This document is designed to improve compliance with Maricopa County air pollution rules and regulations, with particular emphasis on Rule 310, which deals with fugitive dust sources, a major source of PM-10. It also describes control measures and work strategies that will assist in ensuring compliance with Rule 310. Also included in this report is a glossary of terms, a brief summary of applicable County air pollution regulations, and detailed information on the requirements for implementation of dust control practices.

These regulations constitute the legal basis for control of air pollution sources in Maricopa County, Arizona. They are adopted to implement the policy set forth in Title 49 of the Arizona Revised Statutes and to fulfill the State's responsibilities under the Federal Clean Air Act and its amendments to provide a legally enforceable State Implementation Plan for the attainment and maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This printing of the regulations incorporates changes adopted by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors through January 2011.

In March 2000, Governor Jane Hull convened the Brown Cloud Summit to examine methods to improve visibility in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. As part of this Summit, a Visibility Standards Subcommittee was established to recommend methods for measuring visible air quality and tracking improvements in visible air quality over time. Based on its research, the Visibility Standards Subcommittee recommended that a visibility index be established through a public survey process representative of a cross-section of residents. Acting on the recommendation, ADEQ established the Visibility Index Oversight Committee. The Committee’s goal was to coordinate the involvement of Phoenix-area residents in the development of a visibility index.