From left are Placer County APCD Air Pollution Control Officer Erik White; Placer County Health & Human Services Director Dr. Rob Oldham; Sacramento Metro Chamber Representative Cameron Gallad; Yolo-Solano AQMD Air Pollution Control Officer Gretchen Bennitt; Sac Metro Air District Board Chair and Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino; U.S. EPA Pacific Southwest Region Administrator Josh F.W. Cook; Sac Metro Air District Air Pollution Control Officer Dr. Alberto Ayala; Sac Metro Air District Board Member, Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem, and CARB Member Eric Guerra; Yolo-Solano AQMD Board Chair and Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs; Congresswoman Doris Matsui; El Dorado County District Supervisor George Turnboo; and El Dorado County AQMD Air Pollution Control Officer Rania Serieh. Photo courtesy of Sac Metro Air District

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - At a joint press conference today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Pacific Southwest Region Administrator Josh F.W. Cook joined local Sacramento leaders to celebrate the region’s successful attainment of the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone by the 2024 deadline. The announcement reflects successful efforts to reduce air pollution and improve public health in California’s fastest-growing metropolitan area. It also underscores the region’s ability to achieve real results through shared vision and partnership.

“Congratulations to the Sacramento metropolitan area for successfully meeting the 2008 ozone standard by the 2024 deadline – this is an achievement that will bring numerous health benefits to communities across the region,” said EPA Regional Administrator Josh F.W. Cook. “I am so pleased to see multiple air districts coming together to accomplish this result. Achieving attainment not only brings cleaner air for residents, but spares businesses from additional regulatory burdens and secures continued eligibility for future federal funding for vital transportation and infrastructure projects.”

In addition to Administrator Cook, the event speakers included Congresswoman Doris Matsui, Sac Metro Air District Board Chair and Folsom Mayor Sarah Aquino; Sacramento Metro Chamber Representative Cameron Gallad; Placer County Health & Human Services Director Dr. Rob Oldham, and Sac Metro Air District Board Member, City of Sacramento Mayor Pro Tem, and California Air Resources Board Member Eric Guerra. The event was emceed by Sac Metro Air District Air Pollution Control Officer Dr. Alberto Ayala.

Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District Board Chair and Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs, along with Air Pollution Control Officer Gretchen Bennitt, represented the District at the event. Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District Board Member and Woodland City Councilmember Tom Stallard was also in attendance.

“By working together, we’ve made real progress in reducing air pollution and safeguarding public health for our communities, but our work doesn’t stop here,” said Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District Board Chair and Yolo County Supervisor Lucas Frerichs. “Our District, along with the other air districts in the Sacramento region, is focused on advancing creative solutions that meet stronger air quality requirements and protect the well-being of our communities long into the future.”

The EPA’s final determination confirms that, based on certified air quality data from 2022 to 2024, the region has reduced ground-level ozone, meeting the 2008 standard by the 2024 deadline. The benefits of attainment include cleaner air for residents, helping businesses avoid additional regulatory requirements, less damage to crops and other vegetation, and continued eligibility for federal transportation and infrastructure funding. The air districts of the Sacramento region will now begin the process of developing a maintenance plan and requesting formal redesignation from the EPA to remove the region’s severe nonattainment status.

About The Air Districts of the Sacramento Metropolitan Region

Sac Metro Air District

The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (Sac Metro Air District) is responsible for monitoring air quality, reducing air pollution, and enforcing air quality regulations in Sacramento County. The Air District also plays a leading role in promoting clean energy efforts through innovative programs, financial incentives, and other initiatives throughout Sacramento County and the larger region. The Air District’s mission is to achieve state and federal clean air and climate goals as we envision a clean air and sustainable future for all. For more information about the Air District, visit www.AirQuality.org.

Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District

The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District’s mission is to protect human health and property from the harmful effects of air pollution. As a public health agency, the District is responsible for safeguarding air quality and overseeing air pollution control in Yolo and northeastern Solano counties, including the cities of Dixon, Rio Vista, and Vacaville. For more information, visit www.ysaqmd.org.

Placer County Air Pollution Control District

The Placer County Air Pollution Control District’s mission is to manage Placer County’s air quality in a manner to protect and promote public health by controlling and seeking reductions of air pollutants while recognizing and considering the economic and environmental impacts. This is achieved through: enforcement of local, state, and federal air quality regulations, the implementation of incentive programs to reduce emissions, air quality monitoring, efforts to reduce wildfire impacts, and land use/development reviews. For more information, visit www.PlacerAir.org.

Feather River Air Quality Management District

The Feather River Air Quality Management District is a bi-county District that was formed in 1991 to administer local, state, and federal air quality management programs for Yuba and Sutter counties. The mission of the Feather River Air Quality Management District is to promote and improve the air quality of Sutter and Yuba counties. This is accomplished through monitoring, evaluation, education, by implementing control measures to reduce emissions from stationary sources, permitting and inspection of pollution sources, enforcement of air quality regulations, and by supporting and implementing measures to reduce emissions from motor vehicles.

For more information, visit www.fraqmd.org.

El Dorado County Air Quality Management District

The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District is committed to improving air quality and the quality of life for El Dorado County residents by ensuring regulated sources control emissions in compliance with air quality regulations and by offering several emission-reduction grant and incentive programs. The District works to protect and promote public health by managing the implementation of air pollution control measures while also considering the economic impacts. For more information, please visit  https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/Land-Use/Air-Quality-Management-District.