June 28, 2004
UMBC is an IMPROVE site!
UMBC is an official participant of the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) Program. Colorado State University gives a complete description of the IMPROVE program.The program began in 1985 and was initiated to reinforce the Clean Air Act of 1977. Congress realized the importance of visual air quality and passed the Clean Air act in 1977. “The 1977 Amendments primarily concerned provisions for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) of air quality in areas attaining the NAAQS. The 1977 CAAA also contained requirements pertaining to sources in non-attainment areas for NAAQS. A non-attainment area is a geographic area that does not meet one or more of the federal air quality standards. Both of these 1977 CAAA established major permit review requirements to ensure attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS.” (source: EPA-The Clean Air Act 1977) Other major amendments were added in 1990. (source: EPA-The Clean Air Act 1990) Images of the completed UMBC site, along with Jose Mojica and Joe Carle (installation crew), are located below. Jose and Joe are part of the Air Quality Group of the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at the University of California.
