Despite their obvious emissions, most SLAC-owned vehicles are regulated primarily by the state Department of Motor Vehicles or 40 CFR 89, in contrast to diesel generators and related equipment. The fundamental distinction is whether or not their engines are used for propulsion, as opposed to generating electricity or doing some other form of work.

The Air Quality Program Manager (AQPM) prepares permit applications for new emissions sources, monitors emissions from permitted sources, compiles monitoring data for regulatory deliverables, works with source custodians to minimize emissions, keeps abreast of pending regulations, reviews proposed projects and chemicals to be used onsite with regard to air issues, helps to develop preventive maintenance programs for emissions sources, and interacts with regulators as needed.

Regulatory agencies with oversight responsibility for air quality include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD). Program deliverables include a variety of annual and semi-annual reports. SLAC employs a procurement-based model (purchase = use) to track hazardous materials, which greatly simplifies collection of monitoring data.

SLAC is subject to Title V of the Clean Air Act (CAA), and operates under a Synthetic Minor Operating Permit (SMOP) that is renewed annually. What this means is that SLAC is classified as a medium-size facility where emissions of hazardous air pollutants are maintained below established standards in order to avoid the additional regulatory requirements associated with being a major source of emissions.

Current high-visibility programs involve greenhouse gases and diesel generators, due largely to the passage of the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32). The insulating gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is of particular interest, since it is found in both electrical equipment and research apparatus throughout SLAC. In addition, it is also the most powerful greenhouse gas known, with a Global Warming Potential about 24,000 times that of carbon dioxide.