Air quality plans provide an overview of the region's air quality and identify the pollution-control measures needed to expeditiously attain and maintain air quality standards. The District's plans include the San Diego Regional Air Quality Strategy (RAQS), addressing State requirements, and the San Diego portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP), addressing federal requirements.

There are currently no upcoming workshops or meetings.

The District actively solicits participation  through its public workshop and public notice process. Workshops are held to discuss proposed rules and their potential impact so that any necessary revisions can be made in the early stages. Public notices are published to advise the public of an upcoming action. Citizens are encouraged to review the proposed actions and submit their comments to the District.

These public workshops are different than Governing Board meetings.  For more information regarding Governing Board meetings, please see Governing Board Agendas & Meetings. 

Ozone is a ground-level air pollutant formed when emissions from motor vehicles, industrial plants, consumer products, and other sources interact under the influence of sunlight and heat. Ozone pollution levels have declined significantly in the region, however the region does not yet meet the state ozone standards.

To comply with State law, the District must prepare an updated State Ozone Attainment Plan ("Regional Air Quality Strategy" or RAQS) to identify possible new actions to further reduce emissions. Initially adopted in 1992, the RAQS identifies measures to reduce emissions from sources regulated by the District, primarily stationary sources such as industrial operations and manufacturing facilities. Last updated in 2016, the RAQS is periodically updated to reflect updated information on air quality, emission trends, and new feasible control measures. 

2022 RAQS Fact Sheet (Español)

• 2022 RAQS
• RAQS Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Previous Environmental Documents
• 2022 RAQS EIR Addendum
• 2022 RAQS Response to Comments Report

Prior Activities/Documents for 2022 RAQS:
    November 2022 Draft 2022 RAQS (PDF)
    November 2022 Draft 2022 RAQS EIR Addendum (PDF)
    November 2022 Draft 2022 RAQS Public Workshop (Presentation | Video Recording)
    November 2022 AB617 Portside Community Steering Committee Meeting Presentation (Video Recording)
    November 2022 AB617 International Border Community Steering Committee Meeting Presentation (Video Recording)
    November 2022 San Diego Region Conformity Working Group Meeting Presentation (Video Recording)
    November 2022 Workshop Notice (English | Spanish)
    October 2021 Public Workshop Notice (English | Spanish)
    October 2021 Public Workshop Recording (English | Spanish)
    October 2021 Public Workshop Presentation (PDF)

The California Clean Air Act (CCAA) of 1988 requires the air districts to endeavor, achieve and maintain the state ambient air quality standards by the earliest practicable date and develop plans for attaining the state ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide standards.

In compliance with the CCAA, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District prepared and submitted the 1991 Regional Air Quality Strategy (RAQS) to address San Diego County's nonattainment status for ozone. The RAQS is designed to make expeditious progress toward attaining the state ozone standard and contains preliminary implementation schedules for control programs on stationary sources, transportation, indirect sources, and a vehicle/fuels program.

Older RAQS Documents:

2016 RAQS Revision  |   Attachment I   |   Attachment II
2009 RAQS Revision  |   Attachment I   |   Attachment II
2005 Measures to Reduce PM
2004 RAQS Progress Report
2004 RAQS Revision
2001 RAQS Revision
1998 RAQS Revision
1995 RAQS Revision
1992 RAQS    |    EIR

The Facts about Ozone       |     La Realidad Sobre el Ozono (Espanol)
Simple Ways to Reduce Air Pollution    |     Formas Sencillas de Reducir La Contaminación del Aire (Espanol)

Current Attainment Status 
Information on EPA's 2015 Ozone Standard 
CEQA 
Reducing Air Pollution 
Walking, Biking, and Transit 
Climate and Pollution

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six criteria pollutants, which are known to be harmful to human health and welfare. These criteria pollutants are:

Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Lead (Pb)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Ozone (O3)
Particulate Matter (PM)
Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

The federal Clean Air Act (CAA) requires plans which identify how nonattainment areas will attain and/or maintain the NAAQS. The CAA requires the EPA to review each plan, any plan revisions, and to approve the plan/revisions if consistent with the CAA. Key elements of these plans include emission inventories, emission control strategies and rules, air quality data analyses, modeling, air quality progress and attainment or maintenance demonstrations.

The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District (District) has prepared an Attainment Plan for San Diego County (Attainment Plan), demonstrating how the region will further reduce air pollutant emissions in order to attain the current National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone in the future. Approved by the District Board on October 14, 2020, and the California Air Resources Board on November 19, 2020, the plan was submitted by CARB on January 8, 2021 for EPA's consideration as a revision to the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) for attaining the ozone standards.

2020

2020 Plan for Attaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone in San Diego County (20 mb)
2020 RACT Demonstration for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone in San Diego County

Supplementary Documents:
CEQA Initial Study and Negative Declaration
Response to Comments
Workshop Notice
Workshop Presentation
Public Workshop #1 Recording
Public Workshop #2 Recording
APCD Notice of Public Meeting
APCD Board Resolution
APCD SIP Submittal Cover Letter to CARB
CARB Notice of Public Meeting
CARB Staff Report
CARB Proposed Resolution
CARB Executive Order S-20-028
CARB RACT Demonstration Submittal Cover Letter to EPA
CARB Attainment Plan Submittal Cover Letter to EPA

Older Documents:
2016 Attainment Plan - Eight-Hour Ozone (2008 Standard)
2016 Reasonably Available Control Technology Demonstration - Eight-Hour Ozone (2008 Standard)
2012 Maintenance Plan - Eight-Hour Ozone (1997 Standard)
2007 Attainment Plan - Eight-Hour Ozone (1997 Standard)
2005 Wildfire Natural Events Action Plan
2002 Maintenance Plan - One-Hour Ozone (1979 Standard)

If you would like to review older plans, please contact cleanairgrants@sdapcd.org