offered by

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

related to

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.

This page summarizes the annual network plan and five-year network assessment. See the full network plan plus attachments, and instructions for submitting comments.

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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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 - 78 Center Street

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Pittsfield - 1 South Street

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 current Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan and attachments, and a link to Network Plans from previous years.