Natural, Historic & Cultural Resources

Air Quality

Few things are as important as the air we breathe. Virginians have grown more concerned with emissions and the ozone they produce — but the quality of our air garners mixed reviews.

Why is This Important?

Poor air quality causes increased deaths, especially among the very young and the very old; reduces water quality; and damages forest resources, agriculture and materials. It also makes Virginia a less attractive place to live, do business in or visit — all substantial economic as well as quality-of-life consequences.

How is Virginia Doing?

Eight-hour Ozone Exceedences, 1997-2005. See text for explanation.

Virginia is holding levels down, but has not reduced total emissions. While emissions per unit of economic activity in the state continue to fall for many pollutants, strong economic growth at the same time potentially erodes any gains in air quality that tighter emission controls might achieve.

Virginia, like most of its neighbor states, has stayed within mandated federal limits on air quality for all pollutants except for ozone. Starting in 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began using a more stringent standard for ozone exposure. Since that time, Virginia has significantly reduced the number of days of exceedences, from 117 days per year on average between 1997 and 1999 to 23 days between 2003 and 2005. Northern Virginia, with an average of nine days of exceedences between 2003 and 2005, had the poorest air quality.

There are no clear rankings of states by levels of air pollution. With a few notable exceptions, air emissions tend to track economic activity and hence, rankings of states by levels of air emissions will closely track rankings of states by economic activity.

What Influences Air Quality?

Ground level ozone, the main ingredient in smog, is a colorless gas formed by the reaction of sunlight with vehicle emissions, gasoline fumes, solvent vapors, and power plant and industrial emissions. Particle pollution is made up of particles found in soot, dust, smoke and fumes caused by burning coal, oil, diesel and other fuels. Global atmospheric circulation can cause emissions from other states and even other countries to affect Virginia. For example, much of the mercury exposure suffered by Virginians is from coal combustion in China and gold mining in South America.

Certain emissions are subject to reductions or caps mandated by state, federal and international laws and obligations. Regulations requiring reductions in emission rates per unit of activity will need to be tightened periodically to maintain air quality as economic activity grows. Regulations limiting air pollutant emissions to a certain amount per year can maintain air quality at a given level even as the economy grows.

What is the State's Role?

Air quality standards are established by the federal government. The state Department of Environmental Quality is charged with enforcing the federal standards.

What can Citizens Do?

Individuals and groups are encouraged to be active participants in resource management. To learn more about Virginia's environment, stewardship and public participation opportunities, or partners engaged in conservation, please visit the Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources, www.naturalresources.virginia.gov, or Virginia Naturally, www.vanaturally.com.

Data Definitions and Sources

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, www.deq.state.va.us/

Definition: 8-Hour Ozone Exceedence: The number of times air quality monitors have recorded ozone concentrations greater than 84 parts per billion over an 8-hour period.
Note: Virginia Department of Environmental Quality regional configurations are used in this section.

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Recent State Initiatives

Implementation of the Virginia Clean Smokestacks Legislation: The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the State Air Pollution Control Board are developing regulations to reduce Nitrogen Oxide, Sulfer Dioxide and Mercury emissions from power plants. These regulations will implement legislation which is commonly referred to as the Clean Smokestacks Legislation. More information on the development of regulations to implement the requirements of CAIR, CAMR and the Virginia Clean Smokestacks Legislation and the federal Clean Air Mercury Rule and Clean Air Interstate Rule can be found at: www.townhall.state.va.us/chapter/ ViewChapter.cfm?Vac=102&Chapter;=140

Early Action Compact Agreements: Two areas in Virginia, Roanoke and Winchester/Frederick County, have signed Early Action Compacts (EACs). These agreements are signed by the localities, DEQ and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop early action plans to reduce ozone precursor pollutants and improve air quality in a proactive manner. More information on early action compacts in Virginia is available from: www.deq.virginia.gov/air/emissions/ reozone.html

Major State Programs

Air quality permits are issued to industries and facilities that emit regulated pollutants to ensure that these emissions do not harm public health or cause significant deterioration in areas that presently have clean air. The permit also ensures that facilities make adequate provisions to control their emissions for the protection of public health and the precious natural resources of the Commonwealth. www.deq.virginia.gov/air/permitting/ homepage.html

The objective of DEQ's Air Quality Division is to protect and enhance public health and the environment by controlling present and future sources of air pollution. The division ensures the safety and quality of the air in Virginia by monitoring and analyzing air quality data, regulating sources of air pollution, and working with local, state and federal agencies to plan and implement strategies to protect Virginia's air quality. www.deq.virginia.gov/air/

Vehicle owners in Northern Virginia counties, as well as regular commuters into the area and vehicles operating on federal installations, are subject to the emissions inspection program. An inspection must be performed every two years at a permitted emissions inspection station. To address excess vehicle emissions caused by problems that occur before the required inspection, the Commonwealth is implementing the on-road emissions program. The program will ensure that vehicles with excess emissions levels will be repaired on a timely basis instead of waiting until the next scheduled inspection. It will also allow a large number of vehicles to be observed without inconveniencing drivers. www.deq.virginia.gov/mobile/

The Virginia Small Business Assistance Program offers small businesses free and confidential technical assistance on air quality and related environmental requirements. Its mission is to help small businesses comply with the Clean Air Act and Virginia's air regulations. The program has three parts: a technical assistance program; an ombudsman to serve as an advocate for small businesses; and a compliance advisory board to evaluate program effectiveness. www.deq.virginia.gov/osba/