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Air Quality Design Values

On this page:
  • What is a Design Value?
  • 2021 Design Value Reports
  • 2021 Design Value Interactive Tool
  • 2020 Design Value Map Services
  • 2020 Design Value Interactive Map
  • Previous Design Value Reports

What is a Design Value?

A design value is a statistic that describes the air quality status of a given location relative to the level of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

  • Design values are defined to be consistent with the individual NAAQS as described in 40 CFR Part 50.
  • Design values are typically used to designate and classify nonattainment areas, as well as to assess progress towards meeting the NAAQS. To view a list of areas designated nonattainment, see EPA's Green Book site.
  • 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. Some of these design values can change after the date of publication for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:
    • EPA agreement that certain data were influenced by exceptional events and therefore not subject for comparison with the NAAQS,
    • states retroactively entering or changing erroneous data based on later findings, and/or
    • notification of a monitoring issue (e.g. network design, site combination, change in the regulatory status of a monitor) that would prompt a revision.
  • The information listed in these reports and in these tables is intended for informational use only and does not constitute a regulatory determination by EPA as whether an area has attained a NAAQS.
    • The information set forth in this report has no regulatory effect.
    • To have regulatory effect, a final EPA determination as to whether an area has attained a NAAQS or attained a NAAQS as of its applicable attainment date can be accomplished only after rulemaking that provides an opportunity for notice and comment.
    • No such determination for regulatory purposes exists in the absence of such rulemaking.
    • This report does not constitute a proposed or final rulemaking.

2021 Design Value Reports

Each spreadsheet in the table below contains six tabs that provide design values for the most recent period, unless otherwise noted:

  1. Areas Previously Designated Nonattainment
  2. Violating Monitors in Areas Not Previously Designated Nonattainment
  3. Trends for Previously Designated Nonattainment Areas (last 10 design value periods)
  4. County-Level 
  5. Monitor-Level
  6. Monitor-Level Trends (last 10 design value periods)
2021 Design Value Reports Contacts
Carbon Monoxide Design Values, 2021 (xlsx) (5/25/2022) David Mintz
Mintz.David@epa.gov
(919) 541-5224
Lead Design Values, 2021 (xlsx) (5/25/2022) Halil Cakir
Cakir.Halil@epa.gov
(919) 541-2416
Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values, 2021 (xlsx) (5/25/2022) Ben Wells
Wells.Benjamin@epa.gov
919) 541-7507
Ozone Design Values, 2021 (xlsx) (5/25/2022) Ben Wells
Wells.Benjamin@epa.gov
919) 541-7507
PM10 Design Values, 2021 (xlsx) (5/25/2022) Brett Gantt
Gantt.Brett@epa.gov
(919) 541-5274
PM2.5 Design Values, 2021 (xlsx) (5/25/2022) Brett Gantt
Gantt.Brett@epa.gov
(919) 541-5274
Sulfur Dioxide Design Values, 2021 (xlsx) (5/25/2022) David Mintz
Mintz.David@epa.gov
(919) 541-5224

2021 Design Value Interactive Tool (available by June 3, 2022)

This interactive Design Value Tool allows you to filter on geographic areas and pollutants - and download data as well.


2020 Design Value Map Services (2021 version available by June 3, 2022)

Map services for the 2020 Design Values are available in ArcGIS desktop, Google Earth, ArcGIS JavaScript, ArcGIS Explorer and ArcGIS.com.


