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EPA study shows air quality violations in North Dakota and Montana protected areas

Release Date: 5/23/2003
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Denver -- The Environmental Protection Agency today announced the release of an agency study that shows many air quality violations in Class I protected areas in North Dakota and Montana.

Class I areas are afforded the highest degree of protection under the EPA’s Prevention of Significant Deterioration program – a program that ensures that clean areas remain clean.

EPA’s modeling results indicate sulfur dioxide pollution from nearby industrial sources is degrading air quality in certain areas which are to receive stringent protection from air pollution under the PSD program. The areas involved in the study include: Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Lostwood Wilderness Area in North Dakota, and Medicine Lakes Wilderness Area and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana.

A Notice of Availability, published in the federal register today, begins a 30-day public comment period during which interested parties may submit their comments on the modeling report to the EPA. EPA officials will consider all comments received before taking any further action.

The report, titled “Dispersion Modeling Analysis of PSD Class I Increment Consumption in North Dakota and Easter Montana (May 2003),” is available at https://www.epa.gov/region08/air/ndair.html. A hard copy of the report may be obtained by calling EPA’s Region 8 office at 800-227-8917, Ext. 6416 or 303-312-6416.

Mail written comments to:
Richard R. Long
Director, Air and Radiation Program
Mail code: 8P-AR EPA Region 8
999 18th St. Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202