Wintertime Pollution Source Identification

About the Program

Category: Planning (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Maricopa County is in attainment with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) health based standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). However with the standard becoming increasingly more stringent, the possibility of a violation of the annual standard is ever more likely. If Maricopa County were to violate the standard and be designated as non-attainment for PM2.5 there would not only be potential impacts to human health, but also requirements for more stringent regulations that could limit economic growth. The Wintertime Pollution Source Identification Program (Program) was established to better understand the PM2.5 pollution sources in Maricopa County during the winter, and to provide a basis for the direction of the department’s pollution reduction assistance resources to those citizens and areas most impacted by seasonally elevated levels of PM2.5.