PM2.5 Air Quality Data Update 

2007-2009 Design Values 

The following is a brief summary of EPA's air quality update for PM2.5 based on ambient 

monitoring data for the three-year period, 2007-2009. During this three-year period: 

 Four of the original 39 areas designated nonattainment for the PM2.5 NAAQS in April, 

2005 (using 2001-2003 data) failed to meet the annual PM2.5 NAAQS in 2007-2009. 

Twenty-nine of the original 39 nonattainment areas met the annual NAAQS in 2007-

2009. Six areas have insufficient data to allow a determination of compliance with 

respect to the annual PM2.5 NAAQS in 2007-2009; in each of these six areas, one or 

more sites for which compliance cannot be determined for 2007-2009 clearly violated 

the NAAQS in a previous period (e.g., for 2006-2008). (Table 1a). 

 Eighteen of the 31 areas originally designated nonattainment for the 24-hour PM2.5

NAAQS failed to meet the NAAQS with 2007-2009 data. Nine of the original 31 

nonattainment areas met the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS in 2007-2009. The other four 

areas are shown to have incomplete data with respect to the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS; in 

each of these four areas, one or more sites for which compliance cannot be determined 

for 2007-2009 clearly violated the NAAQS in a previous period (e.g., for 2006-2008). 

(Table 1b). 

 No counties, outside of existing nonattainment areas, did not meet the PM2.5 annual 

NAAQS in 2007-2009. (Table 2a). 

 Five counties, outside of existing nonattainment areas, did not meet the PM2.5 24-hour 

NAAQS for 2007-2009. 

In 1997, EPA established the PM2.5 NAAQS for the protection of public health. 

The annual standard was set at a level of 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) and the 24-

hour standard was set at a level of 65 μg/m3. In October 2006, the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS was 

strengthened to 35 μg/m3

. 

Air quality data from EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) were used to calculate PM2.5

design values. The specific calculations are explained in footnotes to the tables. Most of the data 

used for these calculations were obtained from AQS on January 29, 2011. Detailed 2007-2009 

information (including design values for previous 3-year periods from 1999-2001) for all PM2.5

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.gov 
Table 1a. Areas Previously Designated Nonattainment for the PM2.5 1997 Annual NAAQS 

AQS Data Query: 01/29/2011; Last updated: 2/15/2011

Designated Area States

EPA 

Regions

Designation 

Status 1 Classification

2007-2009 

Annual 

Design Value 

(μg/m3

) 2, 3

Met 

NAAQS?

Clean Data 

Determination 

Date

Atlanta GA 4 nonattainment not applicable 13.5 4 see footnote 4

Baltimore MD 3 nonattainment not applicable 12.9 yes

Birmingham AL 4 nonattainment not applicable 15.1 no

Canton-Massillon OH 5 nonattainment not applicable incomplete incomplete

Charleston WV 3 nonattainment not applicable 14.4 yes

Chattanooga TN-GA-AL 4 nonattainment not applicable 12.7 4 see footnote 4

Chicago-Gary-Lake County IL-IN 5 nonattainment not applicable 13.5 yes 11/27/09

Cincinnati-Hamilton OH-KY-IN 4, 5 nonattainment not applicable 15.0 yes

Cleveland-Akron-Lorain OH 5 nonattainment not applicable 14.4 yes

Columbus OH 5 nonattainment not applicable 13.0 yes

Dayton-Springfield OH 5 nonattainment not applicable 13.8 yes

Detroit-Ann Arbor MI 5 nonattainment not applicable 14.1 yes

Evansville IN 5 nonattainment not applicable 13.1 yes 11/27/09

Floyd County GA 4 nonattainment not applicable 13.3 yes

Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point NC 4 nonattainment not applicable 13.0 yes 01/04/10

Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle PA 3 nonattainment not applicable 13.2 yes 08/25/09

Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir NC 4 nonattainment not applicable 12.5 yes 01/05/10

Huntington-Ashland WV-KY-OH 3, 4, 5 nonattainment not applicable 14.3 4 see footnote 4

Indianapolis IN 5 nonattainment not applicable 14.3 yes

Johnstown PA 3 nonattainment not applicable 13.4 yes 09/25/09

Knoxville TN 4 nonattainment not applicable 13.7 4 see footnote 4

Lancaster PA 3 nonattainment not applicable 13.8 yes 09/25/09

Libby MT 8 nonattainment not applicable 12.2 yes

Liberty-Clairton PA 3 nonattainment not applicable 17.0 no

Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin CA 9 nonattainment not applicable 18.8 no

Louisville KY-IN 4, 5 nonattainment not applicable 14.7 yes

Macon GA 4 nonattainment not applicable 13.5 yes

Martinsburg, WV-Hagerstown MD 3 nonattainment not applicable 14.0 yes 11/20/09

New York-N. New Jersey-Long Island NY-NJ-CT 1, 2 nonattainment not applicable 13.9 yes 12/15/10

Parkersburg-Marietta WV-OH 3, 5 nonattainment not applicable 13.7 yes 11/20/09

Philadelphia-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE 2, 3 nonattainment not applicable 13.7 4 see footnote 4

Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley PA 3 nonattainment not applicable 14.3 yes

Reading PA 3 nonattainment not applicable 12.6 yes 09/25/09

San Joaquin Valley CA 9 nonattainment not applicable 22.6 no

St. Louis MO-IL 5, 7 nonattainment not applicable 14.1 yes

Steubenville-Weirton OH-WV 3, 5 nonattainment not applicable 14.4 yes

Washington DC DC-MD-VA 3 nonattainment not applicable 12.4 yes 01/12/09

Wheeling WV-OH 3, 5 nonattainment not applicable 13.4 yes 11/20/09

York PA 3 nonattainment not applicable 13.7 yes 09/25/09

Notes:

1. Area designation status as of January 25, 2011.

2. The level of the 1997 annual NAAQS for PM2.5 is 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). The design value for the annual PM2.5 NAAQS is the 3-year 

average annual mean concentration.

3. The design values shown here are computed for the latest design value period using Federal Reference Method or equivalent data reported by States, Tribes, and 

local agencies to EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) as of 1/29/2011. Concentrations flagged by States, Tribes, and local agencies as exceptional events (e.g., high 

winds, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, construction) and concurred by the associated EPA Regional Office are not included in the calculation of these design values.

4. One or more sites in this area has violated the NAAQS prior to 2007-2009 and does not have a valid 2007-2009 design value(s). Although a 2007-2009 arealevel design value is shown, the design value shown may not represent the worst 2007-2009 air quality in the area. Consequently, we have not used it to indicate 

"yes" or "no" in the Met NAAQS column.
Table 1b. Areas Previously Designated Nonattainment for the PM2.5 2006 24-hour NAAQS 

AQS Data Query: 01/29/2011; Last updated: 2/15/2011

Designated Area States

EPA 

Regions

Designation 

Status 1 Classification

2007-2009 24-

hour Design 

Value (μg/m3) 2, 3

Met 

NAAQS?

Allentown PA 3 Nonattainment not applicable 34 yes

Birmingham AL 4 Nonattainment not applicable 34 yes

Canton-Massillon OH 5 Nonattainment not applicable incomplete incomplete

Charleston WV 3 Nonattainment not applicable 32 yes

Chico CA 9 Nonattainment not applicable 59 no

Cleveland-Akron-Lorain OH 5 Nonattainment not applicable 36 no

Detroit-Ann Arbor MI 5 Nonattainment not applicable 35 yes

Fairbanks AK 10 Nonattainment not applicable 57 no

Harrisburg-Lebanon-Carlisle PA 3 Nonattainment not applicable 34 yes

Imperial County CA 9 Nonattainment not applicable 21 4 see footnote 4

Johnstown PA 3 Nonattainment not applicable 32 yes

Klamath Falls OR 10 Nonattainment not applicable 47 no

Knoxville-Sevierville-La Follette TN 4 Nonattainment not applicable 29 yes

Lancaster PA 3 Nonattainment not applicable 35 yes

Liberty-Clairton PA 3 Nonattainment not applicable 50 no

Logan UT-ID 8, 10 Nonattainment not applicable 40 no

Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin CA 9 Nonattainment not applicable 50 no

Milwaukee-Racine WI 5 Nonattainment not applicable 37 no

New York-N. New Jersey-Long Island NY-NJ-CT 1, 2 Nonattainment not applicable 33 4 see footnote 4

Nogales AZ 9 Nonattainment not applicable 31 yes

Oakridge OR 10 Nonattainment not applicable 41 no

Philadelphia-Wilmington PA-NJ-DE 2, 3 Nonattainment not applicable 32 4 see footnote 4

Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley PA 3 Nonattainment not applicable 37 no

Provo UT 8 Nonattainment not applicable 50 no

Sacramento CA 9 Nonattainment not applicable 49 no

Salt Lake City UT 8 Nonattainment not applicable 48 no

San Francisco Bay Area CA 9 Nonattainment not applicable 36 no

San Joaquin Valley CA 9 Nonattainment not applicable 70 no

Seattle-Tacoma WA 10 Nonattainment not applicable 46 no

Steubenville-Weirton OH-WV 3, 5 Nonattainment not applicable 37 no

Yuba City-Marysville CA 9 Nonattainment not applicable 42 no

Notes:

1. Area designation status as of January 25, 2011 .

2. The level of the 2006 24-hour NAAQS for PM2.5 is 35 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). The design value for the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS 

is the 3-year average 98th percentile concentration.

3. The design values shown here are computed for the latest design value period using Federal Reference Method or equivalent data reported by 

States, Tribes, and local agencies to EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) as of 1/29/2011 Concentrations flagged by States, Tribes, and local 

agencies as exceptional events (e.g., high winds, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, construction) and concurred by the associated EPA Regional Office 

are not included in the calculation of these design values.

4. One or more sites in this area has violated the NAAQS prior to 2007-2009 and does not have a valid 2007-2009 design value(s). Although a 

2007-2009 area-level design value is shown, the design value shown may not represent the worst 2007-2009 air quality in the area. Consequently, 

we have not used it to indicate "yes" or "no" in the Met NAAQS column.
Table 2a. Violating Sites in Areas not Previously Designated Nonattainment for the PM2.5 1997 Annual NAAQS 

AQS Data Query: 01/29/2011; Last updated: 2/15/2011

State County

EPA 

Region

2007-2009 

Annual Design 

Value (μg/m3

) 

1, 2 Site ID POC CBSA

 

Notes:

1. The level of the 1997 annual NAAQS for PM2.5 is 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). The design value for the annual PM2.5 NAAQS is 

the 3-year average annual mean concentration.

For 2007-2009, there were no violations of the PM2.5 annual standard outside of previously designed nonattainment areas

2. The design values shown here are computed for the latest design value period using Federal Reference Method or equivalent data reported by 

States, Tribes, and local agencies to EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) as of 1/29/2011. Concentrations flagged by States, Tribes, and local agencies 

as exceptional events (e.g., high winds, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, construction) and concurred by the associated EPA Regional Office are not 

included in the calculation of these design values.
Table 2b. Violating Sites in Areas Not Previously Designated Nonattainment for the PM2.5 2006 24-hour NAAQS 

AQS Data Query: 01/29/2011; Last updated: 2/15/2011

State County

EPA 

Region

2007-2009 24-hour 

Design Value 

(μg/m3

) 1, 2 Site ID POC CBSA

Arizona Pinal 9 40 040213013 NA Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ

Iowa Muscatine 7 38 191390015 NA Muscatine, IA

Nevada Washoe 9 39 320310016 NA Reno-Sparks, NV

Oregon Lake 10 41 410370001 NA

Washington Yakima 10 37 530770009 NA Yakima, WA

Notes:

2. The design values shown here are computed for the latest design value period using Federal Reference Method or equivalent data reported by States, 

Tribes, and local agencies to EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) as of 1/29/2011. Concentrations flagged by States, Tribes, and local agencies as 

exceptional events (e.g., high winds, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, construction) and concurred by the associated EPA Regional Office are not included in 

the calculation of these design values.

1. The level of the 2006 24-hour NAAQS for PM2.5 is 35 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). The design value for the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS is th

year average 98th percentile concentration.