Air Monitoring Network Plan
2014 Network Plan
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Instructions for Public Comment (aq10-10) - Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan for Minnesota - 2014 (aq10-08a)
- Appendix A, 2013 Air Monitoring Site Descriptions (aq10-08b)
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) monitors outdoor air quality throughout Minnesota. There are many reasons to monitor the quality of our outdoor air. The data collected by the MPCA helps determine major sources of ambient air pollution in Minnesota, addresses ways to reduce pollution levels, and tracks concentrations of ambient air pollution over time. Data are also used to determine compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and whether we are protecting the public from the harmful health effects of ambient air pollution.
The purpose of this annual report is to demonstrate compliance with air monitoring network regulations, to describe proposed changes for the upcoming year, and to provide specific information on each of Minnesota's existing and proposed air quality monitoring sites. Details regarding the location of individual sites, monitoring objectives, and proposed changes are provided. Data for several pollutants are summarized to show current conditions relative to State and Federal air quality standards. The plan also provides an overview of the various air quality monitoring networks operating in Minnesota.
The 2014 Air Monitoring Network Plan for Minnesota is open for public review and comment from June 7, 2013 through July 8, 2013. If you would like to submit comments, please refer to the "Instructions for public comment" document near the top of this page.
Air monitoring network plans from previous years
- Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan for Minnesota - 2013 (aq10-07a)
- Annual air monitoring network plan for Minnesota 2012 (aq10-06)
Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan for the State of Minnesota, 2011(aq10-05)
- Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan for the State of Minnesota, 2010(aq10-03)
- Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan for the State of Minnesota, 2009 (aq10-02)
- Annual Air Monitoring Network Plan for the State of Minnesota, 2008 (aq10-01)
Near road air monitoring in Minnesota
In February of 2010, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new minimum monitoring requirements for the nitrogen dioxide (NO2) monitoring network in support of a 1-hour NO2 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). In the new monitoring requirements, state and local air monitoring agencies are required to install near-road NO2 monitoring stations at locations where peak hourly NO2 concentrations are expected to occur within the near-road environment in large urban areas by January 1, 2013. The following document titled, Near-Road Air Monitoring in Minnesota: Twin Cities Metropolitan Area Site Identification, describes the process and criteria used to identify the near-roadway monitoring site in Minnesota. The MPCA submitted a version of this plan to EPA Region 5, and received final approval for the proposed site location along I-94 and I-35W in Minneapolis in January 2012.
- Twin Cities Site Identification (aq10-07c)
2011 Source-oriented Lead Monitoring Plan
On October 18, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for lead. In addition to a ten-fold tightening of the standard, the EPA announced an expanded lead monitoring network, including both population and source-oriented monitoring. This plan describes the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s (MPCA) proposed source-oriented lead monitoring network, which will be operational on January 1, 2010. Included in this report is a description of how the MPCA identified facilities potentially requiring monitoring, air dispersion modeling procedures and results, and where required, proposed locations for source-oriented lead monitoring.
Staff contacts
For questions about the MPCA Air Monitoring Network, contact the following MPCA staff:
- Kellie Gavin, 651-757-2379
- Cassie McMahon, 651-757-2564
- Rick Strassman, 651-757-2760
