder workshops are provided below.
This section will be updated as meetings are scheduled.
To register for one (or more) of our stakeholder workgroups, please visit: (need link) or contact Alejandro Nunez at Alejandro.Nunez@ClarkCountyNV.gov
January 12, 2023: Moderate Attainment Plan Ozone Briefing
This virtual public meeting will provide an overview on our current ozone situation, regulatory timelines, and the new emission reduction measures being considered to meet EPA’s requirements for a moderate classification.
SIP Questions: Araceli Pruett, Sr. Planner, araceli.pruett@clarkcountynv.gov
Modeling Questions: Zheng Li, Sr. Air Quality Modeler, zli@clarkcountynv.gov
Stakeholder Development: Alejandro Nunez, Planner, Alejandro.Nunez@ClarkCountyNV.gov
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