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Pacific Southwest, Region 9

Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations

Air Actions, California

Particulate Matter Pollution in California's Owens Valley

Actions Taken

May 25, 2007: Final Rule PM-10 Nonattainment Finding

EPA has finalized its March 15, 2007 proposal to find that the Owens Valley area has failed to attain the PM-10 standard.

Related Documents

March 15, 2007: Proposed PM-10 Nonattainment Finding

Owens Valley is classified as a serious PM-10 nonattainment area and had an attainment deadline of December 31, 2006. EPA is proposing to find that the Owens Valley has failed to attain the 24-hour PM-10 standard by the attainment deadline. For more information on EPA's proposed action, please see the documents below or contact Larry Biland (biland.larry@epa.gov) at (415) 947-4132.

Related Documents

Final EPA Approval of the PM-10 Plan for the Owens Valley Nonattainment Area

On August 18, 1999, EPA gave final approval to California’s particulate matter (PM-10) State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Owens Valley to ensure clean and healthful air. EPA also approved the State’s request for a five-year extension, to December 31, 2006, to meet the PM-10 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Strong winds over the Owens Valley dry lake bed blow high levels of dust into the air containing a variety of particulates. The dust from the lake bed contains carcinogens such as nickel, cadmium, and arsenic, as well as sodium, chlorine, iron, calcium, potassium, sulfur, aluminum and magnesium. The Great Basins Unified Air Pollution Control District adopted this historic plan after a decade of planning, research, analysis, and negotiations. The plan, for the first time, applies control measures on the dry lake bed to reduce PM-10 emissions. The three control measures that will be used are: shallow flooding, managed vegetation, and gravel cover. In 2003, the District will reevaluate the air emissions and make corrections necessary to attain the NAAQS standard by 2006. Particulates can harm human health and the environment. They can affect breathing and cause lung damage, increased respiratory disease and possibly premature death. Children, the elderly, and people suffering from heart and lung disease, like asthma, are especially at risk. Particulates also damage paint, soil clothing and reduce visibility. Below is a fact sheet, an unofficial copy of the final action, and the proposed action as published in the Federal Register on June 25 for public comment. A link will be provided to the official version of the final rule upon its publication in the Federal Register.

Contact Information

Larry Biland (biland.larry@epa.gov)
Technical Support Office, EPA Region 9
(415) 947-4132

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