Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Air Quality Analysis

Additional Areas Subject to Mitigation Plan Requirements Under the Exceptional Events Rule

In April 2022, EPA notified air agencies in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming that under the 2016 Exceptional Events Rule they will need to develop plans – known as mitigation plans - for certain areas within their states. These areas are experiencing recurring events that impact air quality and public health. EPA is also issuing a Notice of Availability (NOA) making the public aware of this notification. The states will have two years to complete and submit these plans to EPA.

EPA ensures these plans are complete and that the submitting air agency followed the public comment process. If EPA deems the mitigation plans to be complete, air agencies, can submit and EPA can approve future demonstrations for the area for the same event type and National Ambient Air Quality Standard combination.

Read the letters, a Background Document, and a Notice of Availability below.

  • Letter to Edie Chang, California Air Resources Board (pdf) (252 KB, April 27, 2022)
  • Letter to Greg Lovato, Department of Environmental Protection, Nevada (pdf) (165.32 KB, April 27, 2022)
  • Letter to Angel Martinez, City of Albuquerque, New Mexico (pdf) (421.58 KB, April 27, 2022)
  • Letter to Nancy E. Vehr, Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming (pdf) (150.28 KB, April 27, 2022)
  • Background Document (pdf) (219.94 KB, April 2022, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0313)
  • Notice of Availability (pdf) (256.28 KB, April 27, 2022)
  • Informational Webinar on Identifying Additional Areas Subject to Mitigation Plan Requirements Under the 2016 Exceptional Events Rule
    • PRESENTATION SLIDES - Identifying Additional Areas Subject to Mitigation Plans Under the 2016 Exceptional Events Rule (pdf) (148.05 KB)

Example Mitigation Plans

  • PM10/PM2.5 High Winds Plan for Southern Doña Ana and Luna Counties submitted on March 21, 2021 (pdf) (3.31 MB)

Air Quality Analysis

  • NAAQS Review Analysis
    • Carbon Monoxide Analyses
    • Lead Analyses
    • Nitrogen Dioxide Analyses
    • Ozone Analyses
    • Particulate Matter Analyses
    • Sulfur Dioxide Analyses
  • Exceptional Events Analysis
    • Federal Register Notices
    • Example Demonstrations and Responses
    • Final 2016 Exceptional Events Rule
Contact Us About Air Quality Analysis
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on April 21, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.