Air Quality Program
The Air Quality Program is charged with assessing the Community’s airshed and developing a program to address air quality issues. Since 1997, the division has worked to develop a comprehensive air quality program.
Ambient air quality is monitored to ensure compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM10, PM 2.5, and ozone. The program also develops codes and ordinances to establish jurisdictional authority for sources of air pollution within the exterior boundaries of the Community. Additionally, the program participates in regional and national air quality related initiatives and educates the Community about the effects and sources of air pollution.
Air Quality Documents
Air Quality Ordinance – Proposed Updates [PDF]
Air Quality Ordinance – Public Comment Form [PDF]
2010 Air Monitoring Network Review [PDF]
Public Notice for Comments
2023 SRPMIC Air Monitoring Network Plan [PDF]
Draft 2024 SRPMIC Air Monitoring Network Plan [PDF]
Appendix C Draft Senior Center Relocation Report [PDF]
AQP 7-Day Weather Forecast
The links below are for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) five day Air Pollution Forecast for the entire Phoenix Metro Area.
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Overview
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are often called greenhouse gases. Some greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide occur naturally and are emitted to the atmosphere through natural processes and human activities. Other greenhouse gases (e.g., fluorinated gases) are created and emitted solely through human activities. The principal greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere because of human activities are:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions (e.g., manufacture of cement). Carbon dioxide is also removed from the atmosphere (or “sequestered”) when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle.
- Methane (CH4): Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills.
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O): Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste.
- Fluorinated Gases: Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial processes. Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as substitutes for ozone depleting substances(i.e., CFCs, HCFCs, and halons). These gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases (“High GWP gases”).
Greenhouse Gas Inventories
A greenhouse gas inventory is an accounting of the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to or removed from the atmosphere over a specific period of time (e.g., one year). A greenhouse gas inventory also provides information on the activities that cause emissions and removals, as well as background on the methods used to make the calculations. Policy makers use greenhouse gas inventories to track emission trends, develop strategies and policies and assess progress. Scientists use greenhouse gas inventories as inputs to atmospheric and economic models.
GHG Data Exchange Background
The Community is planning to collect emissions data from sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs). These data collection programs have differing reporting requirements, thresholds, calculation protocols, and approaches to validation and verification of data. Despite these differences, the data collections share a common objective — improved tracking and understanding of GHG emissions. Ultimately, the information collected will form the foundation to curb the emission of GHGs. With a standardized approach for sharing information, the Community will have access to a more comprehensive and robust GHG data set . Furthermore, a common approach to data exchange may offer opportunities to unify or simplify reporting tools. GHG reporters and Community members expect data collectors to work together to maximize the efficiency and accuracy of systems for collecting and sharing GHG emissions information.
GHG Links
Air Quality Flag Network Program
Air quality affects how we live and breathe. Children especially are at greater risk from air pollutants because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Chronic exposure to even moderate levels of pollutants may decrease lung function. Therefore, reducing exposure to outdoor air pollutants is a simple way to protect children and elders.
The purpose of the Air Quality Flag Network Program is to provide awareness and teach people about outdoor air quality conditions so that they can reduce their exposure to air pollutants. The flag program uses colored flags: green, yellow, orange and red, based on EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI), to alert the public of daily air quality conditions. The program flies flags that match warning levels of the AQI. The flag colors correspond to how polluted the air is, and helps people to take action to protect their health. For instance, a yellow flag means the air quality is acceptable, but for some pollutants there might be health concerns for sensitive populations.
Different pollutants are problematic during different times of the year. From April through October the flags will indicate ozone levels, and from October through March they indicate particulate matter (PM) pollution. If a warning is issued for both ozone and particulates, the flag that protects the greater at-risk population will be displayed.
Flag Network Locations
The air quality flags are posted on flagpoles at major locations throughout the Community in areas that are visible to the public. The flags are posted at the Senior Center, Two Waters Complex, Salt River Middle/High School, Salt River Community Center, and Lehi Community Center.
