Planning and Modeling
The Planning and Modeling team supports Nevada’s air quality programs. This work helps protect public health, meet federal air rules, and guide future permitting.
What this team does:
- Develops and updates air quality regulations
- Reviews and tracks federal rulemaking
- Prepares state plans for meeting federal air standards
- Uses air quality models to support planning and permitting
- Provides administrative support for air quality programs
Regulations and SIP Development
The Clean Air Act requires each state to show how it will meet national air quality standards. These standards, called the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), set limits for key pollutants in outdoor air.
Nevada develops State Implementation Plan (SIP) measures to explain how these standards will be met, maintained, and enforced. SIP work is coordinated with state agencies, local partners, industry, and the public.
The State Environmental Commission (SEC) reviews and approves proposed regulation changes.
Regional Haze
The Regional Haze Program aims to improve visibility in national parks, forests, and wilderness areas that have been impacted by human‑caused pollution.
A Class I area is a federally designated protected area under the U.S. Clean Air Act that receives the highest level of air quality and visibility protection. Nevada has one designated Class I area: the Jarbidge Wilderness Area in northeastern Nevada.
This program uses long‑term strategies to reduce pollutants that affect visibility.
- Visit Regional Haze Program | US EPA (external link)
Increment Tracking
Large facilities, such as mines and power plants, may need a permit under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. One requirement of PSD is to track how much air quality has changed over time.
Increment is the allowed increase in a pollutant above a baseline level. Nevada’s air programs use an Increment Tracking System to help evaluate these changes for permitting and planning.
Fugitive Dust
Particulate matter (PM) is one of the six main pollutants regulated under the Clean Air Act. These tiny particles can include soil, dust, organic compounds, and metals. PM can affect both health and visibility.
Particles that are 10 micrometers or smaller can enter the lungs and may cause health problems, especially for sensitive groups.
Fugitive dust comes from activities such as construction, unpaved roads, or disturbed land. Managing dust helps protect local air quality.