State says Whitefish now in compliance with clean air standards

The state Department of Environmental Quality says Whitefish is in compliance with national air quality regulations after nearly 30 years of not meeting standards.

The state recently announced that it is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to redesignate the city as meeting the federal Clean Air Act requirements. The city since 1993 has not met standards for coarse particulate matter as a result of dust generated by paved and unpaved roads, parking lots and alleys.

“For a number of reasons, businesses often prefer to locate in areas with clean air,” said Liz Ulrich, supervisor of DEQ’s Air Quality Analysis and Planning Section, in a statement. “Attaining air quality standards means cleaner air, better health, and greater economic opportunities in this community. Removing the nonattainment status will make it easier for new businesses to choose Whitefish.”

In 1993, the EPA designated Whitefish and the area around town as a nonattainment area for the PM10, or coarse particulate matter. Air monitoring equipment located at Markus Foods on Baker Avenue showed the city exceeded thresholds for coarse particulate matter.

The analysis found that the majority of particulate matter came from paved and unpaved city streets, followed by residential wood burning, and then unpaved lots and alleys.

Small particles less than 10 micrometers pose the greatest problems for causing health problems, according to the EPA because they can get deep into the lungs, and some can get into the bloodstream. Those with heart or lung diseases, children, and older adults are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure.

The city in 1995 adopted air quality regulations that called for paving, street sweeping and specified the type of material that may be used for sanding and chip sealing.

The DEQ says as the result of efforts and through coordination with Flathead County and EPA, the state has been able to demonstrate that Whitefish now meets the criteria for redesignation. DEQ looked at data from 2014 to 2019 to ensure that the area complies with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Significant emission reductions have occurred, according to the DEQ, since the baseline year even while the population of Whitefish grew by 46% from 4,368 in 1990 to 6,357 in 2020 based on U.S. Census Bureau data.

The process to demonstrate redesignation for air quality standards requires extensive data gathering and analysis along with coordination with the EPA, according to the state.

A maintenance plan will still be required following redesignation to ensure ongoing compliance with air quality standards, DEQ notes.

Whitefish is the 10th redesignation request Montana has submitted to the EPA since 2016.