San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

Chapter 1

Air	Quality	Standards	and	Requirements	

2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard

SJVUAPCD	

 

 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

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San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-1 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

Pursuant to the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) Section (§)108 and §109, the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) periodically reviews and establishes healthbased air quality standards (often referred to as National Ambient Air Quality Standards, 

or NAAQS) for ozone, particulates, and other pollutants. Although the San Joaquin 

Valley’s (Valley) air quality is steadily improving, the Valley experiences unique and 

significant difficulties in achieving these increasingly stringent standards. For over 

twenty years, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (District) has 

implemented several generations of emissions control measures for those stationary 

and area sources under its regulatory jurisdiction. Similarly, the California Air 

Resources Board (ARB) has adopted regulations for mobile sources. Together, these 

efforts represent the nation’s toughest air pollution regulations and have greatly 

contributed to reduced ozone and particulate matter concentrations in the Valley. 

Despite the significant progress under these regulations, greatly aided by the efforts of 

Valley businesses and residents, many air quality challenges remain. 

1.1 1997 PM2.5 AIR QUALITY STANDARD 

EPA adopted the first NAAQS for particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less in 

diameter (PM2.5) in July 19971

 setting the annual PM2.5 standard at 15 micrograms per 

cubic meter (μg/m3

) and the 24-hour PM2.5 standard at 65 μg/m3. States and air 

districts addressed this standard under CAA Title 1, Part D, Subpart 12 (Subpart 1) 

following guidance provided by EPA. As a result of a court ruling in 2013, EPA now 

requires the 1997 PM2.5 standard be addressed by states and air districts under the 

requirements of CAA Subpart 1 and CAA Title 1, Part D, Subpart 4 (Subpart 4). This 

2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard (2015 PM2.5 Plan) addresses the 1997 

standard for PM2.5 under Subpart 1 and Subpart 4. Until the exceptional weather 

conditions experienced due to the recent drought, the District was on track to attain the 

1997 annual PM2.5 standard before the federally mandated attainment deadline. 

1.2 DISTRICT’S 2008 PM2.5 PLAN FOR THE 1997 PM2.5 STANDARD 

Pursuant to Subpart 1 requirements, on January 5, 2005, EPA promulgated air quality 

designations for all areas for the 1997 PM2.5 standard.3

 EPA designated the Valley as 

a nonattainment area based on ambient air quality data collected in the area from 2001 

through 2003. The District adopted an air quality attainment plan (2008 PM2.5 Plan) to 

address the 1997 PM2.5 standard. At the time of the development of the 2008 PM2.5 

Plan, the Valley was already projected to attain the 1997 24-hour standard based on air 

quality data collected during the period of 2004 through 2006. As such, the focus of the 

2008 PM2.5 Plan was to address the 15 μg/m3 annual PM2.5 standard. 

 

1

 62 FR 38651-38701 

2

 EPA. Clean Air Act. Retrieved on 11/5/2014 from http://www.epw.senate.gov/envlaws/cleanair.pdf. 3

 70 FR 943-1019 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-2 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

The District’s Governing Board adopted the 2008 PM2.5 Plan in April 20084 to address 

EPA’s 1997 annual PM2.5 standard for PM2.5, and directed staff to forward the adopted 

2008 PM2.5 Plan to the ARB for approval and submittal to EPA. EPA approved the

2008 PM2.5 Plan on November 9, 2011, effective January 9, 2012.5

 

1.3 TRANSITION FROM SUBPART 1 TO SUBPART 4 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT 

In January 2013, the D.C. Circuit Court found that EPA erred in implementing the 

federal PM2.5 standard pursuant solely to the general implementation provisions of 

Subpart 1 without also considering the particulate matter-specific provisions of Subpart 

4. Subpart 4 requires a nonattainment area classification system (i.e., moderate and 

severe classifications) and contains requirements specific to particulate matter. As a 

result of the court ruling, on June 2, 2014, EPA classified the Valley (and all other 

PM2.5 nonattainment areas) as a Moderate nonattainment area by order of law under 

