MAG News

Air Quality in the Region

Our region's air quality is a hot topic. On January 1, 2025, the Maricopa region registered some of the highest levels of PM-2.5, also known as fine particulate matter pollution, in the world.

These particulates result from complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries, automobiles, and in the case of our region’s spike this past New Year’s Day, wood burning and consumer fireworks.

PM-2.5 particles are so small that they can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing serious health issues.

For most of the year, PM-2.5 levels in our region register in the “good” and “moderate” range thanks to a wide range of already in-place control measures from MAG air quality plans that have reduced dust and combustion emissions for decades. You can learn more about PM-2.5 here and view a real-time interactive map of air quality and the monitoring stations below.

While we celebrate these successes, we recognize that air quality remains a critical challenge. Ozone pollution continues to be a concern.

Ozone is formed when our region’s abundant sunlight spurs chemical reactions between natural and man-made emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Over the years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised the national standards for allowable ozone, each time increasing the stringency of those standards. Despite an impressive record of reducing local manmade emissions by more than 70 percent statewide over the last three decades, we have not been able to attain the latest EPA ozone standard. In fact, ozone concentrations have recently been on the rise despite continued reductions in local emissions.

To address this new ozone challenge, and avoid unnecessary sanctions and burdensome requirements on business and industry, MAG is engaging with the EPA and developing a plan to meet the strict ozone standard. In fact, I was pleased to represent MAG in a recent meeting with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Senator Mark Kelly on our ozone challenge. At that meeting, we outlined our current efforts, including:

• Sponsoring New Scientific Research to Understand How Ozone Pollution is Formed in Our Region: MAG has partnered with ASU and local air quality agencies on a Ground Level Ozone Research (GLOR) study to produce policy-relevant science to better understand the ozone problem in the MAG region. Data from this study, which is beginning in the summer of 2025, will guide policymakers on the best actions to take to reduce ozone locally.
• Submitting a Moderate Area Ozone Plan to EPA that Accounts for Ozone Pollution that is Out of Our Control: Over 80 percent of the ozone in our region comes from either natural sources or is transported into our region from areas outside of Arizona. The recent increase in wildfires has also contributed to higher ozone levels. MAG’s ozone plan under development directs EPA to not hold these uncontrollable factors against us and will allow for the region to avoid counter-productive sanctions and restrictions on business and industry.
• Continuing to Pursue Cleaner Transportation Solutions: Our multimodal transportation plan, funded in part by Proposition 479, prioritizes strategies to reduce congestion through freeway modernization projects, as well as investing in public transit, biking, and walking infrastructure, that help reduce emissions.

We all have a role to play in ensuring a healthy future for our region. By making choices like using alternative transportation, maintaining our vehicles, and reducing dust emissions, we can collectively make a meaningful impact. MAG is dedicated to working together with our local, state, and federal partners—including the EPA—to protect public health, support economic vitality, and create a sustainable future for our residents today and for generations to come.

Together, we are making progress, and together, we will continue to breathe easier.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hartke, Chair
Mayor, City of Chandler