Air Quality Standards

Wisconsin has air quality standards that address criteria and non-criteria pollutants. Criteria pollutants are those air pollutants where National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) have been established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The official list of the U.S. EPA’s NAAQS can be found here [exit DNR]. These NAAQS are contained in s. NR 404.04, Wis. Adm. Code. For more information regarding the air quality standards please refer to s. NR 404.04, Wis. Adm. Code, by clicking here (exit DNR). 

There may be slight differences between the U.S. EPA’s official list of NAAQS and those listed in s. NR 404.04, Wis. Adm. Code, when new or revised air quality standards are issued by the U.S. EPA.  The Department is required by statute to incorporate updated air quality standards; however, this process can often take several months.

Chapter NR 445, Wis. Adm. Code, sets acceptable ambient concentrations for non-criteria pollutants. Each of the pollutants listed in Tables A-C of NR 445.07, Wis. Adm. Code, lists an acceptable ambient concentration that varies depending on the height of the stack in which the pollutant is emitted and the modeling time period for that pollutant. To download an Excel spreadsheet listing the acceptable ambient concentration for each pollutant, click here.

Air Quality Modeling