Description
Alberta Environment has completed the second annual assessment of particulate matter (PM) and ozone data as promised under the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) Particulate Matter and Ozone Management Framework. The assessment compares outdoor levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone data to action triggers defined by the CASA Framework. Action levels have been assigned to air monitoring stations in Alberta based on the procedure defined by the Canada Wide Standards (CWS) and CASA Framework. The results of the assessment show that PM2.5 and ozone levels at all monitoring stations were lower than the CWS exceedance trigger based on data from 2002 to 2004 after backing out or removing episodes that were primarily caused by natural, background or trans-boundary influences. However, the assessment results do show that ozone levels in some areas of the province are approaching CWS levels and therefore air quality management plans need to be developed.