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Air Quality > Air Quality Standards & Plans > Area Designations > Nonattainment Areas > TacomaPierce County Nonattainment Area

Tacoma-Pierce County Nonattainment Area

Where is the nonattainment area?

The map to the right outlines the boundary for

the Tacoma-Pierce County Nonattainment Area

(a.k.a. Wapato Hills-Puyallup River Valley PM2.5

Nonattainment Area). Click on the map to

enlarge.

What caused Tacoma-Pierce County to be

designated a nonattainment area?

Most of Pierce County was designated a

nonattainment area for fine particle pollution

(PM2.5) in 2009 because fine particle pollution

levels too frequently exceeded the national limit.

Exceeding this limit can result in public health

risks.

The nonattainment designation is a result of two

factors:

a stronger air pollution limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2006;

and 2) spikes in fine particle pollution levels during the winter that violate the limit. Under the

stronger standards, Pierce County’s air quality is considered unhealthy.

The fine particle pollution in the Tacoma-Pierce County nonattainment area comes mainly from

smoke due to burning in fireplaces and wood stoves, and exhaust from motor vehicles (trucks,

buses, ships, etc.). Industries also contribute a small portion of fine particle pollution.

Fine particle pollution is worse during the winter months when more households are burning wood for

heat. In addition, stagnant weather conditions trap the smoke from these fires close to the ground

and cause air pollution to build up rapidly.

What is fine particle pollution?

Dust, soot, and smoke are all “particulate matter.” Particulate matter is one of the six criteria air

pollutants monitored and regulated under the Clean Air Act. Fine particles are microscopic, a fraction

of the diameter of a single human hair.

What are the effects of fine particle pollution?

Fine particles are easily inhaled into our lungs. Their tiny size allows them to travel deep into the

lungs and circulatory system. As a result, fine particles have long term effects as well as short term

effects. Exposure to fine particle pollution is linked with respiratory disease, decreased heart and lung

function, asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. Each year millions of dollars

are spent treating illnesses and health conditions that stem from fine particle pollution – and are

entirely preventable.

What now?

Tacoma-Pierce County Clean Air Task Force

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency established the Tacoma-Pierce County Clean Air Task Force

to involve the public in developing community-based solutions to reduce fine particle pollution

in the nonattainment area. The Task Force recommended:

Enhanced enforcement of burn bans.

Requiring removal of uncertified wood stoves and inserts.

Reducing pollution from non-wood smoke sources.

Developing a State Implementation Plan Revision

The Clean Air Act requires that Ecology submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to

EPA by December 14, 2012 for the Tacoma-Pierce County Nonattainment Area. This proposed

SIP revision details Washington's plan to improve air quality in the Nonattainment Area. The

revision includes:

A description of how the area will meet federal planning requirements for a

nonattainment area.

QUICK LINKS

Proposed State

Implementation Plan

Revision

Public Hearing Notice

Contact Margo

Thompson (360) 407-

6827
Infrastructure, Rules, and Programs SIPs | Washington State Department of Ecology

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/sips/designations/pm_tacoma.htm[11/26/2012 12:37:12 PM]

Local rules to help improve air quality.

Information on activities and projects carried out as part of the planning process for the

SIP revision.

Next Steps

The SIP revision does not remove the nonattainment designation from the Tacoma-Pierce

County Nonattainment Area. The following steps must occur before EPA removes the

nonattainment designation:

Ecology will make separate submissions focusing on nonattainment permitting

requirements and air quality criteria for transportation conformity.

EPA must approve Ecology's submissions.

Ecology will develop a maintenance plan that ensures the area will continue to meet

the 2006 24-hour fine particle standard. Ecology will submit the maintenance plan and

a letter requesting redesignation of the area to "attainment."

EPA must approve of Ecology's maintenance plan and request for redesignation to

remove the "nonattainment" designation. This would begin a 20-year planning cycle

designed to make sure that the area remains below the federal standards.

Documents from the SIP revision process:

Proposed State Implementation Plan Revision for Tacoma-Pierce County Nonattainment

Area

Public Hearing Notice

Clean Data Determination

Final Determination Federal Register Notice

Maps:

Major Features of the PM2.5 Nonattainment Area

Detailed PM2.5 Nonattainment Area Map

Additional Resources:

EPA’s PM2.5Designations Web Site

Focus on Wood Smoke and Your Health

Documents from the designation process:

Ecology's 12/18/07 letter to EPA recommending designations

Ecology's 10/25/07 Design values and recommendations

Ecology's 3/13/08 letter to EPA on the proposed Nonattainment Area

Ecology's 2/22/08 Proposed Wapato Hills-Puyallup River Valley PM2.5 Nonattainment Area

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's 10/26/07 analysis of the proposed Nonattainment Area

Ecology's 2/08 Concise Explanatory Statement and Responsiveness Summary

Letters and Other Written Materials

E-Mailed Comments

Public Hearing Materials

Contact Us

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