AAPCA Publications & Reports
Report: Staffing at State & Local Air Pollution Control Agencies (November 2023)
Final report on AAPCA survey of state and local air pollution control agencies, undertaken from July 18 through August 31, 2023. Includes data (as of July 1, 2023) regarding vacancy levels, staff experience, departures, and total staffing levels since 2018.
State Air Trends & Successes: The StATS Report (May 2023)
AAPCA’s 2023 edition of The StATS Report uses publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to present key air quality statistics. Released in conjunction with Air Quality Awareness Week (May 1 to 5), The StATS Report looks at the significant improvement in air quality that has been achieved in the United States, focusing on the central role of state and local air agencies. The report is in its seventh year of publication.
AAPCA Article: “Understanding the Impact of a Lower Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard” (EM magazine, May 2023)
AAPCA’s article “Understanding the Impact of a Lower Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard,” appeared in the May 2023 edition of EM magazine, entitled “PM NAAQS: Stakeholders Consider the Implications of EPA’s Proposed New Standard.” EM is a publication of the Air & Waste Management Association.
State Air Trends & Successes: The StATS Report (April 2022)
AAPCA’s 2022 edition of The StATS Report uses publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to present key air quality statistics. In the sixth year of publication, this report spotlights state and local air agencies as central to the significant progress that has been achieved in improving air quality in the United States. The annual publication of State Air Trends & Successes: The StATS Report comes ahead of Earth Day (April 22) and Air Quality Awareness Week (May 2 to 6).
AAPCA Article: “The National Ambient Air Quality Standards at 50” (EM magazine, January 2022)
AAPCA’s article “The National Ambient Air Quality Standards at 50,” was selected for the “Best of EM 2020 and 2021″ for the January 2022 edition of EM magazine. EM is a publication of the Air & Waste Management Association. AAPCA’s article was first published in December 2020.
State Air Trends & Successes: The StATS Report (May 2021)
AAPCA’s 2021 edition of The StATS Report uses publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to present key air quality statistics. In the fifth year of publication, this report spotlights state and local air agencies as central to the significant progress that has been achieved in improving air quality in the United States.
U.S. Congressional Committees and Leadership for the 117th Congress (February 2021)
AAPCA has prepared a Member Resource fact sheet on Congressional Leadership in the 117th Congress. The listings include congressional leadership for majority and minority parties in the U.S. House and Senate, as well as listings for every Committee of the U.S. House and Senate. The listings also include select sub-committees that may be of interest to AAPCA members.
Guide to U.S. EPA’s Planned Regulatory Actions Under the Clean Air Act (December 2020; updated 12/22/2020)
AAPCA’s Guide to U.S. EPA’s Planned Regulatory Actions Under the Clean Air Act (updated 12/22/2020) provides a timeline of U.S. EPA’s planned regulatory actions under the Clean Air Act based on information from the following sources: the Fall 2020 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions; the White House Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs; U.S. EPA’s online listing of deregulatory actions; U.S. EPA’s Integrated Review Plans for forthcoming National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) reviews; and, recent U.S. EPA presentations on NAAQS and permitting updates.
Timing of U.S. EPA Nominations & Confirmations in Past Presidential Transitions (December 2020)
This document provides information on post-inauguration timing for announcements, nominations, and confirmations for key U.S. EPA positions during a presidential transition. Based on nominee records from Congress.gov, U.S. Senate Archives, and U.S. EPA press releases, this resource includes historic timelines for the following positions: U.S. EPA Administrator (since 1977); U.S. EPA Deputy; Administrator (since 1977); US. EPA General Counsel (since 1983); Assistant Administrator for U.S. EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation (OAR) (since 1981); and, Assistant Administrator for U.S. EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) (since 1983).
AAPCA Article: “The National Ambient Air Quality Standards at 50” (EM magazine, December 2020)
AAPCA’s article “The National Ambient Air Quality Standards at 50,” appeared in the December 2020 edition of EM magazine, entitled “U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards Review.” EM is a publication of the Air & Waste Management Association.
Preparing for Personal Air Sensors: Definition, Opportunities, and Data Limitations (July 2020)
This fact sheet is designed to provide an understanding of how personal air sensors, and the data they produce, differ from the monitoring networks used for regulatory purposes.
State Air Trends & Successes: The StATS Report (May 2020)
The 2020 edition of AAPCA’s annual report, The StATS Report, was published on Air Quality Awareness Week 2020. The report uses publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to present key air quality statistics. In 2020, AAPCA also unveiled an interactive resource with data from select graphs in the 2020 edition of The StATS Report — The StATS Report Interactive Webpage (May 2020).
