Technical Support Document for EPA’s Proposed Action on the 

State of New Mexico’s 2009 Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (Transport Portion) for the 

2006 24-hour Fine Particulate (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard 

Appendix D – IMPROVE Monitoring Data 

 

D.1. IMPROVE Monitoring Site Map and Description 

D.2. Utah IMPROVE Monitoring Data for 2006-2010 (Fine Mass) 

D.3. Nevada IMPROVE Monitoring Data for 2006-2010 (Fine Mass) 

D.4. California/Oregon Border IMPROVE Monitoring Data for 2006-2010 (Fine Mass) 
D.1. IMPROVE Monitoring Site Map and Description 

(IMPROVE/Protocol Network in year 2002)1  

State National Parks Referenced in TSD 

Utah Bryce Canyon (51), Canyonlands (50), Capitol Reef (52), Zion (49) 

Nevada Great Basin (116), Jarbidge Wilderness Area (68) 

California-Oregon Border Crater Lake (86), Lava Beds National Monument (87) 

IMPROVE Monitoring Program Overview 

The Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) program is a cooperative 

measurement effort governed by a steering committee composed of representatives from Federal and 

regional-state organizations. The IMPROVE monitoring program was established in 1985 to aid the 

creation of Federal and State implementation plans for the protection of visibility in Class I areas (156 

national parks and wilderness areas) as stipulated in the 1977 amendments to the Clean Air Act. 

The objectives of IMPROVE include: 

(1) establishing current visibility and aerosol conditions in mandatory class I areas; and 

(2) identifying chemical species and emission sources responsible for existing man-made visibility 

impairment. 

                                                           

1 http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/Overview/IMPROVENetworkExp.htm 

.

IMPROVE Sites (1-110)

Protocol Sites (111-163)

2

1 

125 

126 

4 

128 

129 

127 

3

130 

131 

132 

133 

135 

137 5

136 

138 

8 

6 

7 

22 

25 

23 24 

139 

140 

14 

30 

29 

27 

28 

26 

21 

141 

9

10 13 

11 

12 

15 

16 

17 

142 

20 18 

19 

106 

105 

103 

102 

111 

108 

107 

31 

32 

36 

37 

42 38 

33 

34 

35 

41 

39 40 

120 

122 

123 

44 

121 

43 

45 

46 

47 

48 

124 

117 

49 

51 

52 50 

201 

54 

55 

53 

56 

57 58 

114 

116 

101 

100 

99 

93 

94 

118 

98 

110 

109 

92 

96 97 

91 95 

104 90 68 

88 

87 

89 

86 76 

84 

85 112 

79 

78 

83 

80 

82 

81 

134 

77 

69 

70 

202 

71 

75 72 

73 

74 64 

63 62 

61 

59 

60 

119 

65 

67 

66 

143 

144 

QA Sites (201-202) 

159 

158 157 

156

155

154 153

151 152 

150

149

148

147

146

145

160 

161 

162 163 
The particulate monitoring portion of the IMPROVE program measures the concentration of the fine 

(PM2.5) particles for mass, optical absorption, major and trace elements, organic and elemental carbon, 

and nitrate and of PM10 particles for mass. Prior to 2000, IMPROVE sites collect two samples per 

week, on Wednesday and Saturday. With the implementation of the Regional Haze Rule the IMPROVE 

program changed to a 1-in-3 day schedule. 

http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/Overview/Overview.htm
1

D.2. Utah IMPROVE Monitoring Data for 2006-2010 (Fine Mass) 

2006 

   
2

2006 

 
3

2007 

   
4

2007 
5

2008 

   
6

2008 

   
7

2009 

   
8

2009

   
9

2010

   
10

2010

Note: There is no IMPROVE monitoring data for Zion National Park for 2010 (Fine Mass).
1

D.3. Nevada IMPROVE Monitoring Data for 2006-2010 (Fine Mass) 

2006 

   
2

2007 

   
3

2008 

   
4

2009 

   
5

2010 
1

D.4. California-Oregon Border IMPROVE Monitoring Data 

for 2006-2010 (Fine Mass) 

2006

   
2

2007

   
3

2008

   
4

2009

   
5

2010