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Regional Haze



Air pollutants can cause haze, a veil of white or brown that obscures and blurs what we can see in the distance. Federal law requires states to prepare implementation plans to reduce the pollutants that can cause haze in important scenic areas. Delaware was determined to have an impact on haze only for the Brigantine Wilderness Area in New Jersey.

Contact Us

Renae Held
Division of Air Quality
302-739-9402

The 1999 Regional Haze Rule (RHR) requires States to develop State Implementation Plans (SIPs) to reduce visibility impairment. The goal is to return visibility to natural conditions in affected scenic areas by 2064. The rule also requires states to issue periodic reports evaluating progress towards the goals established in their plans.

Delaware’s Implementation Plans

Delaware submitted its original Regional Haze State Implementation Plan to the U.S. EPA in September of 2008. It covered the first implementation period, 2008 to 2018. In July of 2011, the EPA published a final rule approving Delaware’s Regional Haze SIP (76 FR 42557). Delaware submitted its first progress report in September of 2013.

In July 2022, DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin signed Secretary’s Order No. 2022-A-0013 approving Delaware’s revised Regional Haze State Implementation Plan. It covers the second implementation period, 2018 to 2028.

2022 Revised Regional Haze State Implementation Plan

2013 Regional Haze 5-Year Periodic Report

2008 Regional Haze State Implementation Plan

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