Air Quality
ORCAA Air Monitoring Program
ORCAA works cooperatively with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) and the regional United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to measure criteria ambient air pollutants, meteorological parameters, and other air-related data. ORCAA is a member of the Washington Air Monitoring Work Group, which includes representatives of Ecology and the Washington State Local Air Pollution Control Agencies.
This committee makes recommendations to Washington Air Quality Managers Group regarding air monitoring programs, including ambient air monitoring site locations. Ecology provides support for the air monitoring that ORCAA conducts. ORCAA currently operates and maintains air monitoring equipment for measurement of three of the six criteria pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO).
ORCAA and Ecology operate and maintain meteorological sensors (wind speed, wind direction, temperature, and relative humidity) and nephelometers (a device that continuously measures fine particulates and visibility).
The quantity of air pollution measured is used to calculate the current Air Quality Index. To learn more about this simple color-coded system, visit here (Link to EPA website).
ORCAA also provides air quality forecasts, based on current air quality and forecast weather patterns. ORCAA provides these forecasts to EPA which compiles all the nation’s air quality forecasts into an easily searchable resource found HERE. (link to AirNOW.gov website)
Air Emissions Inventory
The ORCAA Annual Emission Inventory is a collaborative effort between ORCAA and the industrial or commercial businesses (sources) in its jurisdiction. ORCAA’s jurisdiction includes Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in the state of Washington. ORCAA collects emissions-related data from the larger sources on an annual basis.