BLM-(MT/DKs) Air Quality,Visibility, and Deposition Monitoring

Background: The Bureau of Land Management, Montana/Dakotas (BLM-MT/DKs) office has conducted photochemical grid modeling to determine potential impacts to air quality from predicted future oil and gas development. The results predicted potential adverse impacts to visibility, atmospheric deposition, and elevated concentrations of criteria air pollutants in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Specific areas of concern include Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Objectives: As part of its adaptive management strategy for air quality within the Miles City and North Dakota Field Offices, the recipient would conduct monitoring and sampling to assess trends in concentrations of pollutants of concern and to track actual versus predicted impacts to visibility and affected biota and/or watersheds. Public Benefit: Measurement, tracking, and analysis of air quality and air quality related values is used to protect public health and ecosystem health, and evaluate effectiveness of air resource management strategies.