Gary- 4th Ave./ Railcats Air Monitoring Station, Gary, Indiana | Environmental Monitoring

Gary- 4th Ave./ Railcats is an air monitoring station located at 1 Stadium Plaza in Gary, Indiana, United States. Operated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's Office of Air Quality, this station is part of the national ambient air quality monitoring network. It contributes to the assessment of air pollution levels in the Lake County region, supporting regulatory compliance and public health protection. The station operates under the framework of the U.S. EPA's Air Quality System (AQS), which sets standards for criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. Monitoring stations like this one are sited to be representative of local air quality conditions, often near population centers or industrial sources. The station's last reported sample date is September 28, 2025, indicating ongoing data collection. As part of Indiana's air monitoring network, this station helps track trends in air quality and supports the state's implementation of the Clean Air Act. The data collected is used for regulatory decision-making, public advisories, and research. The station's location near a stadium and residential areas underscores its role in protecting community health and informing local environmental policy.

Gary, Indiana, is located in the industrial Great Lakes region, with historical emissions from steel manufacturing and other heavy industries. Air monitoring stations in this area are critical for tracking criteria pollutants and ensuring compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The station's siting near a stadium and residential areas provides representative data for population exposure assessments. Continuous monitoring supports the detection of pollution episodes and long-term trends, informing air quality management strategies.