Subpart 4 and required all nonattainment areas to submit additional documentation, as 

needed, to fulfill all Subpart 4 requirements.6

 

The EPA guidance interpreting the Subpart 4 requirements for particulate matter 

nonattainment areas in the General Preamble7 discusses the relationship of Subpart 1 

and Subpart 4 SIP requirements, and notes that SIPs for Moderate nonattainment areas 

must meet the general provisions in Subpart 1 to the extent that these provisions are 

not otherwise “subsumed by, or integrally related to, the more specific Subpart 4 

requirements.” Some Subpart 1 provisions have no Subpart 4 equivalent (e.g., the 

emissions inventories (CAA section 172(c)(3)) and contingency measures (CAA section 

172(c)(9)) and for these provisions, Subpart 1 continues to govern. Other provisions of 

Subpart 1 are subsumed or superseded by more specific requirements in Subpart 4 

(e.g., certain provisions concerning attainment dates). Additionally, EPA guidance 

provides different requirements for areas of different classifications of nonattainment, as 

discussed below. 

 

4

 SJVAPCD. 2008 PM2.5 Plan. Retrieved on 11/24/14 from 

http://www.valleyair.org/Air_Quality_Plans/AQ_Final_Adopted_PM25_2008.htm. 5

 EPA. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California; 2008 San Joaquin Valley PM2.5 Plan and 

2007 State Strategy; Final Rule. 76 Fed. Reg. 217, pp. 69896 – 69926. (2011, November 9). (to be codified at 40 

CFR Part 52). Retrieved from http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-09/pdf/2011-27232.pdf 6

 All areas designated nonattainment for PM2.5 are classified as Moderate by order of law (CAA §188(a)) 7

 EPA. General Preamble for Title I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 Appendix. p. 13538. (57 FR 13498, 

April 16, 1992) 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-3 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

1.4 REQUEST FOR RECLASSIFICATION TO SERIOUS NONATTAINMENT 

In accordance with Subpart 4 §188(b), the District submitted an official request to EPA 

for reclassification from Moderate nonattainment to Serious nonattainment. Included 

with this request was a demonstration that attainment by the April 5, 2015 deadline 

under the current Moderate nonattainment classification is impracticable. As discussed 

in the demonstration of impracticability,8 the Valley was on track to attain the 1997 

PM2.5 standard until the extreme weather conditions over the winter of 2013-2014 

overwhelmed emissions controls and led to abnormally high PM2.5 levels making 

attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard based on 2012-2014 data impossible. In 

January 2015, EPA proposed to reclassify the Valley as a Serious nonattainment area. 

1.4.1 Demonstration of Impracticability of Attainment as a Moderate 

Nonattainment Area by April 5, 2015 

In its September 25, 2014 letter to EPA, the District provided ambient air quality data 

demonstrating that the Valley cannot attain the 1997 PM2.5 standard by April 5, 2015. 

Data supporting the request for reclassification and EPA’s analysis of said data and 

conclusions are presented below. 

1.4.1.1 1997 Annual PM2.5 Standard (15 μg/m3

) 

The District provided annual average PM2.5 concentrations recorded at monitoring sites 

in the Valley for 2012 and 2013, and then calculated the maximum 2014 annual 

average PM2.5 concentrations for each monitoring site that would result in a 3-year 

average PM2.5 concentration of 15 μg/m3 or less at that site. Through this analysis, the 

District demonstrated that the maximum 2014 annual average concentration at the 

Bakersfield-Planz air monitoring site would have to be 7.5 μg/m3

 for 2014 in order for 

the design value to be at or below 15 μg/m3

. The average PM2.5 concentration 

measured at the Bakerfield-Planz site in the first quarter of 2014 was 29.7 μg/m3. Thus 

the average PM2.5 concentrations at this monitoring site for the remaining three 

quarters of 2014 would have to be zero in order to result in a design value at or below 

15 μg/m3

 for 2014. 

