Overview
The Flat Agricultural Terrain air monitoring station in Tracy, California, operated by the California Air Resources Board, monitors ambient air quality in San Joaquin County. It supports the US EPA Air Quality System network.
The Flat Agricultural Terrain air monitoring station is located inside a PG&E gas pipeline maintenance yard at 24081 Patterson Pass Road in Tracy, California. This station is part of the California Air Resources Board's monitoring network and contributes to the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which tracks criteria pollutants and other atmospheric parameters across the United States. The station operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Air Act, which mandates ambient air quality standards for pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead. As a monitoring site in California's Central Valley, it likely measures criteria pollutants and may include speciation or meteorological parameters to assess regional air quality and support emission reduction strategies. This monitoring station plays a critical role in characterizing air quality in an agricultural region influenced by both farming activities and urban emissions from nearby Tracy and the San Francisco Bay Area. Data from this station helps inform public health advisories and regulatory compliance, contributing to the broader goal of protecting community health and the environment.
Environmental context
The station is situated in San Joaquin County, part of California's Central Valley, a region with significant agricultural activity and periodic air quality challenges due to topography and meteorology. The area experiences high ozone levels in summer and particulate matter from agricultural burning and dust. Monitoring here helps assess the effectiveness of state and federal air quality programs, including the California Air Resources Board's efforts to reduce emissions from mobile and stationary sources.
Frequently asked questions
The station is located at 24081 Patterson Pass Road in Tracy, California, inside a PG&E gas pipeline maintenance yard.
As part of the California Air Resources Board network, the station likely measures criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides, supporting the US EPA Air Quality System.
The station is operated by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the state agency responsible for air quality monitoring and regulation.
Air monitoring stations in the US operate under the Clean Air Act and are part of the EPA's Air Quality System (AQS), which sets National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants.
Agricultural regions can experience elevated levels of particulate matter from farming activities and ozone from precursor emissions. Monitoring helps assess health impacts and guide emission reduction policies.
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