What is meant by attainment, nonattainment, and maintenance?
Attainment, nonattainment, and maintenance are classifications of regional air quality based on the 1990 amendment of the Clean Air Act legislation enforced through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA uses six “criteria pollutants” as indicators of air quality, and has established for each of them a maximum concentration above which adverse effects on human health may occur. The six “criteria pollutants” are: • Ozone. • Carbon monoxide. • Nitrogen dioxide. • Sulfur dioxide. • Particulate matter (including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid). • Lead.
