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The Air District’s 2015-2016 Winter Spare the Air season ended February 29, with only one Winter Spare the Air Alert issued. The nine-county region saw consistently cleaner air this season as frequent storm systems moved through the Bay Area beginning in November and continuing through early February, helping to disperse air pollution.

The Air District is amending Regulation 6, Rule 3 to further reduce local and regional wintertime fine particulates and visible emissions from wood-burning devices used as a source of primary or supplemental heat or for ambiance. Public comments on the draft staff report and rule must be received by close of business Monday, August 31, 2015.

In the wake of record-breaking wildfires and hurricanes that have decimated the U.S., the Trump administration has announced a directive today to order the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rewrite the Clean Power Plan and jeopardize hard-fought climate gains. The effects of climate change are being realized worldwide as global temperatures rise and catastrophic weather patterns escalate.

Today, the South Coast Air Quality Management District filed a petition challenging the U.S. EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s rollbacks to the Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule initiated by the Trump Administration. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District have joined South Coast AQMD as co-petitioners.

As employees throughout the Bay Area make plans to return to the workplace, the Air District and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission encourage businesses to review their Commuter Benefits Program registration and update it with new commute options. In the Bay Area, companies with 50 or more full-time employees are required to register for, provide, and promote commuter benefits to their workforce.

The Air District is requiring a new Residential Fireplace Disclosure for anyone selling or leasing property with a wood-burning device in the nine-county Bay Area region. Beginning June 1, anyone selling or leasing residential property within the Bay Area will be required to disclose the health hazards of wood smoke, as part of the signed disclosure documents in real estate purchase or rental transactions.

The Air District's Board of Directors has adopted two new regulations to further tighten air pollution controls on petroleum operations at Bay Area refineries. Regulation 9, Rule 14 reduces sulfur dioxide emissions from the largest Bay Area source, coke calcining. Regulation 12, Rule 15 is a first-of-its-kind requirement that will better enable the Air District to track refinery emissions as changes are made at the facilities.

The Air District is extending a Spare the Air Alert for smoke through tomorrow, Saturday, October 26, for the entire the region. The Air District is closely monitoring smoke impacts from the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County and the northern portion of the Bay Area is currently experiencing smoke impacts. Additional smoke impacts are expected to spread across the region starting this afternoon as smoke mixes down to the surface.

The Air District is issuing another Spare the Air Alert for smoke tomorrow, Wednesday, October 30, for the entire region. While good air quality is expected through the region late today through tomorrow morning, air quality is expected to degrade again tomorrow afternoon as winds decrease and smoke drains south into the Bay Area. Strong winds through Wednesday afternoon may also cause growth of the Kincade Fire and new local fires with additional smoke impacts.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for smoke for the entire Bay Area region on Sunday, October 27 through Monday, October 28.

The Air District and Contra Costa Health Services continue to work together to investigate the source of odors that fouled San Francisco and Richmond on December 28 and 29. The joint investigation has ruled out any sources on San Francisco Bay, including ships or oil spills on the water, and now centers on Chevron’s Richmond refinery and other potential sources in Richmond, such as the waste water treatment plant, waste management facility, and other industrial sources.

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke through Thursday, September 16. Wildfires across Northern California continue to produce smoke, which is being transported towards the Bay Area. As a result, hazy and smoky conditions are predicted through Thursday. Smoke is forecast to stay mostly aloft, and air quality is expected to be in the moderate AQI category. Pollution levels are not expected to exceed federal health standards and no Spare the Air Alert is in effect. 

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory due to wildfire smoke from wildfires in the western U.S and Canada for the rest of the day Thursday, August 8, and for Friday, August 9. An inversion layer combined with local pollution and residual smoke from fires in the western U.S. and Canada is impacting air quality in the Bay Area. As onshore winds increase this afternoon and Friday, air quality is expected to be Good to Moderate on the Air Quality Index.

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke for Wednesday, September 15. Wildfires across Northern California continue to produce smoke, which is being transported southward towards the Bay Area. As a result, hazy and smoky conditions are predicted on Wednesday, especially for communities in the North Bay. At the surface level, onshore winds are expected to keep air quality in the moderate AQI category. Pollution levels are not expected to exceed federal health standards and no Spare the Air Alert is in effect. 

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke in eastern Contra Costa County through Tuesday, July 19. Smoke from the Marsh Fire is expected to continue to impact the eastern Contra Costa cities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood through Tuesday. Onshore winds during the daytime are expected to disperse smoke, but as winds die down overnight localized pollution levels may rise during the overnight and early morning hours. Pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. A Spare the Air Alert is not in effect.

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke in eastern Contra Costa County through Monday, July 18. Smoke from the Marsh Fire is expected to continue to impact the eastern Contra Costa cities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood through the weekend and into Monday. Onshore winds during the daytime are expected to disperse smoke, but as winds die down overnight localized pollution levels may rise during the overnight and early morning hours. Pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. A Spare the Air Alert is not in effect.

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke in eastern Contra Costa County through Thursday, July 14. Smoke from the Marsh Fire is expected to continue to impact the eastern Contra Costa cities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood. Onshore winds during the daytime are expected to disperse smoke, but as winds die down overnight localized pollution levels may rise between 10 PM and 9 AM. Pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. A Spare the Air Alert is not in effect and air quality is expected to be in the moderate range overall. 

The Air District is issuing an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke in eastern Contra Costa County for today and tomorrow, Tuesday, July 12, and Wednesday, July 13. Smoke from the Marsh Fire is expected to impact the eastern Contra Costa cities of Pittsburgh, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood. Onshore winds during the daytime are expected to disperse smoke, but as winds die down overnight localized pollution levels may rise between 10 PM and 9 AM. Pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. A Spare the Air Alert is not in effect and air quality is expected to be in the moderate range overall. 

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke in eastern Contra Costa County through Friday, July 15. Smoke from the Marsh Fire is expected to continue to impact the eastern Contra Costa cities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood. Onshore winds during the daytime are expected to disperse smoke, but as winds die down overnight localized pollution levels may rise during the overnight and early morning hours. Pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. A Spare the Air Alert is not in effect and air quality is expected to be in the moderate range overall. 

The Air District is extending an air quality advisory for wildfire smoke in eastern Contra Costa County through Wednesday, July 20. Although efforts to flood the fire have begun to make progress, smoke from the Pittsburg Marsh Fire is expected to continue to impact the eastern Contra Costa cities of Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood through Wednesday. Onshore winds during the daytime are expected to disperse smoke, but as winds die down overnight localized pollution levels may rise during the overnight and early morning hours. Pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. A Spare the Air Alert is not in effect.