# PM 2.5 

# Air Quality Data Update

2006-2008 Design Values

The following is a brief summary of EPA's air quality update for PM 2.5 

# based on ambient

monitoring data for the thr ee-year period, 2006-2008. During this three-year period:

• Fifteen of the original 39 areas designated nonattainment for the PM 2.5 

# NAAQS in April,

2005 (using 2001-2003 data) failed to meet the annual PM 2.5 

# NAAQS in 2006-2008.

Seventeen of the original 39 nonattainmen t areas met the annual NAAQS in 2006-2008.

Seven areas have insufficient data to allow a de termination of compliance with respect to the

annual PM 2.5 

# NAAQS in 2006-2008; in each of these se ven areas, one or more sites for

which compliance cannot be determined for 2006-2008 clearly violated the NAAQS in a

previous period (e.g., for 2005-2007). (Table 1a).

• Thirty-one areas were designated nonattainment for the 24-hour PM 2.5 

# NAAQS in

September, 2008. Twenty-eight of these 31 areas failed to meet the NAAQS with 2006-

2008 data. The other three areas are shown to have incomplete data with respect to the 24-

hour PM 2.5 

# NAAQS; in each of these three areas, one or more sites for which compliance

cannot be determined for 2006-2008 clearly viol ated the NAAQS in a previous period (e.g.,

for 2005-2007). (Table 1b).

• Four counties outside of ex isting (previous and new) PM 2.5 

# nonattainment areas violated one

or both PM 2.5 

# NAAQS in 2005-2007. (Table 2).

o Two counties, outside of existing nona ttainment areas, did not meet the PM 2.5 

# annual

NAAQS.

o Three counties, outside of existing no nattainment areas, did not meet the PM 2.5 

# 24-

hour NAAQS. (One county violated both the annual and the 24-hour NAAQS with

2006-2008 data.)

o In some of these cases, EPA is still reviewing state reque sts for exclusion of data

affected by exceptional events. The outcome of this review may change these

findings.

In 1997, EPA established the PM 2.5 

# NAAQS for the protection of public health.

The annual standard was set at a leve l of 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter ( μ g/m3) and the 24-hour

standard was set at a level of 65 μ g/m 3 

# . In October 2006, the 24-hour PM 2.5 

# NAAQS was

strengthened to 35 μ g/m 3



# .

Air quality data from EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) were used to calculate PM 2.5 

# design

values. The specific calculations ar e explained in footnotes to the ta bles. Most of the data used for

these calculations were obtained from AQS on July 7, 2009; in some isolated situations, site data

were re-extracted at later dates to encompa ss subsequent AQS changes. Detailed 2006-2008

information (plus information for previous 3-year periods from 1999-2001) for all PM 2.5 

# FRM/FEM

sites are available in the downloadable spreadsheet file.

For information concerning these data and/or calculations, contact:

Mark Schmidt

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Air Quality Trends and Analysis Group (C304-01)

Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

(919) 541-2416, (919) 541-3613 (FAX)