2020 Design Value Interactive Map (2021 version available by June 3, 2022)

Interactive map of the 2020 Design Values 


Previous Design Value Reports

Design Value period ending: Design Value Reports
2020
  • Carbon Monoxide Design Values, 2020 (xlsx)
  • Lead Design Values, 2020 (xlsx)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values, 2020 (xlsx)
  • Ozone Design Values, 2020 (xlsx)
  • PM10 Design Values, 2020 (xlsx)
  • PM2.5 Design Values, 2020 (xlsx)
  • Sulfur Dioxide Design Values, 2020 (xlsx)
2019
  • Carbon Monoxide Design Values, 2019 (xlsx)
  • Lead Design Values, 2019 (xlsx)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values, 2019 (xlsx)
  • Ozone Design Values, 2019 (xlsx)
  • PM10 Design Values, 2019 (xlsx)
  • PM2.5 Design Values, 2019 (xlsx)
  • Sulfur Dioxide Design Values, 2019 (xlsx)
2018
  • Carbon Monoxide Design Values, 2018 (xlsx)
  • Lead Design Values, 2018 (xlsx)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values, 2018 (xlsx)
  • Ozone Design Values, 2018 (xlsx)
  • PM10 Design Values, 2018 (xlsx)
  • PM2.5 Design Values, 2018 (xlsx)
  • Sulfur Dioxide Design Values, 2018 (xlsx)
2017
  • Carbon Monoxide Design Values, 2017 (xlsx) (7/24/2018)
  • Lead Design Values, 2017 (xlsx) (7/24/2018)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values, 2017 (xlsx) (7/24/2018)
  • Ozone Design Values, 2017 (xlsx) (7/24/2018)
  • PM10 Design Values, 2017 (xlsx) (7/24/2018)
  • PM2.5 Design Values, 2017 (xlsx) (7/24/2018)
  • Sulfur Dioxide Design Values, 2017 (xlsx) (7/24/2018)
2016
  • Carbon Monoxide Design Values, 2016 (xlsx) (7/26/2017)
  • Lead Design Values, 2016 (xlsx) (7/26/2017)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values, 2016 (xlsx) (7/26/2017)
  • Ozone Design Values, 2016 (xlsx) (10/2/2017)
  • PM10 Design Values, 2016 (xlsx) (7/26/2017)
  • PM2.5 Design Values, 2016 (xlsx) (7/26/2017)
  • Sulfur Dioxide Design Values, 2016 (xlsx) (1/11/2018)
2015
  • Carbon Monoxide Design Values, 2015 (xlsx) (July 29, 2016)
  • Lead Design Values, 2015 (xlsx) (August 29, 2016)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values, 2015 (xlsx) (July 29, 2016)
  • Ozone Design Values, 2015 (xlsx) (July 29, 2016)
  • PM10 Design Values, 2015 (xlsx) (July 29, 2016)
  • PM2.5 Design Values, 2015 (xlsx) (July 29, 2016)
  • Sulfur Dioxide Design Values, 2015 (xlsx) (July 29, 2016)
2014
  • CO Design Values 2014 (xlsx)
  • Lead Design Values 2012-2014 (xlsx)
  • NO2 Design Values 2012-2014 (xlsx)
  • Ozone Design Values 2012-2014 (xlsx)
  • PM10 Design Values 2012-2014 (xlsx)
  • PM2.5 Design Values 2012-2014 (xlsx)
  • SO2 Design Values 2012-2014 (xlsx)
2013
  • CO Design Values 2013 (xlsx)
  • Lead Design Values 2011-2013 (xlsx)
  • NO2 Design Values 2011-2013 (xlsx)
  • Ozone Design Values 2011-2013 (xlsx)
  • PM10 Design Values 2011-2013 (xlsx)
  • PM2.5 Design Values 2011-2013 (xlsx)
  • SO2 Design Values 2011-2013 (xlsx)
2012
  • CO Design Values 2012 (xlsx)
  • Lead Design Values 2010-2012 (xlsx)
  • NO2 Design Values 2010-2012 (xlsx)
  • Ozone Design Values 2010-2012 (xlsx)
  • PM10 Design Values 2010-2012 (xlsx)
  • PM2.5 Design Values 2010-2012 (xlsx)
  • SO2 Design Values 2010-2012 (xlsx)
2011
  • CO Design Values 2011 (xlsx)
  • Lead Design Values 2009-2011 (xlsx)
  • NO2 Design Values 2009-2011 (xlsx)
  • Ozone Design Values 2009-2011 (xlsx)
  • PM10 Design Values 2009-2011 (xlsx)
  • PM2.5 Design Values 2009-2011 (xlsx)
  • SO2 Design Values 2009-2011 (xlsx)
2010
  • CO Design Values 2010 (xlsx)
  • Lead Design Values 2008-2010 (xlsx)
  • NO2 Design Values 2008-2010 (xlsx)
  • Ozone Design Values 2008-2010 (xlsx)
  • PM10 Design Values 2008-2010 (xlsx)
  • PM2.5 Design Values 2008-2010 (xlsx)
  • SO2 Design Values 2008-2010 (xlsx)
2009
  • CO Design Values 2009 (xls)
  • Lead Design Values 2007-2009 (xls)
  • NO2 Design Values 2007-2009 (xls)
  • Ozone Design Values 2007-2009 (xls)
  • PM10 Design Values 2007-2009 (xls)
  • PM2.5 Design Values 2007-2009 (xls)
  • SO2 Design Values 2007-2009 (xls)
2008
  • CO Design Values 2008 (xls)
  • Lead Design Values 2006-2008 (xls)
  • NO2 Design Values 2006-2008 (xls)
  • Ozone Design Values 2006-2008 (xls)
  • PM10 Design Values 2006-2008 (xls)
  • PM2.5 Design Values 2006-2008 (xls)
  • SO2 Design Values 2006-2008 (xls)
2007
  • CO Design Values 2007 (xls)
  • Lead Design Values 2005-2007 (xls)
  • NO2 Design Values 2005-2007 (xls)
  • Ozone Design Values 2005-2007 (xls)
  • PM10 Design Values 2005-2007 (xls)
  • PM2.5 Design Values 2005-2007 (xls)
  • SO2 Design Values 2005-2007 (xls)
2006
  • CO Design Values 2006 (xls)
  • Ozone Design Values 2004-2006 (xls)
  • PM10 Design Values 2004-2006 (xls)
2005
  • Ozone Design Values 2003-2005 (xls)
  • PM10 Design Values 2003-2005 (xls)
  • Air Trends Home
  • Air Quality - National Summary
  • Air Quality - Cities and Counties
  • Air Quality Design Values
  • Previous Air Quality Trends Reports
  • Carbon Monoxide Trends
  • Lead Trends
  • Nitrogen Dioxide Trends
  • Ozone Trends
  • Particulate Matter (PM10) Trends
  • Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Trends
  • Sulfur Dioxide Trends
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Last updated on May 25, 2022