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What is particulate matter?

Definition Sources Effects
Standards Controls For more information

PM 10
(Particulate matter 10 microns and less in diameter)
PM 2.5
(Particulate matter 2.5 microns and less in diameter)
Exceptional Events (EE) and Natural Events (NE)

PM10
PM10 Plans Under Development

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There are no PM10 Plans under development.

On September 25, 2008, EPA redesignated the San Joaquin Valley to attainment for the PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and approved the PM10 Maintenance Plan.

Emissions inventories developed by ARB for the District's 2007 PM10 Maintenance Plan and Request for Redesignation are available here. These emissions inventories are a combination of data presented in Appendix A and Appendix F of the District's Maintenance Plan. ARB's emissions inventories reflect reductions achieved by state measures through the end of December 2006, whereas the Maintenance Plan inventories reflect reductions achieve through May 2005 in Appendix A and subsequent reductions in Appendix F.


Upcoming Public Meetings and Workshops

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The District does not have any public meetings or workshops on PM2.5 plans scheduled at this time. ARB considered the 2008 PM2.8 Plan at their May 2008 meeting and submitted it to EPA.

Adopted PM10 Plans and Progress Reports

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Contingency Plan Clarification
2007 PM10 Maintenance Plan and Request for Redesignation Appendix F Part 1 Appendix F Part 2
When ARB approved the 2007 Maintenance Plan and Request for Redesignation on October 27, 2007, ARB revised the Valley’s PM10 conformity budgets. The revised budgets are available on the ARB website here.
SB656 Report
Please note that the information contained in the SB656 report was based on the best available information at the time the report was adopted on June 16, 2005. For official control measure information, please refer to the latest versions of the State Implementation Plans for PM and ozone as well as the District's adopted regulations.
2006 PM10 Plan
2003 PM10 Plan
1997-1999 PM10 Progress Report
1997 PM10 Attainment Demonstration Plan (Withdrawn)
Archived PM10 Workshops

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2006 PM10 Plan, October 21, 2005, Public Workshop
2006 PM10 Plan, August 30, 2005, Public Workshop
2005 Amendments to the 2003 PM10 Plan, May 19, 2005, Public Hearing
2005 Amendments to the 2003 PM10 Plan, April 26, 2005, Public Workshop
2005 Amendments to the 2003 PM10 Plan, March 30, 2005, Public Workshop
Federal Regulations and Guidance Documents

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Selected Federal Register notices applicable to the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin
Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act
EPA Federal Register notice for PM Standards
Recent Actions for San Joaquin Valley PM from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Other Links

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Air Quality Research Studies (CCOS, CRPAQS, IMS 95, SARMAP)
Other Air Districts and Agencies
Regional Air Quality Status Attainment
PM 2.5
PM 2.5 Plan Under Development

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The District Governing Board adopted the 2008 PM2.5 Plan following a public hearing on April 30, 2008. This far-reaching plan will assure that the Valley will attain all the PM2.5 standards - the 1997 federal standards, the 2006 federal standards, and the state standard - as soon as possible. The California Air Resources Board submitted the 2008 PM2.5 Plan to EPA June 30, 2008.

The District Governing Board amended Chapter 6 of the 2008 PM2.5 Plan following a public hearing on June 17, 2010. The plan revision extends the rule amendment schedule for Rule 4905 (Residential Furnaces) to allow more time for technology development.
The Adopted Plan is available here.

Upcoming Public Meetings and Workshops

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The District does not have any public meetings or workshops on PM2.5 plans scheduled at this time.

Adopted PM 2.5 Plans and Progress Reports

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The Adopted Plan is available here
Archived PM 2.5 Related Workshops

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December 4, 2007 Draft 2008 PM 2.5  Plan
The District held workshops on the Draft 2008 PM2.5 Plan on December 18-19, 2007.
The workshop presentation is available here

February 14, 2008 2nd Draft 2008 PM2.5 Plan
The District held workshops on the 2nd Draft 2008 PM2.5 Plan on February 25-26, 2008.
The District’s workshop presentation is available here.
The ARB’s workshop presentation is available here.

April 30, 2008 Public Hearing on the Revised Proposed 2008 PM2.5 Plan
The District held a public hearing on the Revised Proposed 2008 PM2.5 Plan on April 30, 2008.
The District’s presentation is available here.

