Although the federal Clean Air Act has significantly improved our nation’s air quality, many areas still have serious air quality problems. Ozone, the main constituent of smog, is the most serious and widespread air pollution problem in the country. In the United States, many people live in areas that do not meet the federal air quality standards for ozone. Ventura County is one of the areas that has a pressing ozone problem.
Outdoor air quality data in Ventura County indicates significant progress in ozone and particulate levels over time, largely as a result of regulatory programs implemented at the local, statewide and national levels. But the county still exceeds current state and federal standards for ozone and the state standard for coarse particles.
As part of its mission to provide clean, healthful air quality to local residents and visitors to Ventura County, the district has prepared and implemented a number of Air Quality Management Plans since 1979 to identify needed strategies to clean our air. As can be seen from the adjacent flow chart, the air quality planning process involves most of the programs at the district: air quality monitoring, emissions estimation and forecasting, control measure development, modeling, rule development, rule implementation (permit processing) and regulatory compliance.
Air Quality Management Plans
Air Quality Planning Flowchart
