1. Executive Summary

This report was prepared by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on behalf of the State Air Pollution Control Board (SAPCB) for the Governor and General Assembly pursuant to § 10.1-1307 H of the Code of Virginia. This report details the status of Virginia's air quality, provides an overview of the air division programs, and briefly summarizes federal and state air quality programs.

1.1. Air Quality in the Commonwealth

Air quality in Virginia continues to improve. Ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) in Virginia met United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2017. All areas except Northern Virginia met federal standards for ozone. All areas except Buchanan County, Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Giles County and the City of Covington met the federal standards for sulfur dioxides (SO2). EPA finalized the 2015 ozone NAAQS on October 26, 2015 (80 FR 65292) and set this new standard at 0.070 parts per million (ppm). On June 4, 2018 (83 FR 25838), EPA designated all areas of the Commonwealth except nine jurisdictions in Northern Virginia as attaining this standard. On June 22, 2010 (75 FR 35520), EPA finalized a new primary NAAQS for SO2. This regulation significantly strengthened the short-term requirements by lowering the standard to 75 ppb on a one-hour basis. On January 9, 2018 (83 FR 1098), EPA designated all jurisdictions in Virginia as attaining this standard with the exception of Buchanan County, Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Giles County and the City of Covington. Buchanan County was designated unclassifiable. Alleghany County, Botetourt County, Giles County and the City of Covington will be designated by December 31, 2020.

1.2. Air Quality Policies in the Commonwealth

The Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) update became effective in Virginia in 2017. This rule addresses interstate transport requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Issues impacting Virginia in the near future include new Regional Haze analyses, implementation of 2008 ozone NAAQS control technology requirements, and changes to monitoring network requirements.

1.3. Summary of Annual Air Division Activities

Monitoring Locations: 38
Monitoring Instruments: 114
Minor Source Permits Issued: 148
PSD Permits Issued: 2
General Permits Issued: 77
State Operating Permits Issued: 4
Federal Operating Permits Issued: 3
Compliance Evaluations (all): 4331
On Site Inspections: 764
Enforcement Actions: 226
Vehicles Inspected: 818,8151
Vehicles Failed: 20,690
Inspection Station Overt Audits: 464
Inspection Station Covert Audits: 149
Consent Orders Issued: 37
Civil Charges Collected: $871,360