AAPCA Article: “State Perspectives on Planning for Continue Regional Haze Progress” (EM magazine, October 2019)
AAPCA’s article “State Perspectives on Planning for Continued Regional Haze Progress,” appeared in the October 2019 edition of EM magazine, entitled “Visibility Protection in the United States.” EM is a publication of the Air & Waste Management Association.
Preparing for Personal Air Sensors: Definition, Opportunities, and Data Limitations (May 2019)
This fact sheet is designed to provide an understanding of how personal air sensors, and the data they produce, differ from the monitoring networks used for regulatory purposes.
State Air Trends & Successes: The StATS Report (April 2019)
The 2019 edition of AAPCA’s annual report, The StATS Report, was published on Earth Day and ahead of Air Quality Awareness Week 2019. The report uses publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies to present key air quality statistics.
AAPCA Article: “A Story Seldom Told: National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Successes in Air Pollution Control” (EM magazine, September 2018)
AAPCA’s article “A Story Seldom Told: National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Successes in Air Pollution Control,” appeared in the September 2018 edition of EM magazine, entitled “National Ambient Air Quality Standards: As EPA Goes Back to Basics, State and Regional Agencies Strive to Continue NAAQS Successes.” EM is a publication of the Air & Waste Management Association.
The Greatest Story Seldom Told: Profiles & Success Stories in Air Pollution Control (July 2018)
The 2018 edition of AAPCA’s annual report, which catalogs air quality metrics and trends using publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. These trends range from concentrations of criteria air pollutants and visibility progress in national parks to permitting and compliance and enforcement statistics.
AAPCA Article: “Preparing for Personal Air Sensors: State and Local Air Quality Agencies on the Frontlines of Citizen Science” (EM magazine, November 2017)
AAPCA’s article “Preparing for Personal Air Sensors: State and Local Air Quality Agencies on the Frontlines of Citizen Science,” appeared in the November 2017 edition of EM magazine, entitled “Continued Development and Uncertainties with Next-Generation Air Quality Sensors.” EM is a publication of the Air & Waste Management Association.
Principles for Addressing Interstate and International Ozone Transport (September 2017)
The State of Regulatory Reform – Navigating State Perspectives on Clean Air Act Regulations Under Executive Order 13777 (July 2017)
This report highlights individual Clean Air Act regulations and themes discussed in state environmental agency comments regarding Executive Order 13777 on Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulatory Reform Task Force.
The Greatest Story Seldom Told: Profiles & Success Stories in Air Pollution Control (April 2017)
The inaugural edition of AAPCA’s annual report, which catalogs air quality metrics and trends using publicly available data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. These trends range from concentrations of criteria air pollutants and visibility progress in national parks to permitting and compliance and enforcement statistics.
Timing of U.S. EPA Nominations & Appointments in Past Presidential Transitions (January 2017)
This resource includes historic information on post-inauguration timing for announcements, nominations, and confirmations for key EPA positions during a presidential transition, based on nominee records from Congress.gov and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency press releases.
Survey: State Environmental Agency Perspectives on Timely NAAQS Implementation (September 2015)
Survey: State Environmental Agency Perspectives on Background Ozone & Regulatory Relief (June 2015)
Following the end of the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed revision to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA) conducted a survey of all written state environmental agency comments on the proposal (totaling 44 state agency comments).
