History of Air Quality Problems in the DC Area

Air quality in the DC Region is regulated by the national Clean Air Act. The act was passed in 1970 to protect public health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal organization responsible for regulating air quality in our region (Region III). EPA Region III and its partner state pollution control agencies are responsible for regulating more than 21,000 air pollution sources in our region. Many other sources cannot be regulated.

The DC Area violating the Clean Air Act
Under the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act, the Washington area was given a deadline of 1999 to meet air quality (ozone) standards, and was directed to submit a plan to EPA by 1994 showing how this would be achieved. However, the region did not submit a plan until 1998, and that plan lacked critical requirements such as contingency measures that would kick in if the region failed to meet the deadline.

The region missed the 1999 deadline, and EPA gave a six-year extension without downgrading the region to "severe" air quality status as required. Sierra Club sued the EPA, and in 2002 a federal court ruled that the EPA's failure to downgrade the region's air quality rating was illegal, and that other aspects of the clean air plan were inadequate. In early 2003, EPA reclassified the Washington area as"severe" and required the states to submit a new plan.

Dangerous Air Quality Continues
In order to advise the public of daily air quality, a code system was created ranging from green (to indicate healthy conditions) to red (unhealthy) and purple (severely unhealthy). Throughout the years of delay and legal fights surrounding air quality in the region, we have continued to have Code Red and Code Purple days, as well as asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments.

Back to main Air Quality page