The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe's Air Quality Program is excited to announce the relocation of our Ambient Air Monitoring Station from Library Road, near the Early Learning Center, to Drum Street Road near the Transfer Station. This Air Monitoring Station plays an important role in understanding and protecting the air we breathe in Akwesasne.
What does the station monitor?
The station monitors five of the six Clean Air Act (CAA) criteria air pollutants:
- Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10)
- Ground-level Ozone
- Carbon monoxide
- Sulfur dioxide
- Nitrogen dioxide
The station also records weather conditions, including wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure. Lead is not currently monitored at the station, but the Air Quality Program hopes to add lead monitoring in the coming years.
Why does this matter?
Air monitoring provides the community with reliable information about current and long-term air quality conditions.
The data collected helps:
Calculate the Air Quality Index (AQI) and communicate current air quality conditions and health risks. Identify long-term air quality trends in Akwesasne. Track impacts from events such as wildfires, industrial emissions, and long-range pollution. Support environmental research, planning, and regulatory decision-making. Provide a scientifically defensible record when evaluating potential environmental impacts from sources near the community.
The data also supports the Air Quality Program's AQI Flag Program at the Akwesasne Library and Cultural Center, which provides a visible indication of current air quality conditions.
Protecting Akwesasne's future
The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has collected ambient air quality data in Akwesasne for more than 20 years. Maintaining this long-term record is an important part of understanding how our air is changing and supporting Tribal environmental stewardship and sovereignty.
All data collected through the program is reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is publicly available through the national Air Quality System (AQS). It contributes to a nationwide network of air monitoring conducted by Tribal, state, and federal programs.
Clean air starts with knowing what is in the air we breathe.
For current air quality conditions and the AQI, visit AirNow.gov.
For more information about ambient air monitoring, visit U.S. EPA – Ambient Air Monitoring.