EPA Wants Arizona Farmers to Keep Their Dust Down
Published Date: 10/19/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The EPA is proposing new rules to help clean up dust pollution from farms and ranches in West Pinal County, Arizona. These rules will require farmers to use better practices to reduce tiny dust particles that harm air quality. If approved, these changes will kick in soon and help protect local health without big costs for farmers.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Rules become federally enforceable in West Pinal
If the EPA finalizes approval, the April 2, 2026 versions of AAC R18-2-610.03 and AAC R18-2-611.03 will be incorporated into the federally enforceable Arizona SIP for the West Pinal County PM10 nonattainment area; the April 2, 2026 version of R18-2-610.03 would replace the previously SIP-approved version and R18-2-611.03 would be newly added to the SIP.
Aims to cut PM10 that harms local health
The submitted rules address emissions of particulate matter (PM), including PM10, in the West Pinal County PM10 nonattainment area; the preamble notes PM10 contributes to premature mortality, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, decreased lung function, visibility impairment, and damage to vegetation, and the rules require BMPs to reduce fugitive PM10 emissions.
Crop operators must adopt specific BMPs
If finalized, AAC R18-2-610.03 (amended April 2, 2026) will require commercial crop operators in the West Pinal County PM10 nonattainment area to select and implement best management practices (BMPs) from a regulatory menu, require two BMPs per category, add new BMP categories, and impose a 20 percent opacity limit for high-traffic unpaved areas. Operators must submit annual, non-anonymous reports of BMP selections and certifications to ADEQ (or optionally through the Arizona Department of Agriculture for crop operations).
Animal operations added and must follow BMPs
If finalized, AAC R18-2-611.03 (amended April 2, 2026) will be added to the Arizona SIP and will require commercial dairy operations, beef cattle feedlots, commercial poultry facilities, and commercial swine facilities in the West Pinal County PM10 nonattainment area to implement BMPs selected from a regulatory menu and to provide annual, non-anonymous BMP selection and certification reports to ADEQ.
Annual non-anonymous reporting and recordkeeping
Both R18-2-610.03 and R18-2-611.03 require operators to file annual, non-anonymous reports to ADEQ that identify BMP selections for the upcoming year, area and crop/operation identification, and certification of prior-year implementation; crop operators may optionally report through the Arizona Department of Agriculture.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous: 2026-21288, Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans-Pinal County (Part); West Pinal, AZ PM10 Nonattainment Area; Moderate Area, Serious Area, and Section 189(d) Plan for Attainment of the 24-Hour PM10 Standard
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