North Carolina has marked ten years of meeting all federal health-based air quality standards, a milestone that officials say benefits both public health and the economy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized North Carolina as being in attainment with every National Ambient Air Quality Standard in August 2015, following efforts by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and other stakeholders to reduce emissions across the state.
“Achieving ten years of meeting our clean air standards is a testament to what we can accomplish with sound policymaking and strong public and private partnerships,” said Governor Josh Stein. “North Carolinians are able to breathe fresh air because of our state’s continued commitment to safeguarding our natural resources.”
“Meeting the Clean Air Act’s public health standards means North Carolinians can live, work and play knowing the air they breathe meets the highest benchmark,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “Our work is not done. We must continue to implement effective strategies that ensure our air remains clean and healthy for generations to come.”
“A decade of clean air was decades in the making. It took hard work and planning to achieve this milestone, and our Division staff played a monumental role in getting us here today,” said Mike Abraczinskas, Director of DEQ’s Division of Air Quality. “The full scale of public health benefits resulting from this work is impossible to quantify.”
The EPA sets limits on six major pollutants—carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution, and sulfur dioxide—to protect public health under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. These regulations aim especially to safeguard sensitive groups such as children, older adults, and individuals with asthma.
In previous decades, North Carolina struggled with failing several air quality standards—especially those related to ozone and particle pollution—which also contributed to environmental problems like summer haze in the Blue Ridge Mountains and acid rain affecting forests.
Improvements over time resulted from measures including North Carolina’s 2002 Clean Smokestacks Act, stricter federal vehicle emissions rules, shifts away from coal-powered energy generation, and reductions in emissions from homes and industries through various regulatory and voluntary initiatives.
Despite these advances, there are still occasional days when air pollution may pose risks to some residents. The state’s Air Quality Portal provides daily forecasts by county so people can plan outdoor activities accordingly.
