3.12 Air Quality
3.12.4 Regional and Local Air Quality
Specific geographic areas are classified as either "attainment" or "nonattainment" areas for each pollutant
based upon the comparison of measured data with NAAQS and state standards. The SDAB, which is
contiguous with San Diego County, currently meets the federal standards for all pollutants except O3 and
state standards for all pollutants except O3 and PM10. The SDAB is currently classified as a federal and
state "serious" O3 nonattainment area and a state nonattainment area for PM10. The SDAB currently falls
under a federal "maintenance plan" for CO, following a 1998 redesignation as a CO attainment area.
Ambient air pollutant concentrations in the SDAB are measured at ten air quality monitoring stations
operated by San Diego APCD. In the coastal area, O3 is monitored at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Del
Mar, and Chula Vista; PM10 is monitored at Oceanside and Chula Vista. Table 3.12-3 presents O3
exceedance of standard data for the county and coastal stations for the 1994-1998 period. Table 3.12-4
presents PM10 exceedance of standard data for the county and coastal stations for the 1994-1998 period.
3.12.5 Sources of Regional and Local Pollution
The most significant regional sources of O3, NO2, and CO are automobiles and other on-road vehicles.
O3 is formed by the reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which
are combustion products from gas and diesel engines. Other important sources of VOC are paints,
coatings and process solvents. The major sources of PM10 are construction, demolition and dust from
paved and unpaved roads.
Regional Beach Sand Project EIR/EA
Page 3.12-5
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