As of 2009, the Berkeley Charleston Dorchester region is in attainment with all air quality standards in the federal Clean Air Act and its amendments.

However, the three counties of the region have agreed to enter a statewide partnership to proactively address air quality issues before they become a problem.  In South Carolina, 45 of the 46 counties are participating in an Early Action Plan, in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ). 

The Early Action Plan determines what actions must be taken at the state and local level to ensure compliance with recently adopted federal regulations regarding ozone emissions. 

Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties have no mandated requirements, but have been developing plans for voluntary activities and actions, to maintain current conditions and prepare them for any future problems which may emerge. 

In March 2004, final versions of each county Early Action Plan were sent to DHEC, to be incorporated into a statewide plan.  Below are the plans submitted by the three counties. 

• Berkeley County Early Action Plan

• Berkeley County Emission Reduction Strategies

• Charleston County Early Action Plan

• Charleston County Emission Reduction Strategies

• Dorchester County Early Action Plan

• Dorchester County Emission Reduction Strategies

For more information about the statewide Early Action Plan and other air quality issues, visit the Bureau of Air Quality’s website at http://www.scdhec.net/baq/eap.html.

The BCDCOG Air Quality Coalition meeting was held on May 8, 2013 . Below are the presentations and materials from that meeting.

• Agenda

• Bureau of Air Quality Update - Jack Porter, SCDHEC

• Prescribed Fire in South Carolina - Calvin Bailey, SC Forestry Commission

The BCDCOG Air Quality Coalition meeting was held on December 5, 2012 . Below are the presentations and materials from that meeting.

• Agenda 

• Air Update: South Carolina Ports Authority - Patrick Moore

The BCDCOG Air Quality Coalition meeting was held on August 1, 2012 . Below are the presentations and materials from that meeting.

• Agenda

• Ozone Advance Program, NAAQS Updates, Other Bureau of Air Quality Topics - Robert Brown, SCDHEC Division of Air Planning, Development, and Outreach

• Biodiesel 2012 - Patrick Doyle, Southeast Biodiesel

The BCDCOG Air Quality Coalition meeting was held on January 26, 2011. Below are the presentations and materials from that meeting.

• Agenda

• Recent Local Air Studies - Scott Reynolds, SCDHEC

• Air Quality Standards Update - Robert Brown, SCDHEC Division of Air Planning, Development, and Outreach

• City of Charleston Green Initiatives - Carolee Williams, Project Manager, City of Charleston

The BCDCOG Air Quality Coalition meeting was held on February 10, 2010. Below are the presentations and materials from that meeting.

• Agenda

• Greenhouse Gas Reporting - George Namie, SCS Engineers

• EPA Ozone Recommendations - Robert Brown, SCDHEC Division of Air Planning, Development, and Outreach

The BCDCOG Air Quality Coalition meeting was held on October 14, 2009. Below are the presentations and materials from that meeting.

• Agenda

• American Lung Association State of the Air Report - June Deen, American Lung Association

• DHEC/EPA Air Monitoring Data Interpretation - Robert Brown, SCDHEC Division of Air Planning, Development, and Outreach

• Chicora Monitoring Update - Henry Portor, SCDHEC Division of Emissions, Evaluation and Support

• Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program - Wendy Wicke, Charleston County

• Success Story - GEL Engineering Anti-Idling Program - Sandra Chzaz, GEL Engineering

The BCDCOG Air Quality Coalition meeting was held on June 23, 2009. Below are the presentations and materials from that meeting.

• Agenda

• Regional Land Use Planning - Alec Brebner, BCDCOG Planning Director

• Air Monitoring at Chicora Elementary School - Henry Porter, Director, SCDHEC Division of Emissions, Evaluation and Support

• North Charleston Air Quality Partnership - Henry Porter, Director, SCDHEC Division of Emissions, Evaluation and Support

• Diesel Emissions Reductions Project at the SC Ports Authority - Jeannie Adame, SC Ports Authority

• Transportation Conformity 101 - Jessica Hekter, Federal Highway Administration, SC Division

• Sustaining and Growing the BCD Clean Air Coalition - Myra Reece, SCDHEC Bureau Chief Air Quality

• Mobility Management - Vonie Gilreath, BCDCOG Mobility Manager

The BCDCOG Air Quality Coalition kick-off meeting was held in December of 2008. Below are the presentations and materials from that meeting.

• Agenda

• Breathe Better Program - Info Packet - Postcard - Project Guide - Bookmark - Angie Perry, Consultant

• S.C. State Ports Authority's Green Efforts - Byron Miller, Director of Public Relations, SC State Ports Authority

• Lexington County's Open Burning Ordinance - Synithia Williams, Lexington County Environmental Coordinator

• Lexington Medical Center Green Initiatives - Dale Thompson, Director of Environmental and Safety Services, Lexington Medical Center

• Take a Break from the Exhaust Program - Jake Porter, Air Education and Outreach Section, Bureau of Air Quality, SCDHEC