Contact EPA Pacific Southwest Air Program
Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations
Air Actions, Arizona
Sulfur Dioxide Actions in San Manuel, Arizona
December 2007: Approval of Arizona's Plan to Meet the Sulfur Dioxide Air Quality Standards in the San Manuel Area
EPA has signed a direct final approval of Arizona's plan to maintain attainment of the short-term (24-hour) and long-term (annual) primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the San Manuel area, as well as Arizona’s request to redesignate this area from nonattainment to attainment for SO2. The San Manuel area has not violated either the annual or the 24-hour health-based standard since 1985. The primary source of sulfur dioxide pollution in the area was the BHP Copper Inc. copper smelter, which was shut down in 1999 and dismantled in early 2007. Maintenance of the SO2 standard in the San Manuel area relies upon the area's new source permitting program. There are no other SO2 sources of this magnitude in the San Manuel area.
EPA is taking this direct final action without proposing it in advance because we view it as noncontroversial and do not anticipate adverse comments.
Contact Information
Office of Air Planning
EPA Region 9
(415) 972-3691