Our Air District is one of 35 local regulatory agencies in California responsible for ambient (outdoor) air quality in our geographic region. It’s our duty to ensure the fair and consistent implementation of local, state and federal air quality regulations. We believe everyone deserves the same protection from air pollutants. We invite our Northern Sonoma County community to join the decision-making process with Leadership to help maintain a healthy, beautiful and sustainable environment.
It is the mission of NoSoCoAir to promote and protect the health, welfare, quality of life, and the ecological resources for the residents and visitors of Northern Sonoma County through the effective reduction of air pollutants.
This mission is accomplished through innovative, fair and consistent implementation of local, state and federal air quality regulations. All people shall enjoy the same degree of protection from air pollutants and equal access to the decision-making process to maintain a healthy, beautiful and sustainable environment in which to live, learn, work, and play.
The California Legislature enacted the California Air Pollution Control Act which created the state’s air pollution control districts with boundaries contemporaneous with county boundaries.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) formed to include the urban regions of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Sonoma County was included as an “inactive” member at that time.
The southern portion of Sonoma County joined the BAAQMD as an active member and the northern portion of the county established as its own Air District – The Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District.
State statute was updated to require air district boards to invite city council members to participate on the air district board of directors when the incorporated population of a county is 36% or greater of the total population and in 2013, it was recognized that the District triggered this threshold.
The District began the process of preparing to invite city council members and to update various support agreements with specific county departments necessary to support a multi-agency Board of Directors.
The air district board was formally amended to add three city council members from Healdsburg, Cloverdale and Windsor, and the two County Supervisors with Districts within the Air District.