Winona one step closer to air monitoring

Air monitoring to measure the levels of frac sand in ambient air could soon take place in Winona, Minnesota, US. A project to monitor air quality in the town has received votes in favour of recommending implementation to Winona City Council from the city's planning commission. The air quality monitoring project was proposed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which also intends to pay for its implementation, according to WinonaDailyNews.com. 

The project would see two air monitors installed on the roof of the downtown YMCA building to track the levels of diesel emissions and silica sand - a product used by the oil and gas industry during the process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). It would run for one year and establish a baseline level of frac sand air pollution in the city, reports the news provider.

Monitors will be close to the interstate bridges, which is a primary route for trucks carrying frac sand. The height of the building will also ensure that equipment is not tampered with, a big positive as the whole process is a costly one. 

The equipment, operation, analysis, maintenance and staffing throughout the life of the project will be paid for by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which represents around $60,000 (£36,706) worth of funds, according to the news provider. The city would only have to pay for the electricity preparations for the equipment to be made and for an as-needed on-site assistant.

It was recommended by the Citizens Environmental Quality Control Committee that air quality monitoring be undertaken in Winona earlier this year, which prompted the city's planning commission to work alongside the Minnesota Pollution Control Board to learn more about the monitoring process and possible benefits. So far the plans have been discussed for a number of months, reports the news provider, but the city was concerned about the lack of expertise and resources that it could provide to such a project.