The AQAG leads or performs the following functions:
- Tracks and analyzes air quality data for policy and program development, program evaluation and
accountability, and informing the public about the status of the nation’s air quality, including the
analysis of temporal and spatial air quality trends, and the distribution of program-critical information
on progress in air quality;
- Develops and applies air quality assessment methods and indicators within an accountability framework
to assess the progress of air quality management programs (those of the EPA, regional, State and others)
in order to ascertain the achievement of their environmental goals as well as to determine the need and
opportunity for mid-course corrections to these programs;
- Provides air quality analysis and expertise to inform decisions on highly sensitive policy issues
(e.g., analysis of speciated fine particle data to characterize the regional and local sources contributing
to fine particles, statistically adjusting air quality data to account for the influences of changing meteorological conditions);
- Analyzes complex air quality databases to identify patterns, understand cause-and-effect relationships,
and otherwise characterizes air quality to support the development and analytical bases of air pollution control programs and policies;
- Assesses and interprets the status and trends in the nation’s air quality and publicizes these results
through the EPA web site and periodic trends publications;
- Develops, maintains and reports findings from regulatory, ambient air quality databases (i.e., criteria
pollutant design values) for attainment/nonattainment decision-making and program evaluation; and
- Coordinates the analysis and development of air quality information with other OAQPS groups, OAR offices,
EPA Regional Offices, Office of Environmental Information, State and local air pollution control agencies,
Tribal agencies, and private sector and academic experts to advance and direct the effective use of EPA’s
base of relevant scientific information.
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