Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Mark Sulzbach, 651-296-7768 Saint Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has released the 2009 Air Monitoring Network Plan for public review and comment through June 6, 2008. The annual report provides an overview of the various air quality monitoring networks currently operating in Minnesota. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires state and local government agencies to publish an annual monitoring network plan. Its purpose is to demonstrate compliance with air monitoring network regulations, describe proposed changes for the upcoming year and provide specific information on each of the existing and proposed monitoring sites. The plan provides details about the location of individual sites and monitoring objectives. Data for several pollutants is also summarized to show current conditions relative to state and federal air quality standards. Changes to the federal regulations in 2006 now require agencies to solicit comments for a 30-day period. Instructions for submitting comments can be found on the MPCA Public Notice page at www.pca.state.mn.us/news/data/index.cfm?PN=1. The draft plan can be found at www.pca.state.mn.us/air/monitoringnetwork.html. For more information, contact Rick Strassman, MPCA air monitoring unit supervisor, at 651-296-7754 or toll-free at 1-800-657-3864.