Overview
Ben Franklin School is an operational air monitoring station in Rochester, Minnesota, operated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. It contributes to the US EPA Air Quality System network, tracking criteria pollutants to support public health a
Ben Franklin School is an operational air monitoring station located at 1801 9th Ave. SE in Rochester, Minnesota, United States. It is part of the state's ambient air quality monitoring network managed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Air Quality. The station plays a role in the broader US EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which collects and manages ambient air monitoring data nationwide. The station operates under the regulatory framework of the Clean Air Act and EPA ambient air quality standards for criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. Typical air monitoring stations in Minnesota use federal reference or equivalent methods to measure these pollutants, with data reported regularly to the AQS. The station's last sample date is June 30, 2025, indicating ongoing data collection. Rochester is a growing city in southeastern Minnesota, home to the Mayo Clinic and a mix of urban and industrial sources. Air monitoring at Ben Franklin School helps assess local air quality, support health studies, and inform emission reduction strategies. The station's data contributes to regional air quality trends and compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), benefiting community health and environmental management.
Environmental context
The station's location in a residential area near a school provides representative monitoring of population exposure to urban air pollutants. Its siting follows EPA guidelines for monitoring stations to ensure data reflects typical community conditions. The station likely measures criteria pollutants, with potential for additional speciation or meteorological parameters to support air quality modeling and health assessments.
Frequently asked questions
Ben Franklin School air monitoring station is located at 1801 9th Ave. SE, Rochester, Minnesota, United States.
As part of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's network, Ben Franklin School monitors criteria air pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, and others to assess compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
The station is operated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Division of Air Quality, under the US EPA's Air Quality System.
Air monitoring in the United States is governed by the Clean Air Act and EPA regulations, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the Air Quality System (AQS) for data management.
The station provides continuous air quality data that supports public health advisories, emission reduction strategies, and compliance with federal air quality standards in the Rochester area.
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