North Carolina has marked ten years of meeting all federal health-based air quality standards, according to state officials. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated the state as in attainment with every National Ambient Air Quality Standard in August 2015. Since then, North Carolina has maintained compliance with these benchmarks.
Governor Josh Stein commented on the achievement, stating, “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. North Carolinians are able to breathe fresh air because of our state’s continued commitment to safeguarding our natural resources.”
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson added, “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. Our work is not done. We must continue to implement effective strategies that ensure our air remains clean and healthy for generations to come.”
Mike Abraczinskas, Director of DEQ’s Division of Air Quality, said, “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. The full scale of public health benefits resulting from this work is impossible to quantify.”
The EPA sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six criteria pollutants: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution, and sulfur dioxide. These standards are designed to protect public health—including sensitive groups such as children, older adults, and people with asthma.
In previous decades—particularly during the 1990s and early 2000s—North Carolina faced challenges meeting several of these standards due to issues like ozone and particle pollution. The state also experienced summer haze in the Blue Ridge Mountains and acid rain affecting forests.
Efforts that contributed to improved air quality included passing the 2002 Clean Smokestacks Act in North Carolina; implementing stricter federal fuel and engine standards; reducing reliance on coal for energy generation; and cutting emissions from homes, industry, and other sources through various programs.
Despite overall improvements in air quality across North Carolina over the past decade, there are still occasional days when pollution levels may affect public health. Residents can monitor daily forecasts for their area using the Air Quality Portal.
