Southern Ute Indian Tribe Air Quality Program

AMBIENT MONITORING

The Tribe’s Air Quality Program currently is maintaining two air quality monitoring shelters, known as Ute 1 and Ute 3. Ute 1 is located just north of Ignacio, Colorado in the Tribe’s Forestry Division compound and Ute 3 is located off of Colorado State Highway 550 approximately 5.5miles north of Bondad, Colorado. The monitoring program has been designed to be responsive to the needs of the Reservation, while adhering to EPA guidelines.

The Tribe's air monitoring network is equipped to collect Oxides of Nitrogen (NO/NO2/NOx), Ozone (O3), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and meteorological data. The Tribe has collected NO2 and O3 data at the Ignacio, CO site and Bondad, CO site since June 1, 1982 and April 1, 1997, respectively. Since January 1, 2000 both sites initiated meteorological monitors measuring Wind Speed, Wind Direction, Vertical Wind Speed, Outdoor Temperature, Relative Humidity, Solar Radiation, and Rain/Snow Melt Precipitation. Vertical wind speed data was collected from January 2000 to October 2007, Particulate data (PM10) was collected from December 1, 1981 to September 30, 2006 at the Ignacio, CO site and since April 1, 1997 to September 30, 2006 at the Bondad, CO site. The monitors record the following averages for the pollutant monitored: An annual average for NO2, an hourly averages for O3 and CO, and an 8-hour averages for O3.

Monitoring is conducted to:

  • Determine existing background concentrations of criteria pollutants.
  • Identify compliance with the of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
  • Provide data used to protect the health of all residents of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation.
  • Improve understanding of air quality on the Reservation.
  • Provide data and information regarding air quality for use in establishing long-term air quality management goals.