AAPCA Comments & Letters
| Date | Comments and Letters | Recipient | Topic |
| November 8, 2023 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | U.S. EPA’s proposed rulemaking, “Revisions to the Air Emissions Reporting Requirements” |
| September 27, 2023 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed rulemaking, “Revisions to the Air Emissions Reporting Requirements” |
| June 30, 2023 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Second request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed rulemaking, “New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units: Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule.” |
| May 30, 2023 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Joint request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed rulemaking, “New Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units: Emission Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units; and Repeal of the Affordable Clean Energy Rule.” |
| May 24, 2023 | Written Testimony | U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, & Related Agencies | FY 2024 Appropriations for U.S. EPA State and Local Air Quality Management Grants. |
| February 24, 2023 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed rulemaking, “Reconsideration of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter.” |
| December 19, 2022 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking, “Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review.” |
| November 23, 2022 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Concerning particulate matter monitoring method comparability. |
| July 14, 2022 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the Draft FY 2023 – 2024 National Program Guidances for the Office of Air & Radiation (OAR), the Office of Enforcement & Compliance Assurance (OECA), and the Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) and External Civil Rights Compliance Office (ECRCO). |
| June 10, 2022 | Written Testimony | U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, & Related Agencies | FY 2023 Appropriations for U.S. EPA State and Local Air Quality Management Grants. |
| May 3, 2022 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed “Federal Implementation Plan Addressing Regional Ozone Transport for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard” by 60 days. |
| February 3, 2022 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for the draft versions of the AERMET preprocessor (v21DRF) and Mesoscale Model Interface (MMIF, version 4.0) by at least 45 days. |
| November 23, 2021 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed rule, “Standards of Performance for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources and Emissions Guidelines for Existing Sources: Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review,” by at least 30 days. |
| October 25, 2021 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the early engagement period for the Office of Air and Radiation FY 2023-2024 National Program Guidance. |
| October 14, 2021 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the draft FY 2022-2024 content development plan for the National Air Quality Training Program. |
| June 1, 2021 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the list of candidates under consideration for U.S. EPA’s chartered Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). |
| May 12, 2021 | Letter | U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan | The Environmental Council of States (ECOS) transmitted a letter (co-signed by AAPCA) to U.S. EPA Administrator Michael Regan regarding American Rescue Plan Act funding for air monitoring. |
| February 12, 2021 | Letter | U.S. EPA Administrator-select Michael Regan | Introduction to AAPCA. |
| October 23, 2019 | Comments | U.S. EPA Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards | Concerning principles and priorities for training program development. |
| May 17, 2019 | Written Testimony | U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies | FY 2020 appropriations for U.S. EPA’s State and Local Air Quality Management Grants. |
| May 3, 2019 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Draft FY 2020-2021 National Program Guidances for the Office of Air and Radiation and the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. |
| March 18, 2019 | Testimony | U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies | FY 2020 appropriations for U.S. EPA State and Local Air Quality Management Grants. |
| December 18, 2018 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Concerning heavy and light-duty diesel vehicle emission control systems tampering. |
| July 2, 2018 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the list of candidates under consideration for the U.S. EPA’s chartered Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee. |
| May 18, 2018 | Testimony | U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies | FY 2019 Appropriations for U.S. EPA State and Local Air Quality Management Grants. |
| April 27, 2018 | Testimony | U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies | FY 2019 Appropriations for U.S. EPA State and Local Air Quality Management Grants. |
| February 1, 2018 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking, “State Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Electric Utility Generating Units,” for at least 60 days after February 26, 2018. |
| November 20, 2017 | Letter | Leadership of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee | FY 2018 appropriations for U.S. EPA’s State and Local Air Quality Management Grants. |
| October 31, 2017 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the Draft FY 2018 – 2022 EPA Strategic Plan. |
| September 28, 2017 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the list of candidates under consideration for U.S. EPA’s chartered Science Advisory Board. |
| September 15, 2017 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the list of candidates for U.S. EPA’s chartered Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). |
| June 14, 2017 | Letter | U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment | Concerning consensus principles for Clean Air Act modernization |
| May 23, 2017 | Testimony | U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies | FY 2018 Appropriations for the U.S. EPA State and Local Air Quality Management Grants. |
| May 22, 2017 | Letter | U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Subcommittee | Concerning consensus principles for Clean Air Act modernization. |
| May 15, 2017 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On regulations that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement, or modification under Executive Order 13777 on Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda. |
| March 13, 2017 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Regarding U.S. EPA’s Preliminary Interstate Ozone Transport Modeling Data for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. |
| January 13, 2017 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s draft Guidance on the Development of Modeled Emission Rates for Precursors (MERPs) as a Tier 1 Demonstration Tool for Ozone and PM2.5 under the PSD Permitting Program. |
