Phoenix Air Quality Programs

Phoenix has consistently demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability through numerous pollution control and natural resource conservation programs. Those sustainability program efforts have helped reduce air pollution, removed hazardous chemicals from city operations, preserved thousands of acres of open space, and protected water supplies.  The city is recognized as a leader in efforts to reduce air pollution. The city is a strong partner in the regional effort to achieve and maintain clean air for Valley residents.

2009 Blue Sky Award

The city of Phoenix received the 2009 Blue Sky Award for Government Excellence in Air Pollution Reduction from the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCADQ) at their annual Blue Sky Conference. The award was based on the city’s on-going commitment to leadership in implementing programs to reduce air pollution.

Dust Control Programs

Salt River Stabilization photo

Caption:  Salt River Stabilization Project

Over the past decade, the most pressing air pollution problem in the Valley has been violations of the federal health standard for dust and other particulate pollution.

The City of Phoenix dust programs achieved significant reductions in PM-10. Examples include:

  • Paved more than 85 miles of unpaved city-owned streets since 2000.
  • Applied asphalt treatment to more than 300 miles of alleys and 58 miles of shoulders.
  • Stabilized 12 acres of the Salt River alluvial area. Installed barriers and implemented an enforcement program to eliminate vehicle trespass. Removed 2,000 tires and 330 tons of trash from the areas and applied 8,500 cubic yards of mulch.
  • City Code prohibits sweeping or blowing debris into city streets to protect stormwater from contamination and reduce dust pollution.

Dust Enforcement

parking code enforcement photo

Caption: Parking Code Enforcement

The city responds promptly to resident complaints, questions, and concerns. Examples of regulations and standards include:

  • City and state regulations restrict driving cars, trucks and recreational vehicles (ATVs) in deserts, washes, public and private property unless the driver owns that land or has received written approval from the owner.
  • The city participates in interagency off-road vehicle trespass enforcement programs which focus on education and outreach followed by enforcement for repeat offenders.
  • The Neighborhood Preservation Code includes dust standards for parking lots and vehicles parked on vacant lots. Neighborhood Services Department (NSD) responds to approximately 7,000 dust-related complaints each year.
  • The Police and Parks Departments enforce codes restricting vehicles on non-dustproof vacant lots and in city parks. Together those departments have issued more than 1,000 citations each year.
  • The city conducted a focused enforcement program for unpaved parking lots in the Salt River area. Inspections were conducted on more than 700 parcels and the 300 sites that failed the inspection were brought into compliance.

Other Programs

The programs below result in direct reductions in air pollution through changes in city operations.

light rail photo

  • Completed 20 miles of light rail that opened in 2008 providing alternatives to driving. Planning for expansion of the system is underway.

 

  • Operate an alternative fuel fleet program that includes more than 3,000 city vehicles on alternative fuel (CNG, LNG, Bio-diesel, and electric hybrids).
  • Developed a program to purchase Environmentally Preferred Products (EPP) for use in city operations. The system includes a review of city contracts to determine which could potentially transition to EPP and uses an innovative city data base with more than 1,500 EPP products that have lower environmental impact.
  • Adopted development “impact fees” to help discourage urban sprawl and related vehicle pollution.  
  • Infill incentives encouraged construction of more than 4,500 housing units in the central city since 1995 – reducing commuter travel distances and promoting pedestrian friendly development.
  • Created an Integrated Pest Management program to help eliminate the use of pesticides in city facilities.
  • Adopted a new Downtown Urban Form to guide sustainable development in downtown Phoenix, including increase residential and commercial uses, shading, pedestrian friendly development and cooler.
  • Require city employees who work downtown to pay for vehicle parking and provide Transit incentives for all full-time city employees promote public transit and other commute options.
  • Provide a wide range of environmental training for city staff to help reduce air pollution, prevent chemical spills, improve worker safety and reduce the use of hazardous chemicals in city operation.

Climate Protection

In 2009, Phoenix completed a Climate Action Plan to identify sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from city operations and define programs that will be used to meet the City Council-adopted goal to: reduce GHG Emissions from City Operations to 5% below the 2005 levels by 2015.