Air Quality > Air Quality Standards & Plans > Area Designations > Nonattainment Areas > Tacoma-Pierce County Nonattainment Area

Tacoma-Pierce County Nonattainment Area

Where is the nonattainment area?

The map to the right outlines the boundary for the Tacoma-Pierce County Nonattainment Area (a.k.a. Wapato Hills-Puyallup River Valley PM_2.5 Nonattainment Area). Click on the map to enlarge.

What caused Tacoma-Pierce County to be designated a nonattainment area?

Most of Pierce County was designated a nonattainment area for fine particle pollution (PM_2.5) in 2009 because fine particle pollution levels too frequently exceeded the national limit. Exceeding this limit can result in public health risks.

The nonattainment designation is a result of two factors:

• a stronger air pollution limit set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2006; and 2) spikes in fine particle pollution levels during the winter that violate the limit. Under the stronger standards, Pierce County’s air quality is considered unhealthy.
• The fine particle pollution in the Tacoma-Pierce County nonattainment area comes mainly from smoke due to burning in fireplaces and wood stoves, and exhaust from motor vehicles (trucks, buses, ships, etc.). Industries also contribute a small portion of fine particle pollution.

Fine particle pollution is worse during the winter months when more households are burning wood for heat. In addition, stagnant weather conditions trap the smoke from these fires close to the ground and cause air pollution to build up rapidly.

What is fine particle pollution?

Dust, soot, and smoke are all “particulate matter.” Particulate matter is one of the six criteria air pollutants monitored and regulated under the Clean Air Act. Fine particles are microscopic, a fraction of the diameter of a single human hair.

What are the effects of fine particle pollution?

Fine particles are easily inhaled into our lungs. Their tiny size allows them to travel deep into the lungs and circulatory system. As a result, fine particles have long term effects as well as short term effects. Exposure to fine particle pollution is linked with respiratory disease, decreased heart and lung function, asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes, and premature death. Each year millions of dollars are spent treating illnesses and health conditions that stem from fine particle pollution – and are entirely preventable.

What now?

• Developing a State Implementation Plan
  The Clean Air Act requires that Ecology submit a state implementation plan (SIP) to EPA by December 14, 2012 for the Tacoma-Pierce County area. This SIP will describe Washington’s strategies for bringing the area back into attainment. The attainment date is normally 5 years after designation, which would be December 14, 2014.
  
  
• Tacoma-Pierce County Clean Air Task Force
  Ecology is working with a wide variety of stakeholders to create solutions to be for the SIP. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is convening the Tacoma-Pierce County Clean Air Task Force to help solve the problem. Starting May 23 through November 2011, the task force, made up of residents and other stakeholders, will evaluate possible solutions to improve air quality and make Pierce County a healthier place to live. Ecology will evaluate the recommendations from the task force to possibly include in the SIP.

Documents discussing PM_2.5 nonattainment recommendations:

• Ecology's 12/18/07 letter to EPA recommending designations
• Ecology's 10/25/07 Design values and recommendations
• Ecology's 3/13/08 letter to EPA on the proposed Nonattainment Area
• Ecology's 2/22/08 Proposed Wapato Hills-Puyallup River Valley PM_2.5 Nonattainment Area
• Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's 10/26/07 analysis of the proposed Nonattainment Area

Maps:

• Major Features of the PM_2.5 Nonattainment Area
• Detailed PM_2.5 Nonattainment Area Map

Public process documents:

• Ecology's 2/08 Concise Explanatory Statement and Responsiveness Summary
• Letters and Other Written Materials
• E-Mailed Comments
• Public Hearing Materials

Additional Resources:

• EPA’s PM_2.5Designations Web Site
• Focus on Wood Smoke and Your Health

Contact Us