Division of Air Quality
The Division of Air Quality consists of programs responsible for protecting the State's air quality resources and for ensuring the control of radiation. Staff scientists, engineers, and technicians also provide technical assistance during environmental matters and emergency response efforts.
The Outdoor Air Quality Program is responsible for protecting and fostering the State's air quality resources. This program promotes clean air activities and initiates enforcement actions to correct air pollution problems.
Program staff members' primary responsibilities include:
- Maintain attainment status for all State and National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
- Comply with all federal program requirements and maintain federal delegation responsibility for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) programs.
- Responsible for North Dakota being one of only a handful of states that consistently meets all Federal Ambient Air Quality standards.
- Evaluate approximately 75-100 applications annually for construction permits (PTCs) to determine their effects on air quality.
- Respond to and/or assist in the mitigation of environmental emergencies.
- Oversee EPA grants for replacing older diesel school buses with funds for new clean diesel buses or retrofit technology.
- Play an active role in distributing environmental information to the public and providing public education and outreach by holding public information meetings, scheduling discussion sessions with local public health units and participating in college and other agency seminars directed at providing education to the public on a variety of environmental issues.
- Conduct education and outreach activities to keep the public informed about environmental issues specific to air quality.
- Ensure industry is operating in compliance with all air quality rules and regulations.
Last Updated: 01/10/2020
