FAQs • Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency

The YRCAA is an air pollution control authority formed pursuant to RCW 70A.15.1500 and RCW 70A.15.1510.  The YRCAA is a regulatory agency that controls the emission of pollutants in the air in accordance with state statutes and regulations and is considered a municipal corporation and a political subdivision of the State.  As a regulatory agency, the YRCAA serves neither as an advocacy organization nor a pollution elimination authority, but works to limit air contaminants to those levels deemed safe by state and federal authorities.

The YRCAA ensures compliance with the federal and state clean air acts and the regulations pursuant to them.  This is accomplished through monitoring and reporting the air quality, assisting businesses in complying with various applicable rules, investigating complaints about air pollution, and providing public education about the existence and prevention of air pollution.

The YRCAA service area is limited to Yakima County and is generally comprised of that portion of the County outside of the Yakama Nation Reservation.  This is the area approximately north of the Ahtanum Ridge and northeast of the Yakima River with the addition of Mabton and the areas to its east and south.  The area within the boundary of the Yakama Nation Reservation falls within the jurisdiction of the Yakama Nation and the US Environmental Protection Agency that are responsible for permitting, investigations, inspections, and other compliance and enforcement action.  However, the YRCAA does operate certain state-level programs such as the Residential Wood Smoke Reduction Program on non-tribal properties within the Reservation boundaries.

Areas east of the County fall within the jurisdiction of the Benton Clean Air Agency.  Areas west of the County fall within the jurisdiction of the Southwest Clean Air Agency.  Areas north and south of the County fall within the jurisdiction of the Wash. Dept. of Ecology.  Areas northwest of the County fall within the jurisdiction of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.  For a map is available showing the local air pollution control authorities across the state.

No.  Air pollution control authorities are authorized to levy property taxes (upon a three-fifths majority vote) pursuant to RCW 70A.15.1580.  However, it has never done so.

The YRCAA is funded primarily through fees charged to industry.  However, the YRCAA does receive funding from the incorporated cities within Yakima County and the County itself (for unincorporated areas) at an annual rate of $0.48 per capita (as of 2025) pursuant to RCW 70A.15.1600.  The Agency also receives additional monies through certain federal and state grants.

Yakima Clean Air has public education information available in English and Spanish. Some of these publications are posted on this website.

Since the early 1990's the air quality trends for both particulate matter smaller than 10 microns (PM10) and carbon monoxide (CO) have been improving as measured by the daily and annual average measurements. From May to October of 1999 Yakima Clean Air and the WA State Department of Ecology did a study which determined that ground level ozone is not currently an air pollution concern in the Upper Valley.

Our Agency has real time reporting monitors for particulate matter smaller than 10 microns (PM10) at the Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health Building, 402 So. 4th Ave. The hourly results from these monitors are reported on this website. In addition our Agency operates non-real time monitors to determine compliance with federal standards at the following locations:
PM10 - Comprehensive Mental Health, Yakima and Harrison Middle School, 
Sunnyside; and
PM2.5 - Comprehensive Mental Health.

The cause of poor indoor air quality can be difficult to determine, but many times it is associated with poor ventilation, high air moisture levels, or emissions from new carpet or furniture.

This website has a link to a U. S. Environmental Protection Agency website with indoor air quality information. Consulting industrial hygienists can sample for the agents causing indoor air quality problems and make recommendations.

Burning even clean dry wood produces air pollutants like carbon monoxide, small particulate and a host of toxic compounds that cause cancer and exacerbate respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

(AQI)

Instruction for Paying Online Registration - 2016

Dear Registered Source:

Last year we developed a system to make the registration process easier and faster for customers.   You are now able to complete, submit and pay your registration forms and fees online.  

Fillable forms are available on the YRCAA website at www.yakimacleanair.org.  Click “Forms and Registration” complete and submit the form(s) that applies to your facility. 

Registration invoices can be paid through YRCAA’s main page or under “Forms and Registration”. Click to select your registration class and pay online. 

If you created an account through Express Bill Pay last year, invoices can be paid through that account www.xpressbillpay.com or you can pay using our website as stated above. 

If you prefer to open an account with Xpress Bill Pay, the following is how to register through their website: 

1.      Go to www.xpressbillpay.com;

2.      Click the “Go” button below “New to Xpress Bill Pay?” and complete the short registration form including email and password;

3.      Select your billing organization and follow the prompts for linking your bill; and 

4.      Once your bill is added to your account, you can view and pay your bill online or set up a recurring auto payment schedule. 

You still have the option of mailing in your registration forms and fees; however, we strongly encourage you to complete your registration online.   

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (509) 834-2050 ext. 105 or ext. 107.  Thank you.

No.  Prohibiting the use of natural gas (including propane, kerosene, etc.) for heating, cooking, or other similar uses is not allowed under RCW 70A.15.1110 which states, "An authority shall not in any way prohibit, penalize, or discourage the use of gas for any form of heating, or for uses related to any appliance or equipment, in any building."