Monitoring

Because the Forest Service is responsible for preventing degradation of its wilderness ecosystems, we are required by law to predict any potential pollution-caused change of air quality related values before the impairment actually occurs. Therefore, the monitoring of AQRV’s serves the two-fold purpose of 1) determining ecosystem health related to air pollution impacts, and gathering data for the PSD permit process.

There is no standard set of information used in the PSD process. The data presented at any given hearing will be determined by the type(s) of potential pollution, the distance of the source from the wilderness or other area of concern, prevailing wind directions, sensitive receptors within the ecosystem determined to be at risk, and issues of public concern.

Because several years of data must often be collected to establish baseline conditions, it is particularly challenging to project or model the impacts from prospective pollution sources, especially within 30 days, as is often the window of decision for a PSD permit. Thus, we must anticipate in advance what data will be most suitable for any PSD hearing, and plan our monitoring accordingly.

Considerations for determining pollution effects upon AQRV’s are:

· Their known or suspected sensitivity to atmospheric pollutants.

· Cost-effective sampling and analysis methods; utility.

· Modeling and predictive techniques that best estimate the effects of emissions upon sensitive receptors.

In addition to AQRV monitoring, both air chemistry and atmospheric deposition monitoring are necessary to establish the linkages between air pollution and any changes to the physical, chemical, or biological condition of the sensitive receptors.


				Air ~ David C. Richie Monitoring



	Home \| Air Program \| Outreach \| ARMnews \| Fire & Air Quality Workshop \| Links and Terms


		Because the Forest Service is responsible for preventing degradation of its wilderness ecosystems, we are required by law to predict any potential pollution-caused change of air quality related values before the impairment actually occurs. Therefore, the monitoring of AQRV’s serves the two-fold purpose of 1) determining ecosystem health related to air pollution impacts, and gathering data for the PSD permit process. There is no standard set of information used in the PSD process. The data presented at any given hearing will be determined by the type(s) of potential pollution, the distance of the source from the wilderness or other area of concern, prevailing wind directions, sensitive receptors within the ecosystem determined to be at risk, and issues of public concern. Because several years of data must often be collected to establish baseline conditions, it is particularly challenging to project or model the impacts from prospective pollution sources, especially within 30 days, as is often the window of decision for a PSD permit. Thus, we must anticipate in advance what data will be most suitable for any PSD hearing, and plan our monitoring accordingly. Considerations for determining pollution effects upon AQRV’s are: · Their known or suspected sensitivity to atmospheric pollutants. · Cost-effective sampling and analysis methods; utility. · Modeling and predictive techniques that best estimate the effects of emissions upon sensitive receptors. In addition to AQRV monitoring, both air chemistry and atmospheric deposition monitoring are necessary to establish the linkages between air pollution and any changes to the physical, chemical, or biological condition of the sensitive receptors.



		IMPROVE Visibility Lake and Stream Chemistry, Snowpack Chemistry, and Snowmelt Terrestrial Aquatic Back