Overview
Pocatello - Garrett and Gould is an operational air monitoring station in Pocatello, Idaho, operated by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare-Environment Division. It provides ambient air quality data as part of the US EPA Air Quality System net
Pocatello - Garrett and Gould is an air monitoring station located at the corner of Garrett and Gould streets in Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho. Operated by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare-Environment Division, this station is part of the national ambient air quality monitoring network that supports the US EPA's Air Quality System (AQS). The station is currently operational and contributes to the assessment of criteria pollutants and other atmospheric parameters. The station operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Air Act, which mandates monitoring of pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead. While specific parameters measured at this site are not detailed, typical urban monitoring stations in Idaho track PM2.5, PM10, and ozone to ensure compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The station's siting in a residential-commercial area provides representative data for population exposure. Environmental monitoring in Pocatello is important due to the city's location in the Mountain West, where air quality can be affected by inversions, wildfire smoke, and industrial activities. Data from this station supports public health advisories and regulatory decisions. The station's long-term operation, with recent sampling in June 2025, indicates consistent reporting continuity, which is critical for trend analysis and policy evaluation.
Environmental context
Pocatello is situated in the Snake River Plain, where topography and weather patterns can lead to temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the surface. The region experiences occasional wildfire smoke events that elevate particulate levels. Industrial sources include a nearby phosphate processing plant and agricultural activities. Monitoring stations like Garrett and Gould help track these influences, providing data for air quality index reports and health warnings. The station's location at a street corner in a mixed-use area offers representative sampling for urban exposure assessment.
Frequently asked questions
The station is located at the corner of Garrett and Gould streets in Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho, United States.
Typical urban air monitoring stations in Idaho measure criteria pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead under the US EPA's AQS network.
The station is operated by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare-Environment Division, which is responsible for ambient air quality monitoring in the state.
The AQS is the national repository for ambient air quality data, supporting the Clean Air Act. Stations must follow standardized methods for siting, sampling, and reporting to ensure data comparability and compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Pocatello's location in the Snake River Plain makes it prone to temperature inversions that trap pollutants. Monitoring helps track air quality from local industrial and agricultural sources, as well as wildfire smoke, providing data for public health advisories and regulatory actions.
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