Update on North Minneapolis particulate monitoring

You are receiving this message as a subscriber to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's email list for updates on the North Minneapolis particulate monitoring project.

On January 1, 2013 the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) began a monitoring study to assess fine particle concentrations in an industrial area of North Minneapolis. After seeking public input, the MPCA placed a fine particle monitor on the roof of a commercial building in the industrial area along the river. The monitoring site is bordered by N Lowry Ave to the north, the west bank of the Mississippi River to the east, N 31^st Ave to the south, and Pacific St. to the west. The surrounding area contains a mix of land uses including metal recyclers, manufacturing facilities, and retail. The nearest residential area is located approximately ¼ mile from the monitoring site.

Initial monitoring results indicate that on the majority of days fine particle concentrations at the North Minneapolis monitoring site closely match fine particle measurements at other Twin Cities monitoring sites including monitors in South Minneapolis, St. Paul, Apple Valley, and Blaine. Compared to these sites, the difference in the average fine particle concentration at the North Minneapolis monitor is less than 1 µg/m³ (micrograms per cubic meter), which is statistically insignificant.

Fine particle concentrations are measured against two federal standards: a 24-hour standard and an annual standard. To date, all 24-hour average fine particle concentrations measured at the North Minneapolis monitoring site are below the 24-hour standard of 35 µg/m³, which is also the level at which the MPCA issues an air pollution health alert. The average of available data is also below the level of the annual standard.

On the vast majority of days, the 24-hour fine particle concentration at the North Minneapolis monitoring site closely matches other Twin Cities sites. However, on several occasions monitoring results at the North Minneapolis site have been significantly different than other area sites, suggesting that local fine particle emissions sources may have contributed to intermittent increases in fine particle concentrations in the area around the North Minneapolis monitoring site. MPCA is working with surrounding facilities to identity any activities that may have contributed to the elevated fine particle concentrations measured at the North Minneapolis monitoring site

MPCA has prepared a new fact sheet summarizing the monitoring program thus far for the North Minneapolis site. The fact sheet is available at http://www.pca.state.mn.us/index.php/view-document.html?gid=19632. MPCA will continue to send periodic updates of monitoring results through the duration of the monitoring (1-3 years depending on results).

For more information on the North Minneapolis monitoring project, visit http://www.pca.state.mn.us/rx6ffwu. To speak to someone about the monitoring project, contact Rick Strassman at the MPCA, rick.strassman@state.mn.us or 651-757-2760. For questions related to monitoring results, contact Cassie McMahon at the MPCA, cassie.mcmahon@state.mn.us or 651-757-2564.