offered by
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
related to
Air Monitoring in Massachusetts
Air Quality Reports, Plans & Data

MassDEP Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network & Annual Plan

Learn about which pollutants and parameters the agency measures at specific monitoring sites, and why.

About the Monitoring Network & Plan

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) operates a network of 21 ambient air quality monitoring stations at locations across the state. The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) operates an ozone monitoring station on Martha's Vineyard. Each year, MassDEP is required to submit an Annual Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This document and its attachments are subject to a 30-day public comment period before MassDEP submits them to EPA for review and approval.

The annual network plan describes to EPA which pollutants and other parameters MassDEP measures at its various ambient air monitoring sites and why they are measured at those specific locations. It also describes changes in the network - including new and closed locations, and new and discontinued measurements at existing locations - since the last network plan, as well as proposed changes in the network over the next 18 months.

MassDEP also must conduct an assessment of the Massachusetts Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network every five years to determine whether it meets the objectives defined in EPA regulations.

Air Monitoring Network Map

Zoom in ( + ) and click on the icons to learn about each monitoring station site across Massachusetts.

Monitoring Sites & Parameters Measured

Monitoring Sites

O
3

C
O

S
O
2

N
O
x

N
O
y

P
b

M
E
T

P
M
10

P
M
2.5

P
A
M
S

T
O
X
I
C
S

B
C

S
P
E
C

I
M
P
R
O
V
E

Aquinnah - Wampanoag Tribal Site

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Boston - Kenmore

    

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Boston - Harrison Avenue

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Boston - Von Hillern Street

  

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Brockton - Buckley Playground

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Chelmsford - EPA NERL

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Chelmsford - Manning Road

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Chicopee - Westover AFB

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Fairhaven - Hastings School

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Fall River - Globe Street

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Greenfield - Veterans Field

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Haverhill - Consentino School

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Lynn-Water Treatment Plant

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Milton - Blue Hill Observatory

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North Adams – Holden Street

      

 

 

  

 

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Pittsfield - Silver Lake Drive

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Springfield - Liberty Street

  

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Truro - National Seashore

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Uxbridge - Blackstone Heritage

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Ware - Quabbin Summit

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Worcester - Airport

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Worcester - Summer Street

  

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LEGEND OF PARAMETER ACRONYMS
O3 Ozone
CO Carbon Monoxide
SO2 Sulfur Dioxide
NOx Nitric Oxide, including Nitrogen Dioxide
NOy Total Reactive Oxides of Nitrogen
Pb Lead
MET Meteorological Parameters
PM10 Particulate Matter (10 microns & smaller)
PM2.5 Fine Particles (2.5 microns & smaller)
PAMS Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Station
TOXICS Toxic Air Pollutants including Carbonyls (Aldehydes), Metals & VOCs
BC Black Carbon
SPEC Speciated Fine Particles
IMPROVE Visibility PM Speciation

Network Plan & Attachments

See Additional Resources below for the Draft 2019 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan and attachments, and a link to these documents from previous years.

MassDEP will accept public comments through August 21, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. EDT by mail or email to:

Sean Dunn
MassDEP Air Assessment Branch
Sen. William X. Wall Experiment Station
37 Shattuck Street
Lawrence, MA 01843-1398

sean.m.dunn@mass.gov

Additional Resources

Previous Year Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plans
Draft 2019 Annual Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan (PDF 1.65 MB)
Draft 2019 Attachments 2 & 3: Site Measurements & Measurement Methods (XLSX 18.69 KB)
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