Washington Air Fact Sheet

1. What air regulations does the state of Washington follow?

• The state of Washington adheres to all federal emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). National emission standards for HAPs, compliance dates and their rules and implementation are found in the following U.S. Environmental Protection Agency link: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/eparules.html. Washington State thresholds for hazardous air pollutants are found at: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/wac173401.pdf

2. Which state organization manages air pollution regulation ?

• Air Quality Program. The Department of Ecology http://www.ecy.wa.gov/ houses the Air Quality Program http://www.ecy.wa.gov/air.html. The Air Quality Program's goal is to safeguard public health and the environment by preventing and reducing air pollution. Washington's main sources of air pollution are motor vehicles, outdoor burning, and wood smoke.

3. What are the specific responsibilities of the Air Quality Program?

• Regulate Motor Vehicle Emissions: The goal of this program is to reduce motor vehicle missions;http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/cars/automotive_pages.htm
• Agricultural Burning: Regulate and manage agricultural burning, including agricultural burning permits; http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/aginfo/agricultural_homepage.htm
• Outdoor Burning: Regulates all types of outdoor burning except forest burning, which is regulated by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources; http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/outdoor_woodsmoke/residentialburn.htm
• Indoor Burning: Regulate pollution and inform public about health consequences of wood stoves, fireplaces and other burning devices; http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/indoor_woodsmoke/wood_smoke_page.htm
•  Air Monitoring: Provide information on air monitoring networks and real-time air monitoring data; http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/air_monitoring_data/WAQA_Intro_Page.html
• Commercial Industrial Air Permits : Issue permits for businesses and industries in Washington that need air quality permits. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/permit_register/NewPermitsPage.html
• Air Emissions Inventory: To compile air emission inventory lists that document sources of air pollution, such as motor vehicles, woodstoves, outdoor burning and agricultural sources. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/EmissionInventory/AirEmissionInventory.htm
• Regional Haze: To provide information on causes and sources of regional haze http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/globalwarm_RegHaze/regional_haze.html

4. Where are the rules found?

• Washington Clean Air Act (Chapter 70.94 RCW): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.94
• Index of Air Quality Rules: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/ecywac.html#air
• Ambient Air Quality Standards: (April 2010) http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/Nonattainment/WA_Stds_April2010.pdf
• General Regulations for air pollution sources: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/laws-rules/currentactivity.html#air_quality
• Washington Administrative Code: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/
• Common toxic air pollutants: chemical abstract service (CAS) number; the averaging period; the acceptable source impact level (ASIL); the small quantity emission rate (SQER); and de minimis emission values. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=173-460-150
• Controls for New Sources of Toxic Air Pollutants (Chapter 173-460): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?dispo=true&cite=173-460
• Operating Permit Regulation: (see p 27 for thresholds of hazardous air pollutants)http://www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/wac173401.pdf

5. Contact information?

• Stu Clark, Air Quality Program Manager

  Tel number: 360-407-6880

  Mailing address:
  PO Box 47600
  Olympia, WA 98504-7600
  Physical address:
  300 Desmond Drive SE
  Lacey, WA 98503

  scla461@ecy.wa.gov

  Web page of Contacts: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/experts/expert.html

 

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