Hanapin

The Air District announced today that it has fined the Marathon Martinez Refinery, which is operated by Marathon subsidiary Tesoro Refining & Marketing Company LLC, $5 million for air quality violations. This is the second largest penalty ever assessed by the Air District.

The Air District will host an in-person conversation with Air District Board Chair Davina Hurt on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 12 noon – 1 PM. at the Vallejo John F. Kennedy Library. The conversation will focus on community questions and concerns regarding air quality issues and climate change. 

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for tomorrow, Thursday, August 5, and Friday, August 6. Smoke from the McFarland, Monument, and River Complex fires are expected to impact the North Bay and East Bay, but the smoke is aloft and is not expected to cause unhealthy air quality. 

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke from Canadian wildfires in the Bay Area through Thursday, June 5. Smoke from various Canadian wildfires in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba is expected to impact air quality in the Bay Area through Thursday. Conditions can change rapidly and the amount and location of smoke at ground level are 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, the smell of smoke is possible, and air quality may become unhealthy through Thursday, June 5.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory due to smoke from the Crystal Fire in Napa County for today, Wednesday, June 5. Localized smoke impacts are possible near Angwin and may impact the Napa Valley from St. Helena to Calistoga. We will be closely monitoring air quality for smoke impacts from this incident.

The Air District has issued 3 Notices of Violation to Valero for violations of air quality regulations and/or permit conditions for the May 5 fire. This is an ongoing investigation, and more violations may be issued.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for smoke for the Bay Area tomorrow, Tuesday, November 5, 2019.  Northerly winds near the Ranch Fire in Tehama County south of Redding will allow some smoke to move toward the Bay Area. The smoke is expected to cause hazy skies and potentially elevated hourly air quality readings for fine particulates tomorrow, but air quality is not expected to exceed the federal health standard.

The Air District is calling a Spare the Air Alert for smog for Saturday, October 5. Air quality is forecast to be unhealthy tomorrow. Very high inland temperatures and weak offshore winds, along with motor vehicle exhaust, will create elevated concentrations of ozone, or smog.

The public comment period for the Draft Guidelines for the Local Community Benefits Fund for Benicia, Richmond, and surrounding areas closes on Tuesday, November 25, at 5:00 PM. The Draft Guidelines describe the Local Community Benefits Fund, which will reinvest penalty funds back into communities impacted by air quality violations, supporting local projects that improve public health, reduce pollution, and promote a just transition.

The Air District is extending a Spare the Air Alert for smog through Sunday, October 6. A Spare the Air Alert remains in effect today, Saturday, October 5. Air quality is forecast to be unhealthy today and tomorrow. Very high inland temperatures and weak offshore winds, along with motor vehicle exhaust, will continue to create elevated concentrations of ozone, or smog.

The Air District invites written comments on new provisions related to hydrogen sulfide monitoring and quality assurance procedures in revised draft fenceline air monitoring plans for the five Bay Area refineries. Comments must be received by 5 PM Pacific Time on April 20, 2023.

The Air District is extending the Spare the Air Alert for smog through Monday, September 5. Air quality is forecast to be unhealthy. Strong high pressure leading to a triple-digit heat wave, combined with light winds and vehicle exhaust, is expected to continue to cause unhealthy smog, or ozone, accumulation in the Bay Area. 

The Air District is extending the Spare the Air Alert for wildfire smoke through Saturday, September 5, which bans burning wood, manufactured fire logs or any other solid fuel, both indoors and outdoors. This will be the 18th and 19th consecutive Spare the Air Alert called due to wildfire smoke. Smoke from fires in Santa Cruz and Marin Counties, as well as other large fires in northern California, are expected to create isolated pockets of unhealthy air quality in the North Bay, San Francisco, and the East Bay. The rest of the Bay Area is expected to have good to moderate air quality.

The Air District is issuing a Spare the Air Alert for smog for Sunday, September 5, in addition to the air quality advisory for smoke that is in place through Monday, September 6. Wildfire smoke combined with high inland temperatures and vehicle exhaust are expected to cause unhealthy smog, or ozone, accumulation in the Bay Area. Smoke from Northern California wildfires is expected to continue to impact the region creating hazy and smoky skies. 

The Air District is inviting residents to provide input on revisions to Regulation 2, Rule 5 – New Source Review of Toxic Air Contaminants. The Air District’s New Source Review Program protects air quality when large air pollution sources such as factories and power plants are newly built or modified.

The Air District announced today it has reached two separate agreements with Chevron and Martinez Refining Company resulting in an end to the litigation against the agency over its groundbreaking Regulation 6, Rule 5, major emissions reductions from both refineries, unprecedented penalties and other payments of up to $138 million, and a Richmond-area Community Air Quality Fund, among other benefits. The Air District estimates that the emission reductions achieved by the rule will result in tens of millions of dollars per year in health benefits by reducing early deaths and other health impacts of exposure to particulate matter.

Apr 10, 2023 ... These guidelines are nonbinding recommendations, intended to assist lead agencies with navigating the CEQA process. They may be updated as needed in the future, and any updates will likewise be ...

The U.S. AQI does not include recommendations for PM2.5 levels above 500, but levels are sometimes worse (“beyond index”).

The Air District's mission is to create healthy air in the Bay Area while protecting public health and the climate.