Air quality oversight at Hanford

Federal and state agencies set air quality standards for outdoor air. The purpose of these standards is to prevent air pollution from reaching levels that harm human health. When an area does not meet an air quality standard, the state must develop a plan to clean up the air.

Ecology has the permitting authority for the site-wide Hanford AOP, which incorporates underlying regulations and permits from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and three Washington state agencies:

• Ecology administers the Hanford AOP as a whole, as well as regulating non-radioactive toxic and criteria air emissions.
• Washington State Department of Health regulates radioactive air emissions. 
• Benton Clean Air Agency regulates outdoor burning.

What does the AOP do to keep our air clean?

• The AOP provides all of the air pollution control requirements that apply to the source (e.g., Hanford).
• It requires the U.S. Dept. of Energy (Energy) to issue regular reports on emissions tracking and the controls used to limit emissions.
• Energy is required to review compliance status for all AOP conditions to certify that it meets the air requirements in the Hanford AOP.

Although we maintain the single umbrella air quality permit and regulate criteria and toxic air pollutants, we partner with the other agencies for enforcing air quality. The goal is to ensure that the state's residents, wildlife, and environment are not exposed to harmful emissions into the air.