What Flag Colors Mean
 Green Flag | GOOD – Air quality is good and air pollution poses little or no risk. |
 Yellow Flag | MODERATE – Air quality is acceptable, for some pollutants there may be health concern for small numbers of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. |
 Orange Flag | UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS – Air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups that may experience health effects. |
 Red Flag | UNHEALTHY – Air quality is unhealthy. Everyone may begin to experience health effects; sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. |
VW Settlement Helps SRPMIC Get New Garbage Truck
VW Settlement Helps SRPMIC Get New Garbage Truck for S.R. Public Works Department
By Chris Horan Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Division Manager, Community Development Department
A 2016 settlement that involved automaker Volkswagen has a connection with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in the form of one new garbage truck.
A summary of the settlement reads as follows: “[Volkswagen] installed software in its 2.0-liter diesel engine vehicles to disable emission controls under normal use and to turn on emission controls only when the vehicle was being tested. This ‘defeat device’ resulted in better real-world fuel mileage and driving performance, but also resulted in the release of thousands of tons of nitrogen oxide emissions in excess of regulated limits.”
Because Volkswagen violated the Clean Air Act, one requirement of the resulting settlement mandates Volkswagen to create an environmental mitigation trust that will fund environmental projects to reduce diesel emissions. Approximately $50 million of that trust fund is set aside for Indian communities, so the SRPMIC was eligible to apply for funding. The SRPMIC Community Development Department’s Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Division (CDD-EPNR) filed the required paperwork for the 2020-2021 funding cycle and was awarded $288,410. These monies were used to purchase a garbage truck for Public Works Department with a cleaner engine to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in the Community and to replace an older diesel garbage truck.
In all, 46 tribes across the United States were awarded money in this funding cycle. Awards are based on community size and population. The CDD-EPNR will continue to apply each year in the subsequent funding award cycles.
To read more about the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust, visit: www.vwenvironmentalmitigationtrust.com
Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Manager Community Development Department A 2016 settlement that involved automaker Volkswagen has a connection with the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community in the form of two new trolleys for tourism efforts. A summary of the settlement reads as follows: “[Volkswagen] installed software in its 2.0-liter diesel engine vehicles to disable emission controls under normal use and to turn on emission controls only when the vehicle was being tested. This ‘defeat device’ resulted in better real-world fuel mileage and driving performance, but also resulted in the release of thousands of tons of nitrogen oxide emissions in excess of regulated limits.” Because Volkswagen violated the Clean Air Act, one requirement of the resulting settlement mandates Volkswagen to create an environmental mitigation trust that will fund environmental projects to reduce diesel emissions. Approximately $50 million of that trust fund is set aside for Indian communities, so the SRPMIC was eligible to apply for funding. The SRPMIC Community Development Department’s Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Division (CDD-EPNR) filed the required paperwork for the 2019 – 2020 funding cycle and was awarded $295,982. These monies were used to purchase two new diesel trolleys with cleaner engines, to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions in the Community, and to replace two older diesel trolleys for use in the Talking Stick Entertainment District. In all, 46 tribes across the United States were awarded money in this funding cycle. Awards are based on community size and population. The CDD-EPNR will continue to apply each year in the subsequent funding award cycles.
To read more about the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust, visit: www.vwenvironmentalmitigationtrust.com
The 2016 settlement that involved automaker Volkswagen and billions of dollars has a connection to the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community in the form of an 84-passenger school bus., two trolleys, and a new garbage truck. The German automaker agreed to pay up to $14.73 billion in that settlement regarding allegations that it cheated on vehicle emissions tests and deceived customers. More than half of the funding was used to compensate consumers under the program, and nearly $5 billion went to mitigate car pollution and invest in clean technology. Of that, $2.7 billion was earmarked for a mitigation trust fund to help compensate for the environmental damage done by vehicles sold in the settlement time frame (2000-2015).
About $50 million of the mitigation trust fund was set aside for Indian Tribes, which is how the Community got involved. The SRPMIC Community Development Department’s Environmental Protection & Natural Resources (CDD/EPNR) Division staff filed the required paperwork for the first three funding cycles (2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21). The total award over the first three funding cycles was $776,952, which was used to purchase a school bus for Salt River Schools, two trolleys for SRPMIC Tourism, and a new garbage truck for Public Works. The awards were based on reservation size and population. CDD/EPNR Division staff will continue to apply each year in subsequent funding award cycles.
To read more about the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Environmental Mitigation Trust, which includes information on the Indian Tribe Trust, visit: www.vwenvironmentalmitigationtrust.com