Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Air Quality Monitoring topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners direct staff to continue Garfield CountyC2A0air monitoring; work session planned on long‑term equipment strategy
Summary
After an update from Environmental Health and the countyC2A0technical advisory group, commissioners instructed staff to continue the countyC2A0monitoring program for 2025 while planning a work session to evaluate equipment replacement options and longer‑term funding.
The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners received an extensive status briefing on the county air‑quality monitoring program on May 19 and provided staff direction to maintain monitoring in 2025 while preparing a work session to evaluate replacement options for aging equipment.
Environmental Health staff and consultants from Air Resource Specialists presented data showing that ozone, PM2.5 and VOC levels in Garfield County remain below EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards in recent years. The consultants noted declines in VOCs and methane at the county's Battle of Mesa monitoring site and showed PM and NOx readings well below regulatory thresholds.
Why it matters: County monitors have provided long baseline data used both for public health reporting and to inform rulemaking and industry practice. Some monitoring equipment is 13 years old; industry practice recommends replacement every 7–8 years. Staff warned that continued operation will require equipment replacements and ongoing consultant support; parts are now becoming harder to source.
Board direction and next steps: The county's Air Quality Technical Advisory Group recommended continuing the core suite of monitoring but suggested discontinuing the nitrogen‑oxides monitor that had shown consistently low readings. Commissioners agreed to: - Continue the county program for 2025 using available contract funding; staff will renew the ARS contract to maintain state‑funded ozone and PM2.5 monitoring and the county‑funded sites for the near term. - Convene a public work session (timing to be set) that will present equipment‑replacement options and budget scenarios, including the possibility of replacing monitors as a capital item in the 2026 budget or using mitigation reserves for one‑time replacement costs.
Staff emphasized there is no immediate supplemental request to replace equipment in 2025 but warned that some monitors could fail without further capital funding. Commissioners asked staff to return with detailed cost estimates and recommendations for 2026 budgeting.
Ending: The board directed Environmental Health and the public‑health director to coordinate a work session and to keep the county manager and commissioners apprised of potential costs and timing.
