The Larimer County Department of Health and Environment (LCDHE), in partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Air Pollution Control Division, the Town of Timnath, Poudre School District, and the Larimer County Commissioners, proudly announced the establishment of a new air quality monitoring station at Bethke Elementary School in Timnath. The ribbon cutting ceremony, held today at 9:00 a.m., marked a significant milestone in the county’s ongoing efforts to enhance air quality monitoring and ensure the health and well-being of its residents.

In 2022, Colorado's Front Range encompassing nine counties, was reclassified as "severe" and out of compliance with federal air quality standards of ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is formed when oxides of nitrogen, or “NOx”, and volatile organic compounds, or “VOCs”, combine in the presence of sunlight. Ground level ozone is unhealthy, especially for those with respiratory issues, older adults, and children. 

Tom Gonzales, Larimer County Public Health Director, expressed his enthusiasm for the project: "This new air quality monitoring station represents a major step forward in our commitment to protecting public health. By providing accurate and timely information, we can take proactive measures to ensure cleaner air for our community, especially for our children who are most vulnerable to air pollution."

The new station will provide real-time data on air pollutants, including ground-level ozone and nitrogen oxide for the east area of Larimer County and expands the number of monitoring stations in Larimer County from two to three. Data from the three monitors is crucial for understanding and addressing air quality issues in Larimer County and beyond. 

“With this new air monitoring station, the kids in Timnath can focus on learning, growing, and playing while we focus on safeguarding the air they breathe,” said Michael Ogletree, the director of the Air Pollution Control Division at CDPHE. “This latest addition to the state’s expansive air monitoring network reinforces our commitment to creating a cleaner, healthier future for everyone. By gathering more information on pollutants like ground-level ozone and nitrogen oxide, we can better understand and address air quality issues in Larimer County and communities across the state.”

The event underscored the critical role of community collaboration in achieving environmental health goals. The new monitoring station not only benefits the local community but also contributes valuable data to the statewide effort to monitor and improve air quality.

For more information about the ongoing efforts to improve air quality in Larimer County, please visit www.larimer.gov/airquality.

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