OZONE–PARTICULATE MATTER–SO2–CO-NO2-Lead

There are six principal pollutants, that act as indicators of air quality in this country. The Clean Air Act calls them "criteria pollutants".  The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are the concentrations of these principal pollutants, above which, adverse effects on human health may occur.

Areas of Pennsylvania where air pollution levels consistently stay below these standards are designated "attainment." Areas where air pollution levels persistently exceed these standards are designated "nonattainment". For the exact calculation used to determine attainment of a standard for a particular pollutant are available, please view the footnotes on the EPA’s NAAQS website. If an area was in nonattainment, but now attains the standard and has an EPA approved plan to maintain the standard, it is designated a "maintenance" area.

EPA maintains a list of nonattainment areas for all six principal pollutants on their Green Book web site.  Attainment designations for all states are listed in the Code of Federal Regulations. Pennsylvania's listings are contained in Title 40, Part 81, Section 339.  For the history of these designations, see the Recommendations for Area Designations page.

States submit recommendations for designation up to one year after the promulgation of the revised NAAQS.  EPA may make modifications and promulgate all or part of a state’s recommendations.  If EPA determines that a modification to the recommendation is necessary, EPA will notify the state no later than 120 days prior to promulgating the designation.  This provides an opportunity for the state to work with EPA if the state believes EPA’s decisions are not appropriate.

OZONE

The Clean Air Act required EPA to classify areas that are designated as non-attainment for the ozone standard by the severity of their pollution.  These classifications, in order of severity, are: Nonattainment, Marginal, Moderate, Serious, Severe, and Extreme. 

2008 8-hour Ozone Standard: 0.075 ppm

• In March 2008, EPA revised the ozone standard to 0.075 ppm.  No current designations are available.

1997 8-hour Ozone Standard: 0.08 ppm

Map: Original Designations
Map: Current Attainment

Current attainment status:

• Maintenance:  Adams, Berks, Blair, Cambria, Carbon, Centre, Clearfield, Cumberland, Dauphin, Erie, Franklin, Greene, Indiana, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Mercer, Monroe, Northampton, Perry, Tioga, Wyoming, York
• Nonattainment:  Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland
• Moderate:  Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia

1979 1-hour Ozone Standard: 0.12 ppm
The 1-hour Ozone Standard has been revoked.

Current attainment status:

• Maintenance:  Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Berks, Butler, Fayette, Washington, Westmoreland
• Maintenance (pending final approval as of June 26, 2008):  Columbia, Crawford, Juniata, Lawrence, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder, Somerset, Susquehanna, Warren, Wayne

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PARTICULATE MATTER (PM)

2006 PM Standard
            PM2.5 24-hour Standard: 35 µg/m3
            PM2.5 Annual Standard: 15 µg/m3

• In September 2006, EPA revised the particulate matter standard.  EPA signed designations on October 8, 2009.
  • Designation Letter
  • Additional Information - US EPA

1997 PM Standard
            PM2.5 24-hour Standard: 65 µg/m3
            PM2.5 Annual Standard: 15 µg/m3

Map: Original Designations

Current attainment status (P-partial county):

• Nonattainment: Allegheny (Liberty-Clairton), Allegheny (remainder), Armstrong (P), Berks, Beaver, Bucks, Butler, Cambria, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Greene (P), Indiana (P), Lancaster, Lawrence (P), Lebanon, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Washington, Westmoreland, York

1987 PM Standard
            PM10 24-hour Standard: 150 µg/m3
            PM10 Annual Standard: Revoked

• There are no nonattainment areas in Pennsylvania.
• Maintenance: Allegheny County portions (Liberty, Lincoln, Port Vue, and Glassport Boroughs and the City of Clairton) 

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SULFUR DIOXIDE (SO2) 

• SO2 Annual Standard: 0.03 ppm
  SO2 24-hour Primary Standard: 0.14 ppm
  SO2 24-hour Secondary Standard: 0.5 ppm  (1300 µg/m3)
  Nonattainment: Armstrong County portion (Madison, Mahoning, Boggs, Washington, and Pine Townships)
  Maintenance: Allegheny County portion (Hazelwood area), Warren County portion (Conewango, Glade, and Pleasant Townships, Warren Borough)

2010 SO2 Standard

• 1-hour standard: 75ppb
  EPA has not yet made designations for the 1-hour standard.
  

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CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)

Pre-1990 CO Standard

• 8-hour Standard: 9 ppm
  1-hour Standard: 35 ppm
  Maintenance: Philadelphia-Camden Co. PA-NJ (portion), Pittsburgh, Pa (portion)

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

2010 NO2 Standard

• Annual Standard: 0.053 ppm
  1-hour Standard: 100 ppb
  All areas of Pennsylvania are designated attainment for the annual standard. EPA has not yet made designations for the 1-hour standard.

Lead (Pb)

2008 Lead Standard

• 0.15 µg/m3 3 Month Rolling Average
  Current attainment status
  Nonattainment: North Reading, Berks County: Lyons, Berks County: Lower Beaver Valley

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Revised 01/11/11