In EPA’s evaluation of the request for reclassification, EPA independently evaluated 

preliminary 2014 air quality data available in EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) as of 

August 2014 to assess the District’s representations.9

 Preliminary 2014 AQS data for 

four monitoring locations in the Valley demonstrate that the 3-year average PM2.5 

concentration for 2012-2014 will likely be well above 15 μg/m3

. Because a 

determination of attainment requires that each eligible monitoring site in the area show 

a design value at or below the level of the PM2.5 standard, a 2014 design value above 

this level at one eligible monitor would render attainment by April 5, 2015 impossible. 

EPA’s analysis is summarized in the following table. 

 

8

 SJVAPCD. Item Number 9: Review and Approve Actions to Address Air Quality Impacts Resulting from the 

Exceptional Weather Conditions Caused by the Recent Drought. (2014, August 21) Retrieved on 12/02/2014 from 

http://www.valleyair.org/Board_meetings/GB/agenda_minutes/Agenda/2014/August/final/09.pdf 9

 Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; San Joaquin Valley; Reclassification as Serious 

Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp. 1482-1491. (2015, January 12). (to be codified 40 

CFR Part 81) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-12/pdf/2015-00309.pdf
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-4 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

Table 1-1 Preliminary Recorded Annual Average PM2.5 Concentrations (in μg/m3) 

for Selected Sites in the Valley and Comparison to Lowest Recorded10

Monitor 

Average 

Recorded 

2014 

EPA estimate for 

Max 2014 

Annual Average 

Allowed to 

Attain 

Lowest 

Recorded 

Annual 

Average 

(year) 

Percent Difference 

Between Max 2014 

and Lowest 

Recorded Annual 

Average 

Bakersfield – Planz 29.7 7.7 14.5 (2011) 47 

Visalia 27.9 11.4 13.6 (2010) 16 

Corcoran 22.9 13.0 15.6 (2013) 18 

Hanford 18.7 12.1 14.8 (2012) 18 

1.4.1.2 1997 24-hour PM2.5 Standard (65 μg/m3

) 

EPA also reviewed ambient air quality data in the AQS to determine whether the Valley 

can practicably attain the 24-hour standard by April 5, 2015. The 24-hour PM2.5 design 

value is determined by taking the 98th percentile value for each year over a consecutive 

three year period and averaging the three 98th percentile values. The resulting value is 

then rounded to the nearest 1.0 μg/m3 and compared to the standard. The 98th

percentile 24-hour average PM2.5 concentrations recorded in 2012 and 2013 at 

selected monitoring sites were analyzed for this purpose. The 98th percentile 24-hour 

concentrations in 2013 were higher than in 2012, and in some cases the 2013 value 

was significantly higher than the 2012 value. Based on these observed 98th percentile 

values in 2012 and 2013, EPA calculated for each of these monitoring sites the 

maximum 98th percentile 24-hour concentration in 2014 that would enable the site to 

show a 2014 24-hour PM2.5 standard design value at or below 65 μg/m3. 

EPA also calculated a low estimate of the 98th percentile 24-hour concentration for 2014 

at each of these sites, based on preliminary data reported to AQS for the first quarter of 

2014 and a conservative assumption that 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations remain below 

these levels for the remainder of the year at each monitoring site. EPA’s low estimates 

for the 98th percentile concentrations for 2014 at the two monitoring sites in Bakersfield 

(Planz and California Avenue) already exceed the maximum 2014 values that would 

enable these two sites to show a 24-hour PM2.5 standard design value for 2014 at or 

below 65 μg/m3

. These two sites in Bakersfield cannot practicably show a 24-hour 

PM2.5 standard design value at or below 65 μg/m3 by April 5, 2015 as summarized in 

the following table. 

