The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets air quality standards for our region under the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). The CAA requires the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for specific pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. SANDAG is required to comply with these NAAQS when developing the Regional Plan and programming funding for projects through the Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP).
Under the CAA, a region that exceeds the NAAQS is designated as a “nonattainment” area and is required to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to bring the region back into attainment. The San Diego region is currently designated as a nonattainment area for ozone and must meet specific requirements for reducing reactive organic gas (ROG) and nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions, both of which are precursors to ozone. These emissions reductions requirements are specified in the 2020 Plan for Attaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone in San Diego County (2020 SIP). To receive federal funding for regional transportation projects, we are required to demonstrate compliance with the 2020 SIP.
Transportation Planning and Air Quality Conformity Working Group
As the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, SANDAG is required under the CAA to organize the meetings of the San Diego Transportation and Air Quality Conformity Working Group (CWG). The CWG is comprised of representatives from federal and state partner agencies, and SANDAG coordinates the meetings. The group uses CWG meetings to consult on issues relevant to regional air quality and ensure that the Regional Plan and RTIP are consistent with the CAA and the 2020 SIP.
While greenhouse gases (GHGs) can impact air quality, they are not the same as the air pollutants regulated under the CAA that affect human health and the environment. The CWG is responsible for federal air quality conformity compliance, which does not include GHGs.
CWG meetings are open to the public, recorded, and posted below. For more information, contact Kirsten Uchitel at kirsten.uchitel@sandag.org.