Why do we monitor air quality and visibility?

Monitoring the air quality within and near the National Forests in the Southern Region (Region 8) is one example of how the Forest Service is "caring for the land, and serving people." The air quality monitoring information is used for environmental assessments, and for our forest planning for each National Forest in the Southern Region. Furthermore, the Region 8 Air Resource Management staff uses the information when providing technical advice to the appropriate Forest Supervisor (designated as the Federal Land Manager according to the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1977) when a new (large) stationary source of air pollution has the potential to impact any Air Quality Related Value at one or more of the nine federally mandated Class I areas in the Southern Region.

Webcams:

Joyce Kilmer
View of Joyce Kilmer Wilderness
Shining Rock
View of Shining Rock Wilderness
Upper Buffalo
View of Upper Buffalo

Air Pollutants of Concern:

Acidic Deposition
Acidic Deposition
Ozone
Ozone

Air Pollution Impacts:

Acidification
Acidification
Ozone
Ozone
Mercury
Mercury
Visibility
Visibility

Other Information:

PSD Analysis
PSD Analysis
Air Quality Results By National Forest (Coming Soon)
Air Quality Results By National Forest
Tools
Tools
Climate Change Presentations
Climate Change Presentations
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