Dedication of facility honors long-time air monitoring specialist
James P. “Jimmy” Werner served as ORCAA’s original air monitoring specialist and built ORCAA’s monitoring program. Jimmy developed and implemented plans to include air monitoring in all six counties served by ORCAA. He and fellow ORCAA colleague, Robert Moody, built the first monitoring station in Lacey. Jimmy retired from ORCAA in 2012 after more than 31 years of service. He passed away unexpectedly in June 2025.
The Mountain View Elementary School in Lacey has hosted ORCAA’s Thurston County air quality monitoring station for nearly forty years. ORCAA replaced the aging structure with a new shelter in August 2025. Atmospheric measurements made at the site include PM2.5, ozone, black carbon (soot) and meteorological (wind, temperature, and pressure). The site also serves as a testing platform for new technologies.
In November, the ORCAA Board of Directors voted to name the new monitoring station the “James P. Werner Air Monitoring Station” in honor of our former colleague. The dedication of the station occurred on April 8, 2026, following the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors. Many board members attended the event, as did several ORCAA staff, colleagues from the Department of Ecology, Jimmy’s friends and family, and representatives from Mountain View Elementary and the City of Lacey. #airmonitoringmonday
