The Air District has fined Chemtrade West US LLC $160,000 for air quality violations at its sulfuric acid manufacturing plant in Richmond, which is connected to the Chevron Richmond refinery. Chemtrade supplies various chemical products to industry, including sulfuric acid, which is a byproduct of refining crude oil.
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Santa Clara County
Learn about Santa Clara County - its climate, potential air pollution concerns, and current air quality. You can also view upcoming Air District events in Santa Clara County and read about local efforts to improve air quality.
Latest News
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Air District lifts air quality advisory for wildfire smokeAugust 26, 2025
The Air District is lifting an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke that was originally scheduled to last through tomorrow, Wednesday, August 27.
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Air District awards $13.3 million to SamTrans toward the installation of new zero-emission bus charging infrastructureAugust 26, 2025
The Air District has announced a $13.3 million grant to the San Mateo County Transit District toward the installation of new high-capacity electric bus charging infrastructure at its San Carlos facility. This SamTrans project will help accelerate the transition of the SamTrans bus fleet to zero-emission technology and improve air quality in communities most affected by air pollution.
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The Air District is extending an air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke from the Pickett Fire through Wednesday, August 27. Smoke from the Pickett Fire in Napa County is expected to impact Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties through Wednesday. Conditions can change rapidly and the amount and location of smoke at ground level is hard to predict. The public can check for real-time smoke pollution levels in their local area with the U.S. EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map. Smoky, hazy skies may be visible, and the smell of smoke is possible.
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Upcoming Events
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SEP092025
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SEP162025
Other News Articles
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8/19/2025 Air District and Tesoro reach $75,000 settlement with enhanced requirements for air monitoring and transparency
August 19, 2025
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8/18/2025 Air District directs Crown Hill Materials to cease operating unpermitted concrete batch plant
August 18, 2025
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8/14/2025 Air District files lawsuit against Acme Fill Corporation for illegal landfill emissions
August 14, 2025
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8/12/2025 Air District issues air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Tuesday
August 12, 2025
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8/11/2025 Air District reaches agreement with Argent Materials to resolve air quality violations
August 11, 2025
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7/30/2025 Deadline to apply for the Air District’s Clean HEET program extended
July 30, 2025
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7/28/2025 Air District awards $3.5 million in second cycle of James Cary Smith Community Grant Program
July 28, 2025
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7/23/2025 Air District urges Bay Area to proactively prepare for smoke this wildfire season
July 23, 2025
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7/17/2025 Air District and Alameda County District Attorney announce enforcement actions against Radius Recycling, formerly Schnitzer Steel
July 17, 2025
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7/14/2025 Air District lifts air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Monday
July 14, 2025
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7/12/2025 Air District extends air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Monday
July 12, 2025
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7/11/2025 Air District extends air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Saturday
July 11, 2025
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7/10/2025 Air District issues air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Thursday and Friday
July 10, 2025
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7/2/2025 Air District urges residents to skip the sparklers this Fourth of July
July 2, 2025
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6/23/2025 Air District extends air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Monday
June 23, 2025
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6/22/2025 Air District issues air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Sunday
June 22, 2025
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6/18/2025 Air District issues air quality advisory for smoke from Somersville brush fire for Wednesday evening
June 18, 2025
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6/12/2025 Air District increases Vehicle Buy Back Program incentive and expands eligibility effective July 1
June 12, 2025
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6/10/2025 Air District and Chevron reach settlement with enhanced requirements for air monitoring and transparency
June 10, 2025
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6/4/2025 Air District allocates $1.3 million to improve air quality in West Contra Costa County schools
June 4, 2025
Santa Clara County is south of the San Francisco Bay, with San Mateo and Alameda counties bordering it to the north, Santa Cruz County to the west, San Benito County to the south, and Stanislaus and Merced counties to the east. Four Santa Clara County representatives sit on the Air District’s Board of Directors.
Climate
During the summer, mostly clear skies result in warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. Winter temperatures are mild, except for very cool but generally frost-less mornings.
Further inland where the moderating effect of the bay is not as strong, temperature extremes are greater. Wind patterns are influenced by local terrain, with a northwesterly sea breeze typically developing during the daytime. Winds are usually stronger in the spring and summer. Rainfall amounts are modest, ranging from 13 inches in the lowlands to 20 inches in the hills.
Interactive Air Monitoring Stations Map
Air Quality in Santa Clara County
Ozone and fine particle pollution, or PM2.5, are the major regional air pollutants of concern in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ozone is primarily a problem in the summer, and fine particle pollution in the winter.
Most of Santa Clara County is well south of the cooler waters of the San Francisco Bay and far from the cooler marine air which usually reaches across San Mateo County in summer. Ozone frequently forms on hot summer days when the prevailing seasonal northerly winds carry ozone precursors southward across the county, causing health standards to be exceeded.
Santa Clara County experiences many exceedances of the PM2.5 standard each winter. This is due to the high population density, wood smoke, industrial and freeway traffic, and poor wintertime air circulation caused by extensive hills to the east and west that block wind flow into the region.
Spare the Air Status
Last Updated: 4/21/2017