State and Local Air Agencies Assemble in Phoenix for AAPCA 2025 Spring Meeting
Featured remarks from Phoenix Mayor, Kate Gallego
Topics covered Clean Air Act rules and actions, cooperative federalism, and cross-agency partnership
May 9, 2025
Lexington, KY
Last week, the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA) held the AAPCA 2025 Spring Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. The Association welcomed about 115 participants from 31 state, local, and tribal air agencies; multiple nongovernmental organizations; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the Office of Air & Radiation (OAR) and Region 9 Air & Radiation Division.
“We were glad to convene key state, local, and federal air quality partners for the first time following the transition of administrations earlier this year,” remarked AAPCA President Laura Crowder, Director for the West Virginia Division of Air Quality. “It is critical that co-regulatory partners and subject matter experts be engaged as we continue efforts to enhance air quality.”
AAPCA was honored to have Karen Peters, Director of the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, welcome attendees to Arizona and speak to the mission of state leadership to protect the environment and its role in sustaining well-being and economic vitality.
AAPCA was also honored by the participation of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Mayor Kate Gallego discussed Phoenix’s forward-looking approach to advancing air quality initiatives, expanding equitable transit, and preparing the workforce for tomorrow’s industries. “As we’ve explored the intersection of air quality, innovation, and responsible growth, it was fitting that we were joined by a leader who embodies all three,” commented AAPCA Secretary-Treasurer Hether Krause, Deputy Director of the Arizona Air Quality Division.
Also participating in AAPCA’s 2025 Spring Meeting was Aaron Szabo, nominee for Assistant Administrator of U.S. EPA OAR, who spoke to the Administration’s priorities and current work being guided by Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land, and Water for Every American and Pillar 3: Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership of the Agency’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative. Attendees appreciated the opportunity to seek clarity on the Agency’s slate of deregulatory air actions previously announced March 13.
From April 30 to May 2, the agenda included state, local, federal, and nongovernmental organization speakers presenting on a range of timely Clean Air Act (CAA) topics, covering air quality standards and planning as well as other technical updates. AAPCA’s 2025 Spring Meeting featured an in-depth session on Permitting Reform, Cooperative Federalism, and Cross-Agency Partnership, with presentations from local, federal, technical, and legal experts. Attendees discussed complex issues for CAA implementation, such as the challenges associated with decreasing ozone emissions, but increasing ozone ambient concentrations observed across the Intermountain West region. The benefits of cooperative federalism and stakeholder engagement were common themes across presentations in Phoenix.
Presentations that are available from AAPCA’s 2025 Spring Meeting are posted here.
AAPCA’s 2025 Fall Business Meeting will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina, on September 24, 25, and 26. More information will be available on AAPCA’s website (www.cleanairact.org) this summer.
AAPCA Background
The Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies, or AAPCA, is a national, non-profit, consensus-driven organization focused on assisting state and local air quality agencies and personnel with implementation and technical issues associated with the federal Clean Air Act. Created in 2012, AAPCA represents 53 state and local air pollution control agencies, and senior officials from 21 state environmental agencies currently sit on the AAPCA Board of Directors. AAPCA is housed in Lexington, Kentucky as an affiliate of The Council of State Governments. More information about AAPCA can be found on the Association’s website: www.cleanairact.org.
Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies | 1776 Avenue of the States | Lexington, Kentucky 40511
www.cleanairact.org | @AAPCA_States | LinkedIn
Contact: Morgan Dickie, Executive Director (mdickie@csg.org / 859-244-8043)