EPA says Libby meets national air quality standards
HELENA – The Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s request to the Environmental Protection Agency to designate the Libby area as meeting national air quality standards has been approved.
According to a press release, the state submitted monitoring data from 2014 to 2021 demonstrating that the air is meeting national standards.
When an area is meeting standards, it is referred to as attainment. The redesignation from nonattainment to attainment means the Libby area is in compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for particulate matter with a diameter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers (PM-2.5).
According to EPA, the fine particles in PM-2.5 can be inhaled deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems.
“This redesignation is a reflection of the work the Lincoln County Environmental Health Department has done to ensure clean air in Libby,” said Bo Wilkins, bureau chief of DEQ’s Air Quality Program. “Our air quality team worked closely with Lincoln County to gather monitoring data and develop the limited maintenance plan. We are excited to announce Libby is meeting air quality standards.”
Libby was designated as nonattainment by the EPA for the PM-2.5 standard in 1993. Since then, the area has implemented measures to attain the air quality standard.
These measures include regulating solid fuel burning devices, implementing road dust requirements including sanding and sweeping and enforcing outdoor burning regulations.
The process for demonstrating that an area should be redesignated requires extensive data gathering and analysis. The data demonstrated the Libby area has attained the PM-2.5 air quality standard and that the area will maintain compliance into the future, based on emission growth estimates.
The Libby area will remain under an EPA approved limited maintenance plan for the next 20 years to ensure protection of air quality.
Due to years of healthy air monitoring data in Libby, DEQ was able to use a streamlined analysis to demonstrate that the area is meeting air quality standards. Libby is the first area in the nation to be redesignated using this approach.
While DEQ celebrates achieving long-term clean air in Libby, the department also reminds Montanans that wildfires, winter inversions and other factors can cause temporary high concentrations of PM-2.5.
Individuals should still monitor air quality and take appropriate precautions to protect their health.
Since 2019, DEQ has successfully redesignated 10 nonattainment areas across Montana. Areas that are designated nonattainment can face barriers to economic development as companies and visitors may choose alternative locations with clean air designations.
Redesignation formally removes the stigma and helps communities thrive.