Schmidt.mark@epa.govTable 1a. 2006-2008 PM2.5annual standard design values for areas previously designated nonattainmentfor the 1997 NAAQSDesignated Nonattainment AreaStateEPARegionDesignationStatus12006-2008 AnnualDesign Value2, 3Met Annual NAAQS in2006-2008?2, 3AtlantaGA4Nonattainment15.2noBaltimoreMD3Nonattainment14.0yesBirminghamAL4Nonattainment17.3noCanton-MasillonOH5Nonattainmentseefootnote4see footnote4CharlestonWV3Nonattainment15.4noChattanoogaTN-GAAL4Nonattainmentsee footnote4see footnote4Chicago-Gary-Lake CountyIL-IN5Nonattainmentsee footnote4see footnote4Cincinnati-HamiltonOH-KYIN4, 5Nonattainment15.7noCleveland-Akron-LorainOH5Nonattainment15.1noColumbusOH5Nonattainment13.7yesDayton-SpringfieldOH5Nonattainment14.2yesDetroit-Ann ArborMI5Nonattainment15.4noEvansvilleIN5Nonattainment13.7yesFloyd CountyGA4Nonattainmentsee footnote4see footnote4Greensboro-Winston Salem-HighPointNC4Nonattainment14.5yesHarrisburg-Lebanon-CarlislePA3Nonattainment13.8yesHickory-Morganton-LenoirNC4Nonattainment14.2yesHuntington-AshlandWV-KYOH3, 4, 5Nonattainment15.2noIndianapolisIN5Nonattainment14.7yesJohnstownPA3Nonattainment14.4yesKnoxvilleTN4Nonattainmentseefootnote4see footnote4LancasterPA3Nonattainment14.5yesLibbyMT8Nonattainment13.7yesLiberty-ClairtonPA3Nonattainment18.3noLos Angeles-South Coast Air BasinCA9Nonattainment19.7noLouisvilleKY-IN4,5Nonattainment15.3noTable 1a. 2006-2008 PM2.5annual standard design values for areas previously designated nonattainmentfor the 1997 NAAQSDesignated Nonattainment AreaStateEPARegionDesignationStatus12006-2008 AnnualDesign Value2, 3Met Annual NAAQS in2006-2008?2, 3MaconGA4Nonattainment15.1noMartinsburg, WV-HagerstownMD3Nonattainment14.9yesNew York-N.New Jersey-Long IslandNY-NJCT1, 2Nonattainmentsee footnote4see footnote4Parkersburg-MariettaWV-OH3,5Nonattainment14.6yesPhiladelphia-WilmingtonPA-NJDE2, 3Nonattainmentsee footnote4see footnote4Pittsburgh-Beaver ValleyPA3Nonattainment15.2noReadingPA3Nonattainment13.6yesSan Joaquin ValleyCA9Nonattainment21.5noSt. LouisMO-IL5, 7Nonattainment15.7noSteubenville-WeirtonOH-WV3,5Nonattainment15.4noWashingtonDC-MDVA3Nonattainment13.1yesWheelingWV-OH3,5Nonattainment14.2yesYorkPA3Nonattainment14.6yes1. Area designation status as of August 1, 2009.2. The annual standard design values shown here are calculated in accordance with 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix N (2006). The annualstandard design value (i.e., the 3-year average annual mean concentration) is computed at each site by averaging the daily FRMsamples taken each quarter, averaging these quarterly averages to obtain an annual average, and then averaging the three annualaverages. (Note that special rules apply if an area has beenapproved for spatial averaging.) The NAAQS level for the annualstandardis 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). In general, EPA regulations require at least 75% data capture in each quarter of aconsecutive 3-year period in order for a design value to be valid.However, if an annual mean (or 3-year annual design value) is overthe level of the standard, less data (i.e., 11 samples per quarter for the corresponding 4 quarters) are sufficient to deem that mean valid.Further, EPA regulations and guidance permit data substitution undercertain circumstances in order to to consider design values asvalid that otherwise would be considered incomplete. The information presented in this update is based on data after applyingthesubstitution protocols.3. Data that have been flagged for exceptional events, forwhich documentation has been submitted and approved by the EPA (AQSconcurrence field set to ‘Y’), if any, were excluded from the design value calculations. In several situations, submitted documentationis still under review and as such, revisionsto design values are possible. The EPAhas approved exclusion of certain flaggedexceptional event data for the 24-hour NAAQS (based on reviews of supporting documentation submitted by the applicable monitoringagencies), but the EPA has not made a final determination on the exclusion of such data with regards to the annual standard. In thisreport, these data have been excluded from the annual standard design values (and associated statistical components); hence, the statedannual standard design values (and related statistics) mayactually be understated and may later be revised upwards.4. One or more previously violating sites (e.g., for 2005-2007) in this area do not have valid 2006-2008 annual design values(i.e.,those meeting NAAQS completeness criteria). As such, a 2006-2008 area-level design value is not shown, even in situations wherethere are additional sites in the area withvalid/complete ones, because the highestof those might not represent actual maximumpopulation exposure in the area. The 2006-2008 site listing included in the Excel version of this file show 2006-2008 design values foreach site.Table 1b. 2006-2008 PM2.524-hour standard design values for areas designated nonattainment for the2006 NAAQS on July 31, 2009.Designated Nonattainment Area1StateEPARegionDesignationStatus12006-2008 24-hr DesignValue2, 3Met 24-hourNAAQS (2006 CFR)in 2006-2008?2,3AllentownPA3Nonattainment36noBirminghamAL4Nonattainment39noCanton-MassillonOH5Nonattainmentseefootnote4see footnote4CharlestonWV3Nonattainment36noChicoCA9Nonattainment69noCleveland-Akron-LorainOH5Nonattainment38noDetroit-Ann ArborMI5Nonattainment37noFairbanksAK10Nonattainment41noHarrisburg-Lebanon-CarlislePA3Nonattainment36noImperial CountyCA9Nonattainment36noJohnstownPA3Nonattainmentseefootnote4see footnote4Klamath FallsOR10Nonattainment46noKnoxville-Sevierville-La FolletteTN4Nonattainmentsee footnote4see footnote4LancasterPA3Nonattainment37noLiberty-ClairtonPA3Nonattainment53noLoganUT-ID8,10Nonattainment36noLos Angeles-South Coast Air BasinCA9Nonattainment49noMilwaukee-RacineWI5Nonattainment37noNew York-N. New Jersey-LongIslandNY-NJCT1, 2Nonattainment38noNogalesAZ9Nonattainment40noOakridgeOR10Nonattainment40noPhiladelphia-WilmingtonPA-NJ-DE2, 3Nonattainment36noPittsburgh-Beaver ValleyPA3Nonattainment36noProvoUT8Nonattainment44noSacramentoCA9Nonattainment56noSalt Lake CityUT8Nonattainment48noSan Francisco Bay AreaCA9Nonattainment36noSan Joaquin ValleyCA9Nonattainment70noTable 1b. 2006-2008 PM2.524-hour standard design values for areas designated nonattainment for the2006 NAAQS on July 31, 2009.Designated Nonattainment Area1StateEPARegionDesignationStatus12006-2008 