What?: DEP has opened public comment on its 2014 - 2015 annual air monitoring network plan. DEP maintains a network of permanent air quality monitoring stations throughout the state. Every year they release their plan for this network for the forthcoming year. Like many official documents from DEP, this is subject to Public Comment.

Why Does It Matter?: Below is DEP’s map of its air quality monitoring network. Count up the red dots in Fayette County: THERE AREN'T ANY! None, zip. We are out of the picture, despite being a hotbed of Marcellus Shale activity. This is our chance to tell the DEP that we need a permanent air quality monitoring station in Fayette County. With the number of Marcellus Shale wells and compressor stations in Fayette County, it is simply inexcusable that they have no permanent monitoring station here.

What Do I Need to Do?: Send your comments via:

Deadline: Comments must be received by Monday, June 9, 2014.

What should I talk about in my comment? (I’m not an expert on air pollution!) If you have personal experience of air pollution in Fayette County, tell the DEP about it. Explain that without a permanent monitoring station, all of the citizens of Fayette County are missing major data concerning air pollution. Explain that we are a major location of Marcellus Shale activity, and this is a serious source of air pollution. With the amount of shale gas infrastructure we have in Fayette County, it is inexcusable that there not be a monitoring station here. Explain that the county is divided in two by Chestnut Ridge, and we need a monitoring station to understand the impact of the ridge on air pollution — something that our neighboring counties cannot do for us! (The National Weather Service notes such a difference between east vs. west of Chestnut Ridge that they often issue separate weather forecasts.)

Background: For those willing to dig into the details, here is where to find the documents: