Compliance Assurance Compliance Assurance One of AQMD's key tasks is to assure compliance with air quality rules and regulations and with state and federal air quality statutes to achieve and sustain air quality standards throughout the South Coast Air Basin. Under clean air law, the federal EPA has set health-based standards for ambient air quality. AQMD's mission is to develop and maintain a plan for reducing pollution to meet those standards and to implement that plan though adopting regulations that set emissions limits. AQMD administers these regulations through air pollution control permits that set emissions limits and operating conditions on some 30,000 individual facilities. AQMD inspects facilities periodically to ensure that permit operating conditions and emissions limits are being met and maintained.
Inspectors also respond to air quality complaints reported by the public.
In handling violations, AQMD carefully considers all the facts and circumstances under its General Compliance Policy . If a facility has a good compliance record and other requirements are met, the violation may be resolved under AQMD's Creative Penalty Policy , which allows the use of measures which will create a direct or indirect air pollution benefit, instead of cash, as a form of civil penalty. High Compliance Level AQMD has found that the vast majority of businesses in the region do their best to comply with air pollution control standards. By emphasizing education and technical assistance, technical consultations, and self-auditing strategies, AQMD helps sources achieve a higher level of compliance with pollution control rules.