 

10 Table 3 from Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; San Joaquin Valley; 

Reclassification as Serious Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp. 1482-1491. (2015, 

January 12). (to be codified 40 CFR Part 81) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-12/pdf/2015-00309.pdf
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-5 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

Table 1-2 Preliminary Recorded 2014 24-hour PM2.5 Concentrations (in μg/m3) for 

Selected Sites in the Valley and Calculation of 98th Percentile Values11

Monitoring Site 

98th

Percentile 

in 2012 

98th

Percentile 

in 2013 

Low Estimate 

of 98th

Percentile in 

2014 

Max 98th

Percentile 

allowed in 2014 

to attain 

Bakersfield-Planz 40.6 96.7 64.4 58.9 

Bakersfield – CA Ave 56.4 71.8 72.6 68.0 

Hanford 48.3 67.6 76.7 80.3 

Fresno-Pacific 51.3 71.6 61.8 73.3 

Fresno-Garland 52.6 63.8 65.5 79.8 

1.4.2 EPA Action on Impracticability 

EPA analysis of air quality data from 2012 through 2014 resulted in the determination 

that attainment by April 5, 2015 as a Moderate nonattainment area is impracticable. 

EPA proposed to reclassify the Valley as a Serious Nonattainment area under CAA 

Subpart 4. EPA published this proposed action in the Federal Register on January 12, 

2015 and received comments on the proposal through February 11, 2015. 12 EPA 

finalized the Valley’s reclassification to Serious Nonattainment in the Federal Register 

on April 7, 2015, effective May 7, 2015.13

1.5 FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A SERIOUS NONATTAINMENT AREA 

In their proposal to reclassify the Valley from a Moderate nonattainment area to a 

Serious nonattainment area for the 1997 PM2.5 standard, EPA identified specific 

statutory requirements applicable to Serious nonattainment areas that upon 

reclassification as a Serious nonattainment area for the 1997 PM2.5 standard, 

California is required to submit. 14 These additional SIP revisions will satisfy the 

statutory requirements that apply to Serious nonattainment areas, including the 

requirements of Subpart 4. The Serious area SIP elements that California will be 

required to submit are summarized in Table 1-3. 

On March 23, 2015, EPA issued proposed requirements in the Federal Register for 

implementing the NAAQS for PM2.5 in areas that are designated nonattainment for 

 

11 Table 4 from Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; San Joaquin Valley; 

Reclassification as Serious Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp. 1482-1491. (2015, 

January 12). (to be codified 40 CFR Part 81) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-12/pdf/2015-00309.pdf 12 Designation of Areas for AQ Planning Purposes; Ca; SJV; Reclassification as Serious Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 

Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp.1482-1491. (2015, January 12). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-12/pdf/2015-

00309.pdf

13 Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; San Joaquin Valley; Reclassification as Serious 

Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard. 80 Fed. Reg. 66. Pp. 18528-18535. (2015, April 7). 

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-04-07/pdf/2015-07765.pdf 14 Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; San Joaquin Valley; Reclassification as Serious 

Nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp. 1482-1491. (2015, January 12). (to be codified 40 

CFR Part 81) http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-12/pdf/2015-00309.pdf
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-6 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

these standards.15 The proposed requirements would apply to state, local, and tribal air 

agencies developing plans that outline how nonattainment areas will meet and maintain 

fine particle standards. The District is reviewing this proposed implementation rule and 

will follow it as it goes through the public review and comment process, which concludes 

on May 29, 2015. Once published in the Federal Register as a final rule the District will 

use this guidance in development of future attainment plans to address PM2.5 

standards. 

Table 1-3 Statutory Requirements Applicable to Serious Nonattainment Areas 

Requirement Federal 

CAA Description 2015 PM2.5 Plan

BACM and 

BACT 

Subpart 4 

§189(b)(1)(B) 

Provisions to assure that the best available control 

measures (BACM), including best available control 

technology (BACT) for stationary sources, for the 

control of direct PM2.5 and PM2.5 precursors shall 

be implemented no later than four years after the 

area is reclassified. 

Chapter 5, 

Appendix C

Attainment 

Demonstration 

Subpart 4 

§188(c)(2) 

and 

§189(b)(1)(A) 

A demonstration that the plan provides for 

attainment as expeditiously as practicable but no 

later than December 31, 2015, or where the State is 

seeking an extension of the attainment date under 

Section 188(e), a demonstration that attainment by 

December 31, 2015 is impracticable and that the 

plan provides for attainment by the most expeditious 

alternative date practicable. 