See status.
Federal Regulations and Guidance Documents

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Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act
EPA Federal Register notice for PM Standards

Other Links

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Federal Clean Air Act
Air Quality Research Studies (CCOS, CRPAQS, IMS 95, SARMAP)
Other Air Districts and Agencies
PM2.5 Inventory Resource Center
EPA PM2.5 Approach
EPA Updates on Status of PM2.5 Quality Air Standards
EPA Final Revised PM Standards
Exceptional Events (EE) and Natural Events (NE)

In 2004, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved a high wind data flag for a PM10 exceedance that occurred in Corcoran, CA on September 3, 2004.  This circumstance led to the development of the Natural Events Action Plan (NEAP) document which was approved by the District Governing Board on February 16, 2006.  The purpose of this document was to protect public health in the event of future exceedances caused by natural events such as high winds.  Procedures in the NEAP document were carried out in advance of and during a natural event. The NEAPS written by the District were for high wind events.  If other natural events such as wildfires or volcanic eruptions would have occurred, the District would have written a NEAP for each of those events.

In May 2007, EPA adopted the Exceptional Events rule which set the criteria with the process for EPA to agree to exclude event-influenced data when determining compliance with the health based National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).  The District now follows this rule which requires documentation after an event-influenced exceedance has occurred.  There are two types of Exceptional Events.  (1) A specific Exceptional Event (EE) is caused by uncontrollable anthropogenic emissions such as structure fires or demolition.  Congress has decided that fireworks associated with cultural events such as July 4th and Chinese New Year celebrations also constitute uncontrollable anthropogenic emissions.  (2) A Natural Event (NE) is caused by natural phenomena such as wind blown dust or volcanic eruptions.  The Exceptional Events rule available at http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=d9815f0d5fd9865c2c7c449433f8bb9f&rgn=div8&view=text&node=40:2.0.1.1.1.0.1.14&idno=40 .

Whenever an EE or NE causes an exceedance, the District prepares a document that deals with the exceedance and the event.  After the event has passed, the District has until July 1 of the following year to notify EPA of the event and three years to submit documentation of the event.  After data from the event has been quality assured and quality controlled, the document is written and posted for public comment.   The District then responds to comments received and makes needed revisions to the document before submitting the document to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for review.  CARB will either submit the document to EPA for final approval or require further revisions before doing so.   Since 2004, the District has written and submitted a total of eight EE and NE documents to EPA and EPA approved all eight documents.  Additionally, the District has one EE that is pending EPA’s approval, and six EE/NE documents that are in the process of being written.

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Links to the District’s completed EEs, and NEs

Information regarding the District's request to flag data from high levels of particulate matter in Corcoran on September 3, 2004 as having been caused by a natural event. Submitted to CARB on March 2, 2005.
Notice of Natural Event Determination

PM10 Natural Event Documentation for September 22, 2006. Submitted to CARB on March 21, 2007.
PM10 Natural Event - September 22, 2006

Addendum dated May 23, 2007

PM10 Natural Event Documentation for October 25, 2006. Submitted to CARB on April 20, 2007.
PM10 Natural Event - October 25, 2006

PM10 Natural Event Documentation for December 8, 2006. Submitted to CARB on May 23, 2007. Revised per CARB request and resubmitted to CARB on June 6, 2007.
PM10 Natural Event - December 8, 2006

PM10 Natural Event December 8, 2006 - Revision dated June 6, 2007

PM10 Exceptional Event Documentation for July 4, 2007. Submitted to CARB on January 16, 2008.
PM10 Exceptional Event - July 4, 2007

PM10 Natural Event Documentation for January 4, 2008. Submitted to CARB on April 10, 2008.
Public Notice

PM10 Natural Event - January 4, 2008

PM2.5 Exceptional Event Documentation for July 4 and 5, 2007. Submitted to CARB on April 10, 2008. (Pending EPA approval) Public Notice

PM2.5 Exceptional Event - July 4 and 5, 2007

PM10 Natural Event Documentation for May 21-22, 2008. Submitted to CARB on August 5, 2008.
Original Notice June 24, 2008

PM10 Natural Event - May 21-22, 2008

Errata (July 7, 2008)

Final version submitted to EPA and CARB on August 7, 2008

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