Washington's air quality implementation plan

State Implementation Plan

Washington's implementation plan gives communities the tools to restore air quality to meet national air quality standards. A plan is put in place when an area fails to meet national air quality standards, such as for sulfur dioxide. A plan may be developed to attain or maintain air quality standards. Rules and programs — like regional haze — are spelled out in a plan to meet air quality goals. Plans are continually updated with information from local clean air agencies and the public.

We send final plans to EPA for approval. Washington's State Implementation Plan (SIP) contains subsections addressing these topics:

Attainment plans

Attainment plans are developed and implemented when an area does not meet air quality standards. The plan is designed to bring an area into compliance for specific pollution.

Maintenance plans

Maintenance plans are developed and implemented to keep an area in compliance once it meets attainment goals.

Infrastructure, rule, and program plans

• Infrastructure – Plan to implement new or revised national air quality standards.
• Rule – Rules are adopted into the plan to make sure we meet or exceed national air quality standards.
• State air quality programs – These programs are required by the federal Clean Air Act. Some examples are:
  • Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Plan (sunset Jan. 1, 2020)
  • Regional Haze Plan (visibility protection)
  • Smoke Management Program

Transportation conformity plans

We develop transportation conformity plans to make sure transportation activities meet national air quality standards. Transportation is a significant source of air pollution.

The State Implementation Plan process