| January 13, 2017 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s Draft PM2.5 Precursor Demonstration Guidance. |
| December 2, 2016 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed rule, “Implementation of the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: Nonattainment Area Classifications and State Implementation Plan Requirements,” for at least 30 days after January 17, 2017. |
| November 28, 2016 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the list of candidates for U.S. EPA’s Science Advisory Board Ad Hoc Committee for Review of the Screening Methodologies to Support Risk and Technology Reviews (RTR): A Case Study Analysis. |
| September 26, 2016 | Request | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s Draft Guidance on Significant Impact Levels for Ozone and Fine Particles in the Prevention of Significant Deterioration Permitting Program. |
| September 2, 2016 | Letter | U.S. EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and Office of Air and Radiation | Concerning data display issues on Enforcement and Compliance History Online. |
| August 10, 2016 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On U.S. EPA’s proposed rule, “Protection of Visibility: Amendments to Requirements for State Plans.” |
| July 19, 2016 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On the list of candidates for U.S. EPA’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC). |
| June 28, 2016 | Comments | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | On U.S. EPA’s proposed rule, “Revision to the Near-Road NO2 Minimum Monitoring Requirements.” |
| June 20, 2016 | Letter | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Request to extend the comment period for U.S. EPA’s proposed rule, “Protection of Visibility: Amendments to Requirements for State Plans.” |
AAPCA Best Practices in Air Pollution Control
2023
Streamlined Response to Comments Approach for State Implementation Plans (SIPs)
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (presented by Anna Aponte)
Representative Sample Guidance Document
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (presented by Phillip Martin)
Wyoming Pond Emissions Calculator
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (presented by Andrew Keyfauver)
Healthy Air Living Schools Program
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (presented by Jaime Holt)
2022
Open Burn Permit Program
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (presented by Mariana Mendez Armendariz)
2022 Air Quality Workshop
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (presented by Beverly Botchlet-Smith)
Environmental Trainee Mentoring Program
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (presented by Jillian Gallagher)
Wyoming Environmental Audit Process
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (presented by Lars Lone)
Air Quality Action Partners Program
Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (presented by Byron Gary)
Streamlined Communication and Collaboration for Air Monitoring Programs via Microsoft Teams
Mecklenburg County Air Quality (presented by Danielle Jones)
Residential Woodsmoke Reduction Strategy
San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (presented by Samir Sheikh)
2021
COVID-19 Air Quality Inspection/Compliance Determinations
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (presented by Madeline Greenbaum and John Gallegos)
Efficiencies in the Data Quality Review of Ambient Air Monitoring Data
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (presented by Farhana Yasmin)
NESHAP 6H Reg Nav Tool
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (presented by Tony Pendola)
Shiny Dashboard for Remote Monitoring of Air Quality Data
Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (presented by Kyle Spangle)
2020
Georgia PSD Emissions Inventory
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (presented by Dr. James Boylan)
2019
Data Verification Procedures
Georgia Environmental Protection Division (presented by Sean Taylor)
Ozone Design Value Predictor Tool
North Carolina Division of Air Quality (presented by Bradley McLamb)
Louisville Community Workshop Series (Local Government Best Practice)
Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (presented by Torend Collins)
2018
Georgia State Implementation Plan Processing Procedures
Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Air Protection Branch (presented by Dr. James Boylan)
Toxicity Factors Database
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (presented by Dr. Tracie Phillips)
Inventory, Monitoring, Permitting, and Compliance Tracking (IMPACT) Web-based Data System
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division (presented by Adam Deppe)
2017
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Exceedance Reports
Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Air Protection Branch (presented by Dr. Byeong-Uk Kim and Dr. James Boylan)
Pollutants of Concern Table Implementation
Kentucky Division for Air Quality (presented by Benjamin Matar)
Standardization of an Engineer’s Notebook for Title V Permitting
Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division (presented by Lori Bocchino)
2016
Air Protection Branch 101 Training
Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Air Protection Branch (presented by Karen Hays)
2015
AirCom: Florida Division of Air Resource Management’s New Compliance and Enforcement Database and Field Inspection Tool
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (presented by Justin B. Green)
FAIR: Florida Air Inspector Reference
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (presented by Preston McLane)
Promoting Energy Efficiency at Commercial and Industrial Facilities in North Carolina
North Carolina Division of Air Quality (presented by Adey Olatosi)
Useful Links
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- U.S. EPA Air Information
- U.S. EPA Office of Air and Radiation
- U.S. EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
U.S. EPA Regional Offices:
- Region 1 Offices (serving CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT)
- Region 2 Offices (serving NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Region 3 Offices (serving DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, and WV)
- Region 4 Offices (serving AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, and TN)
- Region 5 Offices (serving IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI)
- Region 6 Offices (serving AR, LA, NM, OK, and TX)
- Region 7 Offices (serving IA, KS, MO, and NE)
- Region 8 Offices (serving CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY)
- Region 9 Offices (serving AZ, CA, HI, NV, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau)
- Region 10 Offices (serving AK, ID, OR, and WA)
Multi-Jurisdictional Organizations:
- CenSARA (Central States Air Resource Agencies)
- LADCO (Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium)
- MARAMA (Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Associations, Inc.)
- Metro 4, Inc. / SESARM (Southeastern States Air Resource Managers, Inc.)
- NESCAUM (Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management)
- SBEAPs (National Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs)
- WESTAR (Western States Air Resources Council)