Air at Pima County DEQ

The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) monitors air quality to ensure that the county meets and maintains national air quality health standards. PDEQ also provides public outreach and education regarding environmental issues, including air quality. Real-time air quality data and the Air Quality Index (AQI) are available to provide sensitive populations with information to protect their health.

As part of its role in the community, PDEQ offers educational, regulatory and professional groups tours of its air quality monitoring facilities. Our highly trained staff can explain various aspects of air quality monitoring to these groups. Many schools, including the University of Arizona, utilize these tours in their curriculum. Please call, Beth Gorman, our Community Outreach Contact, at 243-7446 or email her at Beth.Gorman@deq.pima.gov if you would like more information on this service.

Our goal is to improve air quality by identifying air pollution problems, conducting inspections, reviewing permit applications to assure compliance with existing air pollution regulations and empowering individuals to take action for clean air.

Visit the links on the right to learn more.

Air Quality Programs

Air Information and Education

• Air Info Now - Real time air quality information, air quality activities, educational curriculum, and pollutant heath effects
• Airville - Learn All About How We HELP or HURT Our Air
• Clean Air Program - In depth information about Pima County's Clean Air Program
• Education and Outreach - FREE environmental education and outreach for youth, business, association, agency, and community groups of all ages and affiliations in Pima County
• Fugitive Dust Program - Airborne dust rules, regulations and information
• Kids For Clean Air - Activities for kids
• Ozone Outreach & Education - What PDEQ is doing to help reduce ground level ozone

Annual Air Quality and Clean Air Program Telephone Survey
This Campaign Effectiveness Travel Behavioral Study, conducted for the PIMA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, was designed to evaluate the specific effectiveness of the 2010-2011 Clean Air Campaign, as well as analyze the overall effectiveness of the air quality media campaign.

• Executive Summary (PDF - 137 KB)
• Full Report (PDF - 697 KB)

Major Community Events

• 2009 Clean Air Days - April 1- April 30, 2009
• Earth Day Festival 2009 - Inspiring Eco Messages - April 4, 2009

Pollution Reduction Programs

• 26 Ways to Reduce Air Pollution
• Air Pollution Quiz

Air Quality Inspections Program

Air Quality Permitting Program

Ambient Air Monitoring Program

• Monitoring our Air
• 2010 Annual Air Quality Data Summary (PDF - 1,575 KB)
• 2010 Annual Air Quality Data Summary Appendix (PDF - 270 KB)

Asbestos Program - This information will help you understand asbestos: what it is, its health effects, where it is in your home, and what to do about it.

 

Workshops and Seminars

Upcoming Workshops and Seminars

 

Previous Workshops and Seminars

• 2008 Environmental Summit & Agenda, PDEQ's presentations on Air Quality Permitting and Compliance & Enforcement (pdf). More information about EPA's clean air act stationary source policies and guidance. Includes guidance on timely and appropriate enforcement response to high priority violators (HPVs).
• Biofuels Seminar
• Symposium for Environmental & Economic Dynamics, February 24, 2005 - Arizona ELM and Maricopa County Air Quality Department present:  "An engaging conference on factoring economics into a variety of environmental issues for industry, government and academia."
• Moving Down the Road to Cleaner Air - A Workshop on Diesel Emissions Reduction Strategies, Tucson, June 29, 2005

Other Resources

Air Pollution & Your Health - Information on air pollution and your health.

Air Pollution & Your Health Brochure (PDF - 2,500Kb)

Pima Association of Governments (PAG) - PAG provides information on RideShare, transportation planning, as well as air and water quality issues within Pima County.

Sun Tran - Sun Tran provides bus service for Tucson and surrounding areas. Check their website or call 792-9222 for schedule, fare and route information.

State of the Air 2009 - The American Lung Association’s report on ozone and fine particulate matter levels in Pima County. Links to areas throughout the United States are also available. April 29 press release from Arizona Lung Association regarding local air quality .

Visit the links on the right to learn more.