Regional Haze Planning
Bandelier National Monument, one of many federal lands
where the Regional Haze Rule protects visibility.
Photo by National Park Service, from https://www.nps.gov/band/learn/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm.
Recent updates
September 3, 2024. The AQCB votes 4-0 to adopt the draft regional haze SIP element for the second planning period. A modification of GCC's construction permit (2197-M2) is the next step in order to make the reasonable progress goals and conditions in the SIP element federally enforceable. After that process is complete, pursuant to permit reopening & modification procedures in NMAC 20.11.41, final documentation will be gathered for NMED to submit the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County element on behalf of EHD to EPA.
August 22, 2024. A hearing on the draft regional haze SIP element before the AQCB has been set for September 3, 2024 at 9am mountain time, virtually over Zoom. There will be an opportunity for the public to comment at the hearing. Information about the hearing is accessible at this link:
https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/air-quality-control-board/events/regional-haze-sip-element-hearing-sept-3-2024
July 30, 2024. EHD will hold a virtual only public input meeting regarding the draft regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) element for Albuquerque-Bernalillo County on August 6, 2024 from 4:30 p.m. and ending at 6:30 p.m., accessible at this link; https://cabq.zoom.us/j/87170814355
July 30, 2024. EHD has posted the final updated draft. Today marks the start of the formal 30 day public comment period for this draft SIP element. To submit a public comment to be included on the record, please e-mail your comment to [email protected]. To access the draft SIP element and associated exhibits, please visit the dropbox accessible here (under SIP Planning Efforts): https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/air-quality-control-board
July 19, 2024. EHD will hold an in-person public input meeting regarding the draft regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) element for Albuquerque-Bernalillo County on July 30, 2024 beginning at 4:30 p.m. and ending at 6:30 p.m. at the International District Library, 7601 Central Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Signs will be posted at the entrance indicating which room the public input meeting will take place in. For more information on this informational meeting, please visit: https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/regulation-development/public-notices-and-comment-opportunities
July 10, 2024. EHD petitions the Air Quality Control Board (AQCB) for a hearing on the Bernalillo County SIP Element (NMED will petition the EIB for a separate hearing on their portion). The request for hearing is accepted, and set for September 3-4, 2024 via a virtual format due to facility issues. More details on the hearing will be provided closer to the date. For access to the draft SIP and supporting exhibits, as well as the petition, please visit: https://www.cabq.gov/airquality/air-quality-control-board
June 25, 2024. EHD, in collaboration with the City of Albuquerque Intergovernmental Tribal Liaison, reaches out to tribal leaders from each tribe in New Mexico, as well as the All Pueblo Council of Governors, informing them of the availability of a draft and an opportunity to provide any input.
June 3, 2024. The formal FLM review concludes, and EHD receives feedback from the FLM's as well as EPA Region 6. EHD had multiple meetings with the FLMs during the formal 60 day review period.
April 4, 2024. EHD's Air Quality Program completes a first draft after some updated analysis from ERG factoring in the latest cost estimates, and begins the formal 60 day Federal Land Manager (FLM) review as required by the Regional Haze Rule. FLMs for New Mexico Class 1 Areas include the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest Service, and the US National Park Service.
Regional Haze overview
The federal Clean Air Act requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce human-caused visibility impairment at certain federal public lands around the country. To fulfill this mandate, EPA adopted a regulation known as the Regional Haze Rule. It aims to reduce visibility-obscuring pollutants caused by human sources over a widely scattered area. The Rule says that states must submit plans to EPA about once every ten years, demonstrating how a state will make what the rule calls "reasonable progress" over time toward visibility improvement. Reasonable progress means gradual reductions in human emissions of substances known to cause visibility issues at the national parks and wilderness areas protected by the Rule.
The City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department (EHD), Air Quality Program, is cooperating with the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to develop a statewide Regional Haze plan. EHD is developing the portion of the statewide plan that will cover Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. NMED will develop the parts covering the rest of the state. EHD must submit its proposed local element of the plan for consideration by the Albuquerque - Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board.
On the road to that milestone, EHD and NMED are seeking public input. For details of the statewide Regional Haze planning process, go to NMED's Regional Haze web page. It describes how the Regional Haze Rule works, provides links to extensive background information, and enables sign-up for email updates on New Mexico's statewide Regional Haze effort.
Regional Haze resources
New Mexico Environment Department Regional Haze planning page. Provides background and updates on Regional Haze activities in New Mexico outside of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County.
EPA Visibility and Regional Haze Page. Background on the technical and regulatory dimensions of visibility protection at the federal level.
Western Regional Air Partnership Regional Haze Planning Workgroup web page. Information about Regional Haze planning by 15 western states in partnership with EPA, federal land management agencies, tribal governments, and local air quality agencies.
Regional Haze Technical Support System data site. A web site presenting data related to Regional Haze planning, on monitored pollutant concentrations, emissions, and modeling results. Produced by the Western Regional Air Partnership. Will be continuously updated.
EPA docket for first Albuquerque - Bernalillo County Regional Haze plan. Information at this link documents the regulatory process leading to EPA's approval of the plan for the period 2008 to 2018.
EPA docket for first Albuqurque - Bernalillo County Regional Haze progress report. Information at this link documents EPA approval of the progress report for implementation of the first Regional Haze plan.
Contact information
For inquiries about the role of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County in New Mexico's Regional Haze process, please contact Allen Smith, Air Quality Regulation Development Coordinator for the City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, at [email protected] or (505) 768-2637.