Chapter 1, 

Chapter 4, 

Appendix A

Reasonable 

Further Progress 

Subpart 1 

§172(c)(2) 

Plan provisions that require reasonable further 

progress (RFP). Chapter 6 

Quantitative 

Milestones 

Subpart 4 

§189(c) 

Quantitative milestones which are to be achieved 

every three years until the area is redesignated 

attainment and which demonstrate RFP toward 

attainment by the applicable date. 

Chapter 6 

PM2.5 

Precursors 

Subpart 4 

§189(e) 

Provisions to assure that control requirements 

applicable to major stationary sources of PM2.5 also 

apply to major sources of PM2.5 precursors, except 

where the State demonstrates to EPA’s satisfaction 

that such sources do not contribute significantly to 

PM2.5 levels that exceed the standard in the area. 

Appendix A

Emissions 

Inventory 

Subpart 1 

§172(c)(3) 

A comprehensive, accurate, current inventory of 

actual emissions from all sources of PM2.5 and 

PM2.5 precursors in the area. 

Appendix B

Contingency 

Measures 

Subpart 1 

§172(c)(9) 

Contingency measures to be implemented if the 

area fails to meet RFP or to attain by the applicable 

attainment date. 

Chapter 6 

 

15 Fine Particlate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards: State Implementation Plan Requirements 

http://www.epa.gov/airquality/particlepollution/pdfs/20150311proposal.pdf 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-7 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

Requirement Federal 

CAA Description 2015 PM2.5 Plan

New Source 

Review Program 

Major Source 

Thresholds 

Subpart 4 

§189(b)(3) 

A revision to the nonattainment new source review 

(NSR) program to lower the applicable “major 

stationary source” thresholds from 100 tons per year 

(tpy) to 70 tpy. 

Chapter 6 

1.6 1997 PM2.5 STANDARD TIMELINE 

The timeline below illustrates actions related to the 1997 PM2.5 standard, District 

Actions, EPA actions, and Valley events affecting attainment. 

Figure 1-1 1997 PM2.5 Standard Timeline 

 1997  EPA sets first standard for PM2.516,17,18 

 o 24-hr: 65 μg/m3 (based on 3-year average of 98th percentile 24-hr PM2.5 

concentrations) 

 o Annual: 15 μg/m3

 (based on 3-year average annual mean PM2.5 concentrations) 

 

 2005  EPA finalizes attainment designations19; designates Valley as “nonattainment” 

 

 2007  EPA issues Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule20; directs states to adopt 

attainment plans under Subpart 1 requirements 

 2008  District adopts 2008 PM2.5 Plan per EPA guidance21 to address annual standard 

(Valley already in attainment of 24-hr standard) 

 

 2011  EPA approves District’s 2008 PM2.5 Plan22 except for the contingency measures, 

which EPA disapproved 

 EPA grants California’s request for an extension of the attainment date for the 

Valley to April 5, 2015 

 

 2013  A revised PM2.5 contingency measure plan for the Valley is submitted to EPA 

 

16 NAAQS for Particulate Matter, 52 Fed. Reg. 119, pp. 24634-24669. (1987, July 1). 

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-R08-OAR-2012-0446-0004 17 NAAQS for Particulate Matter, 62 Fed. Reg. 138, pp. 38702-38752. (1997, July 18). 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/1997/July/Day-18/a18577b.htm 18 NAAQS for Particulate Matter, 62 Fed. Reg. 138, pp. 38753-38760. (1997, July 18). 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/1997/July/Day-18/a18577c.htm 19 Air Quality Designations and Classifications for the Fine Particles (PM2.5) NAAQS, 70 Fed. Reg. 3, pp. 944-1019. 

(2005, January 5). http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2005/January/Day-05/a001.pdf 20 Clean Air Fine Particle Implementation Rule, 72 Fed. Reg, 79, pp. 20586-20667. (2007, April 25). 

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2007/April/Day-25/a6347.pdf 21 San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District [SJVAPCD]. (2008, April 30). 2008 PM2.5 Plan. Fresno, CA. 

http://www.valleyair.org/Air_Quality_Plans/AQ_Final_Adopted_PM25_2008.htm 22 Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California; 2008 San Joaquin Valley PM2.5 Plan and 2007 

State Strategy, 76 Fed. Reg. 217, pp. 69896-69926. (2011, November 9). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-

09/pdf/2011-27232.pdf
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-8 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

 U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit rules that EPA erred by not using Subpart 

4 in addition to Subpart 1 in establishing its PM2.5 implementation rule 

 The District is on track to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard 

 (Winter 2013-2014) The Valley experiences extreme drought and exceptional 

weather conditions. 

 2014  EPA approves the revised PM2.5 contingency plan for the Valley 

 EPA classifies Valley as a Moderate nonattainment area (by order of law) under 

Subpart 4 with an attainment date of April 5, 2015 

 District submits formal request for reclassification of Valley to a Serious 

nonattainment area with a demonstration that the Valley cannot practicably attain 

the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard by the April 5, 2015 attainment date due to 

extreme weather during the winter of 2013-2014 

 2015  EPA proposes to reclassify the Valley as a Serious nonattainment area thus 

extending the attainment date to no later than December 31, 201523 

  District to submit an attainment plan to EPA satisfying Subpart 1 and Subpart 4 

requirements with attainment as expeditious as practicable but no later than 

December 31, 2015. (Plan submittal to include a demonstration that attainment by 

December 2015 is impracticable and a request for an attainment deadline extension 

to no later than 2020) 

 2020  Attainment date (after extension): as expeditiously as practicable but no later than 

December 31, 2020 

1.7 IMPRACTICABILITY OF ATTAINMENT BY DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 

REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF ATTAINMENT DATE FOR A SERIOUS 

NONATTAINMENT AREA 

Until the exceptional weather conditions experienced due to the recent drought, the 

Valley was on the verge of attaining the 1997 federal PM2.5 standard (15 μg/m3 for 

annual, 65 μg/m3

 for 24-hour) with an average annual concentration of 14.7 μg/m3 and 

average 24-hour concentration of 56.4 μg/m3 at the Valley’s historic peak PM2.5 sites in 

Bakersfield in 2012. Due to the extreme drought, stagnation, strong inversions, and 

historically dry conditions experienced over the winter of 2013-2014, analysis showed 

that the Valley could not reach attainment even if the Valley experienced zero PM2.5 

pollution for the last three quarters of 2014. In this plan, the District requests a one-time 

extension of the attainment deadline for the 24-hour standard to 2018 and the annual 

standard to 2020. Refer to Chapter 4 of this 2015 PM2.5 Plan for a full explanation of 

the Subpart 4 section that allows for a one time extension of the attainment date, 

supporting analysis behind the request, and requirements and demonstration of said 

requirements. 

 

23 Designation of Areas for AQ Planning Purposes; Ca; SJV; Reclassification as Serious Nonattainment for the 1997 

PM2.5 Standards. 80 Fed. Reg. 7, pp.1482-1491. (2015, January 12). http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-01-

12/pdf/2015-00309.pdf
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-9 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

1.8 PUBLIC PROCESS FOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT 

The District used the following public process timeline for the development of this plan. 

Table 1-4 2015 PM2.5 Plan Development and Public Workshop Timeline 

August 2014 – 

ongoing 

Monthly updates on the progress and development of the plan at public 

meetings such as the District’s Governing Board meetings, Citizen 

Advisory Committee meetings, and Environmental Justice Advisory

Group meetings. 

February 2015 Draft plan documents available for public review and comment. 

March 4, 2015 Public workshop to present and receive comments on the draft plan 

documents with an associated comment period. 

March 17, 2015 Proposed Plan available for public review and comment 30-days prior to 

the Governing Board public hearing. 

April 16, 2015 District Governing Board public hearing to hear and adopt the Proposed 

Plan. 

 
San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District April 16, 2015

1-10 Chapter 1: Air Quality Standards and Requirements 

 2015 Plan for the 1997 PM2.5 Standard 

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