About Air Quality

Mission Statement

To Protect and Improve the Outdoor Air Quality of North Carolina.

The Division of Air Quality (DAQ) works with the state's citizens to protect and improve outdoor, or ambient, air quality in North Carolina for the health, benefit and economic well-being of all. To carry out this mission, the DAQ operates a statewide air quality monitoring network to measure the level of pollutants in the outdoor air, develops and implements plans to meet future air quality initiatives, assures compliance with air quality rules, and educates, informs and assists the public with regard to air quality issues. DAQ Strategic Plan for 2011-2013.

Organizational Structure. The Division of Air Quality consists of five sections located in the central offices in Raleigh and seven regional offices located across the state.

DAQ, which is part of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), also enforces state and federal air pollution regulations. In North Carolina, the General Assembly enacts state air pollution laws, and the Environmental Management Commission (EMC) adopts most rules dealing with air quality. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated the DAQ as the lead agency for enforcing federal laws and regulations dealing with air pollution in North Carolina.

DAQ does not deal with indoor air pollution issues, workplace safety, second-hand smoke, asbestos, mold contamination, radon, and radiation protection. The following are links to sites for additional information on each of these issues: