Idaho Nonattainment Areas

Areas within Idaho where air pollution levels persistently exceed the national ambient air quality standards may be designated "nonattainment." EPA considers any geographic area that meets or has pollutant levels below the NAAQS an attainment area. Under ideal circumstances, all of Idaho would be classified as “attainment.” An area with persistent high pollutant levels is designated a nonattainment area. This means that the area has violated federal health-based standards for outdoor air pollution. Each nonattainment area is declared for a specific pollutant. This means that the same area could be “attainment” for one pollutant, but “nonattainment” for a different pollutant. Nonattainment areas for different pollutants may overlap each other or share common boundaries.