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The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) sent an October 3rd letter to Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) Associate Director, Office of Air Quality, Stuart Spencer approving the agency’s 2017 Annual Monitoring Network Plan (“Plan”) for ambient air.

The letter also had appended technical comments on the Plan.

The October 3rd EPA letter from Guy R. Donaldson, EPA Region 6 Associate Director for Air, enclosing the agency’s comments states:

I am pleased to inform you that the 2017 Plan is approved with comments in accordance with 40 CFR § 58.10. Details of our review are provided in the enclosure. We have requested that some additional information be provided within 90 days of receipt of this letter, and intend to set up a telephone conference to discuss our comments with you.

Monitoring sites measure ambient air quality concentrations of pollutants for which standards have been established. State and local agencies that conduct ambient air monitoring for regulatory purposes are required, by Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 5810, to submit an Annual Monitoring Network Plan to EPA annually. The report is required to provide specific monitoring network information. Such plans will generally describe the monitoring sites in the state or local jurisdiction including identification of their monitoring purpose. Deviations in physical characteristics or operation from regulatory requirements may also be described.

EPA’s technical comments (appended to the October 3rd letter) include both those of a general nature and specific to various Clean Air Act criteria air pollutants. The comments appear to primarily involve acknowledgment and/or approval of the ADEQ decisions and activities. Also included is a document titled “Tips for Development of Future Plans.”

A copy of the October 3rd letter and comments can be downloaded here.