In October, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) installed a new permanent air quality monitor in Glasgow, providing Valley County residents with expanded access to real-time air quality data. This installation is part of a broader initiative to enhance air quality monitoring across the state.
The Glasgow monitor was funded through an EPA-administered award for Enhanced Continuous Ambient Air Monitoring. This grant also supported the establishment of new monitoring stations in Havre, Glendive, and Choteau, and upgrades to existing sites in Dillon, Cut Bank, and Billings Lockwood. Data collected from these monitors is now accessible on DEQ’s Today’s Air website and the EPA’s AirNow Fire and Smoke Map.
Wildfire smoke, a significant public health concern in Montana, was a primary focus of the grant. The monitors measure fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is a key pollutant in wildfire smoke. PM2.5 levels can vary significantly between communities due to factors such as fire location, weather conditions, and topography. The new monitors ensure more Montanans have access to localized air quality data, allowing them to make informed decisions about their health. Previously, Malta and Sidney housed the nearest federally certified monitoring sites for Glasgow residents.
Montana’s Air Quality Monitoring Program collaborates with local agencies to track air quality statewide. This expanded network reflects DEQ’s commitment to maintaining an adaptive monitoring system and improving assessments of smoke impacts for all Montanans.
The statewide air monitoring network, guided by the Montana and Federal Clean Air Acts, serves to measure, track, and report outdoor air quality conditions. The collected data informs regulatory decisions and provides critical air quality information to governments, schools, and the public.
By: Big Sky Headlines staff