North Carolina is celebrating a decade of clean air, having met every federal health-based air quality standard since August 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed. The milestone reflects years of coordinated efforts by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and public and private stakeholders to reduce emissions statewide.
“Achieving ten years of meeting our clean air standards is a testament to what we can accomplish with sound policymaking and strong partnerships,” said Governor Josh Stein. “North Carolinians are able to breathe fresh air because of our state’s continued commitment to safeguarding our natural resources.”
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson emphasized the public health impact: “Meeting the Clean Air Act’s public health standards means North Carolinians can live, work and play knowing the air they breathe meets the highest benchmark. Our work is not done — we must continue to implement effective strategies to ensure our air remains clean for generations to come.”
Mike Abraczinskas, Director of DEQ’s Division of Air Quality, highlighted the long-term effort: “A decade of clean air was decades in the making. It took hard work and planning to achieve this milestone, and our Division staff played a monumental role. The full scale of public health benefits resulting from this work is impossible to quantify.”
The National Ambient Air Quality Standards are limits on air pollution levels set nationally by EPA to protect public health, including the health of sensitive populations like children, older adults and people with asthma. Standards are set for the six criteria air pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution and sulfur dioxide.
North Carolina and many other states had significant nonattainment issues with several of the standards in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly for ozone and particle pollution. Air pollution also contributed to summer haze in the Blue Ridge Mountains and forest-damaging acid rain.
Key actions that improved air quality during those years included the passage of the 2002 Clean Smokestacks Act in North Carolina; significant advances in federal fuel and engine standards for cars and trucks; a shift in energy generation away from coal; and emission reductions from homes, industry and other human sources due to regulatory, voluntary and educational programs.
While air quality has improved significantly in North Carolina, there can still be a handful of days when air pollution levels may impact public health. Residents can check their county’s daily air quality forecast using the Air Quality Portal to help them plan their outdoor activities.
