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Design Values
A design value is a statistic that describes the air quality status of a given area relative to the level of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Design values are especially helpful when the standard is exceedance-based (e.g. 1-hour ozone, 24-hour PM10, etc.) because they are expressed as a concentration instead of an exceedance count, thereby allowing a direct comparison to the level of the standard.
- Design values are defined in the guidance below and are consistent with the NAAQS in CFR Part 50. As such, they are often based on multiple years of data, ensuring a stable indicator.
- Design values are typically used to classify nonattainment areas, assess progress towards meeting the NAAQS, and develop control strategies.
- Design values are computed and published annually by EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards and reviewed in conjunction with the EPA Regional Offices.
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Design Values 2004 - 2006
- PM2.5 Design Values
(PDF) (3pp, 63k) - Summary *see note below
(Excel spreadsheet) (1.9 MB) - Detailed Information *see note below
- PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 180k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (45k) - Detailed Information
- Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 86k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (738k) - Detailed Information
- Carbon Monoxide Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 44k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (28k) - Detailed Information
Design Values 2003 - 2005
- PM2.5 Design Values (1999-2001 - Present) (Excel Spreadsheet) (11.3 MB) NOTE: These design values were created in 2007 using the applicable procedures as revised in October 2006.*see note below
- PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 34k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (43k) - Detailed Information
- Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (9pp, 71k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (564k) - Detailed Information
For more information:
- Guideline on Data Handling Conventions for the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS (PDF) (17pp, 52k) EPA-454/R-98-017, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, December 1998.
- Guideline on Data Handling Conventions for the PM NAAQS (PDF) (55pp, 248k) EPA-454/R-99-008, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, April 1999.
*Note: These files were updated in October 2006 using the same raw data file as the prior posting (i..e, extracted from EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) on 7/11/2007). The files were updated for several reasons: 1) to incorporate two attainment substitution tests for the 24-hour standard. Note that this enhancement changed 92 sites from incomplete ('a') to complete ('A') for 2004-2006; however, no actual DV values were changed.; 2) to correct CBSA/CSA identifiers for sites in areas that had area classification/name changes per OMB 12/2006. (See http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf); 3) to treat all Birmingham sites separately for 2004-2006 (i.e., no spatial averaging after 2003-2005); and 4) to add a county summary (Table 5) to the current period workbook.