Air Resources Management

Policy and Program Objectives

Policy Statement

The NPS Management Policies states:

...the Service will seek to perpetuate the best possible air quality in parks to (1) preserve natural resources and systems; (2) preserve cultural resources; and (3) sustain visitor enjoyment, human health, and scenic vistas.... The Service will assume an aggressive role in promoting and pursuing measures to protect these values from the adverse impacts of air pollution. In cases of doubt as to the impacts of existing or potential air pollution on park resources, the Service will err on the side of protecting air quality and related values for future generations. (4.7.1)

Air resource management requirements will be integrated into NPS operations and planning, and all air pollution sources within parks - including prescribed fire management and visitor use activities - will comply with all federal, state, and local air quality regulations and permitting requirements... The Service will:

• Inventory the air quality related values associated with each park;
• Monitor and document the condition of air quality and related values;
• Evaluate air pollution impacts, and identify causes;
• Minimize air quality pollution emissions associated with park operations, including the use of prescribed fire and visitor use activities; and
• Ensure healthful indoor air quality in NPS facilities.

External programs needed to remedy existing, and prevent future, impacts on park resources and values from human-caused air pollution will be aggressively pursued by Service participation in the development of federal, state, and local air pollution control plans and regulations. Permit applications for major new air pollution sources will be reviewed, and potential impacts will be assessed…. The public's understanding of park air quality issues will be promoted through educational and interpretive programs. (4.7.1)

Program Objectives

The goal of the NPS air resource management program is the preservation, protection, and enhancement of air quality and air quality related values (AQRVs) of units of the National Park System by ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act and the NPS Organic Act. The major objectives include: (1) ensuring that facilities and activities within parks minimize air pollutant emissions through best management practices and, at a minimum, comply with Clean Air Act requirements, including federal, state and local regulations; (2) acquiring information and tools needed to document air quality conditions in parks, evaluate trends, identify resources that may be or are affected by air pollutants, determine cause and effect relationships, and estimate changes that might result from increasing or decreasing pollution levels; and (3) using available information to remedy existing and prevent future air pollution effects on park resources and values, including participating in federal and state regulatory development and stationary source permitting processes, as required by the Clean Air Act.