24-hr DesignValue2, 3Met 24-hourNAAQS (2006 CFR)in 2006-2008?2,3Seattle-TacomaWA10Nonattainment44noSteubenville-WeirtonOH-WV3,5Nonattainment41noYuba City-MarysvilleCA9Nonattainment47no1. A Federal Register notice regarding 24-hour PM2.5 nonattainment designations based primarily on 2005-2007 design values wassigned by the EPA Administrator Steven Johnson in December 2008 but never published in the Federal Register. The areas listed inthis table were designated nonattainment for the 2006 NAAQS by Administrator Lisa Jackson in 2009.2. The 24-hour standard design values shown here are calculated in accordance with 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix N (2006, ammended2007). The 24-hour (or 'daily') standard design value (i.e., the 3-year average 98th percentile) is computed at each site bydetermining the 98th percentile of the daily FRM samples taken ina given year for each of the three years, and then averagingthesethree numbers. The NAAQS level for the 24-hour standard is 35 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). In general, EPA regulationsrequire at least 75% data capture in each quarter of a consecutive 3-year period in order for a design value to be valid. However, if anannual 98th percentile (or 3-year 24-hour design value) is over the level of the standard, less data (i.e., only 1 sample in that year) issufficient to make that 98th percentile valid. Further, EPA regulations and guidance permit data substitution under certaincircumstances in order to consider design values as valid that otherwise would be considered incomplete. The information presentedin this update is based on data after applying the substitution protocols.3. Data that have been flagged for exceptional events, forwhich documentation has been submitted and approved by the EPA (AQSconcurrence field set to ‘Y’), if any,were excluded from the design value calculations. In several situations, submitteddocumentation is still under review and as such, revisions to design values are possible.4. One or more previously violating sites (i.e., for 2005-2007) in this area do not have valid 2006-2008 24-hour design values(i.e.,those meeting NAAQS completeness criteria). As such, a 2006-2008 area-level design value is not shown, even in situations wherethere are additional sites in the area withvalid/complete ones, because the highestof those might not represent actual maximumpopulation exposure in the area. The 2006-2008 site listing included in the Excel version of this file shows 2006-2008 designvaluesfor each site.Table 2. 2006-2008 PM2.5design values for violating counties notpart of a designated nonattainment areaStateCountyCBSAEPARegionAnnualDesign Value1, 3Met annualNAAQS in2006-2008?1,324-hr DesignValue2, 3Met 24-hourNAAQS in2006-2008?2, 3Met bothNAAQSin 2006-2008?ArizonaPinalPhoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ921.6no48nonoCaliforniaPlumas912.6yes49nonoCaliforniaShastaRedding, CA99.6yes48nonoTexasHarrisHouston-Sugar Land-Baytown,TX615.2no30yesno1. The annual standard design values shown here are calculated in accordance with 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix N (2006). The annual standard designvalue (i.e., 3-year average annual mean concentration) is computed at each site by averaging the daily FRM samples taken each quarter, averaging thesequarterly averages to obtain an annual average, and then averaging the three annual averages. (Note that special rules apply if an area has been approvedfor spatial averaging.) The NAAQS level for the annual standard is 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). In general, EPA regulations require atleast 75% data capture in each quarter of aconsecutive 3-year period in order for a design value to be valid. However, if an annual mean (or 3-yearannual design value) is over the level of the standard, less data (i.e., 11 samples per quarter for the corresponding 4 quarters) are sufficient to deem thatmean valid. Further, EPA regulations and guidance permit data substitution under certain circumstances in order to to considerdesign values as validthat otherwise would be considered incomplete. The information presented in this update is based on data after applying the substitution protocols.2. The 24-hour standard design values shown here are calculated in accordance with 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix N (2006, ammended 2007). The 24-hour (or 'daily') standard design value (i.e., the 3-year average 98th percentile) is computed at each site by determining the 98th percentile of the dailyFRM samples taken in a given year for each of the three years, and then averaging these three numbers. The NAAQS level for the 24-hour standard is35 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). In general, EPA regulations require at least 75% data capture in each quarter of a consecutive 3-year period inorder for a design value to be valid. However, if an annual 98th percentile (or 3-year 24-hour design value) is over the levelof the standard, less data (i.e.,only 1 sample in that year) is sufficient to make that 98thpercentile valid. Further, EPA regulations and guidance permit data substitution under certaincircumstances in order to consider design values as valid that otherwise would be considered incomplete. The information presented in this update isbased on data after applying the substitution protocols.3. Data that have been flagged for exceptional events, forwhich documentation has been submitted and approved by the EPA (AQSconcurrence fieldset to ‘Y’), if any, were excluded from the design value calculations. In several situations, submitted documentation is still under review and as such,revisions to design values are possible. The EPA has approved exclusion of certain flagged exceptional event data for the 24-hour NAAQS (based onreviews of supporting documentation submitted by the applicable monitoring agencies), but the EPA has not made a final determination on the exclusionof such data with regards to the annual standard. In this report, these data have been excluded from the annual standard design values (and associatedstatistical components); hence, the statedannual standard design values (and related statistics) may actually be understated and may later be revisedupwards.Data Source: U.S. EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) as of July 7, 2009 (and later dates in isolated situations).