Overview
Rockville is an operational air monitoring station in Montgomery County, Maryland, operated by the Maryland Department of the Environment. It provides ambient air quality data as part of the US EPA Air Quality System network.
Rockville is an air monitoring station located at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the state's ambient air quality monitoring network, operated by the Maryland Department of the Environment. The station contributes to the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS), which collects and manages air pollution data nationwide. The station's last reported sample date is October 31, 2025, indicating ongoing operation. As a monitoring site in a suburban setting near Washington, D.C., it likely measures criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, or nitrogen dioxide, in accordance with the Clean Air Act. The Maryland Department of the Environment follows EPA-approved methods for siting, calibration, and data reporting to ensure representativeness and accuracy. Rockville supports public health protection by tracking air quality trends and informing regulatory decisions. Its location at an environmental education center also serves community awareness and outreach. The data collected helps assess compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and supports regional air quality management efforts.
Environmental context
The Rockville station operates in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, a region with moderate air quality challenges due to traffic, industrial emissions, and weather patterns. Monitoring focuses on ozone and fine particulate matter, which are common concerns in the Mid-Atlantic. The site's placement at an education center ensures representative sampling of suburban background air, complementing urban and rural monitors in the state network.
Frequently asked questions
The Rockville station is located at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Education Center, 5110 Meadowside Lane, in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States.
As part of the Maryland Department of the Environment's network, the station likely measures criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide, following EPA standards.
The station is operated by the Maryland Department of the Environment, which is responsible for ambient air quality monitoring in the state.
Air monitoring in the U.S. is governed by the Clean Air Act and implemented through the EPA's Air Quality System (AQS). Stations must follow National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for siting, operation, and data reporting.
The station provides continuous air quality data that helps assess compliance with NAAQS, supports public health advisories, and informs regional air pollution control strategies in the Baltimore-Washington area.
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