ADEQ OHV Dust Fact Sheet

The Clean Air Act (CAA) was established in 1990 to address the nation’s problems with air pollutants.  Through the CAA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set primary and secondary standards for the amounts of any pollutant that can be in the air anywhere in the United States.  Currently, there are six criteria pollutants included in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NOx), particulate matter (PM-10 and PM-2.5), ozone, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and lead (PB).

On December 31, 2006, a large portion of Maricopa County and the Apache Junction portion of Area A (Area A means: The greater Phoenix metropolitan area, a portion of Apache Junction and a portion of Yavapai County) failed to reach attainment of the federal PM-10 health standards.  Some of the state measures to combat PM-10 include a Dust-Free Certification program; paving or stabilizing dirt roads, alleys and shoulders; and banning or discouraging use of OHV’s and leaf blowers on High Pollution Advisory Days (HPA).

Additionally, on April 15, 2004 the EPA designated Area A as nonattainment for the NAAQS for ozone; the Maricopa County nonattainment area is classified as basic and is required to reach attainment of the standard at all ozone monitors by June15, 2009. 

Safety of residents and the general threat to human health posed by the non-attainment of the EPA standards is the driving force behind new regulations being instituted within Area A.

The Arizona State Senate passed SB1552 in 2007 to help reduce PM-10 emissions and reduce the "brown cloud" over the Valley of the Sun. SB 1552 requires all municipalities and counties within Area A to pass very specific ordinances dealing with dust abatement. Several of these municipal ordinances include monitoring and/or ending the use of OHVs and leaf blowers within several communities in Area A.

More information will be released in the coming weeks, so check back to this page often.  And remember: Nature Rules! Stay on roads and trails.

Resources and more information: