Attainment Area

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-002377",
  "term": "Attainment Area",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. A geographic area in which levels of a criteria air pollutant meet the health-based primary standard (national ambient air quality standard, or NAAQS) for the pollutant. An area may have an acceptable level for one criteria air pollutant, but may have unacceptable levels for others. Thus an area could be both attainment and nonattainment at the same time. Attainment areas are defined using federal pollutant limits set by EPA.\n\n2. An area considered to have air quality as good as or better than the national ambient air quality standards as defined in the Clean Air Act. An area may be an attainment area for one pollutant and a non-attainment area for others.\n\n3. Any area of the country designated or redesignated by the EPA at 40 CFR part 81 in accordance with section 107(d) as having attained the relevant NAAQS for a given criteria pollutant. An area can be an attainment area for some pollutants and a nonattainment area for other pollutants.\n\n4. Unless otherwise indicated, an area designated as either attainment, unclassifiable, or attainment/unclassifiable.[40 CFR 51.900 (CFR 2013)]\n\n5. A geographic region where the concentration of a specific air pollutant does not exceed federal standards.\n\n6. An area that meets the air quality standard for a criteria pollutant (under NAAQS).",
  "subject": "Air",
  "references": [
    "Air Permitting Terms",
    "Terms of Environment",
    "40 CFR 51.491 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 51.1100 (CFR 2013)",
    "DOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Bioenergy Glossary",
    "Basic Concepts in Environmental Sciences"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/attainment-area/"
}