Vernal #4 Air Monitoring Station, Vernal, Utah | United States

Vernal #4 is an air monitoring station located at 628 North 1700 West in Vernal, Uintah County, Utah. Operated by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, this station is part of the state's ambient air quality monitoring network, which supports compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The station's last reported sample date was October 31, 2025, indicating ongoing data collection. The station operates under the regulatory framework of the EPA's Air Quality System (AQS), which governs criteria pollutant monitoring across the United States. In Utah, air monitoring stations like Vernal #4 typically measure pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The specific parameters measured at this station are not detailed, but the station contributes to the regional air quality characterization in the Uinta Basin, an area known for oil and gas development. Vernal #4 plays a key role in assessing air quality impacts from local industrial activities, including energy extraction and agriculture. Data from this station helps inform public health advisories and regulatory decisions. The station's location in a semi-arid region with temperature inversions makes it important for understanding pollution dispersion and compliance with federal standards.

The Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah is a region with significant oil and gas extraction, which can contribute to elevated levels of ozone and particulate matter. Air monitoring stations like Vernal #4 are critical for tracking these pollutants, especially during winter inversions that trap emissions near the ground. The station's data supports the EPA's regulatory framework for NAAQS compliance and helps local agencies develop strategies to mitigate air quality impacts from industrial and urban sources.