This report was prepared by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) 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 through 2022 showed improvement. Ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone in Virginia met United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in 2022. Ambient concentrations of sulfur dioxide (SO2) near an emissions source located in Kimballton, Virginia (Giles County) showed violations of the 2010 SO2 NAAQS. DEQ is working with this facility to further reduce their SO2 emissions and develop an attainment plan. Virginia’s air quality during the summer of 2023 was significantly impacted by forest fires outside of Virginia and as far away as Canada.

1.2. Air Quality Policies in the Commonwealth

Virginia continues to work on Regional Haze analysis requirements stemming from the 2019 federal guidance, 2015 ozone NAAQS Good Neighbor provisions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) as published by EPA on June 5, 2023 (88 FR 36654), and regulatory changes stemming from the South Coast Air Quality Management District v. EPA decision.(*1) EPA is reconsidering the 2006 and 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, with changes expected to be finalized by the end of 2023. EPA is also reconsidering the 2015 ozone NAAQS, with expected changes to be proposed by the end of 2023. Air quality impacts from out of state forest fires during the summer of 2023 may necessitate the creation of an exceptional events submission in accordance with 40 CFR 50.14, “Treatment of air quality monitoring data influenced by exceptional events."

1.3. Summary of Annual Air Division Activities

Table 1-1 provides a summary of air division activities related to permitting, compliance and enforcement under the Clean Air Act.

Table 1-1: Summary of Activity and Milestones Activity Milestone

Monitoring Locations: 34
Monitoring Instruments: 111
Minor Source Permits Issued: 316
State Major Source Permits Issued: 0
PSD Permits Issued: 1
General Permits Issued: 2
State Operating Permits Issued: 19
Federal Operating Permits Issued: 5(*2)
Compliance Evaluations (all): 3,633
On Site Inspections: 519
Enforcement Actions: 346
Vehicle Emission Inspections Performed: 820,207(*3)
Vehicle Emission Inspection Failures: 14,821
Vehicle Emission Inspection Station Overt Audits: 455
Vehicle Emission Inspection Station Covert Audits: 3
Consent Orders Issued: 54
Consent Order Civil Charges Collected ($): 1,322,439.09
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(*1) https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/opinions.nsf/217B6778AE3EC89C8525823600532AE0/$file/15-1115-1718293.pdf
(*2) DEQ also issued 40 federal operating permit renewals during state fiscal year 2023.
(*3) Total includes tests performed at emissions inspection stations and on-road emissions (clean screen) tests.