The Division of Air Resource Management is charged with protection and management of Florida's air resources, including air monitoring, permitting and compliance of emission sources. Sources of air pollution include electric power plants, paper mills, gasoline service stations, and small paint shops. The division implements state, federal Clean Air Act, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.

The primary functions of the statewide air program include permitting, compliance assistance, compliance determinations and enforcement, emissions inventory management, state regulatory planning for Clean Air Act compliance, and ambient air monitoring. The division directly implements air regulatory actions and oversees the activities of the department's six districts and eight approved local air programs.

The division includes four offices.

• Office of Air Monitoring
• Office of Permitting and Compliance
• Office of Business Planning

Most program air quality activities involve controlling six criteria air pollutants identified by the EPA: ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and lead. The program also regulates air toxics, or hazardous air pollutants such as benzene, which is found in gasoline, and perchlorethylene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities. These are chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health problems, such as birth defects.

In Fiscal Year 2021-22, Florida residents experienced good or moderate quality air 99.8% of the time. This meets the legislatively approved performance standard of 99.1%. Percent changes in per capita annual emissions of priority pollutants in Fiscal Year 2021-22 compared with levels five years ago indicate declines in priority pollutants: -41.24% for nitrogen oxides, -67.69% for sulfur dioxide, -29.24% for carbon monoxide, and -24.60% for volatile organic compounds. All percent changes exceeded the legislatively approved performance standard of -3.8%.

New Source Review is a Clean Air Act program that requires stationary sources of air pollution such as factories, industrial boilers, and powerplants to obtain permits before beginning construction. This program works to ensure that industries are as clean as possible and up-to-date with pollution control methods.

Proposed Changes to Federal Emissions Standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing amendments to the National Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Taconite Iron Ore Processing Plants, as required by the Clean Air Act, including emission standards for mercury.

Other Reports
2021 Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of Air Resource Management, June 2021
The Department of Environmental Protection's Office of the Inspector General reports are available on its website

Websites of Interest
Clean Air Florida, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Ambient Air Monitoring, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Sections 20.255, 316.272, 316.2935, and 376.60, and Ch. 403, Florida Statutes

Division of Air Resource Management, 850-717-9000
Website