ARD regulates and limits air emissions from a variety of stationary sources within New Hampshire through a Statewide Permitting Program. The permitting program ensures that new and existing sources of air pollution abide by a wide range of state and federal air pollution control regulations. The Compliance Program is responsible for ensuring that entities in New Hampshire are in compliance with all air pollution laws, rules and permits. Major activities of the compliance program include on-site inspections, compliance assistance, compliance stack testing, asbestos management and licensing, compiling air emission inventories, and enforcement. The Air Toxics Control Program is designed to promote public health by controlling and regulating releases of toxic air pollutants to the ambient air, thus reducing human exposure to these toxic chemicals. The Atmospheric Science and Analysis Program simulates the flow of air pollution in the atmosphere and is used to predict health and environmental impacts of air pollution from in-state and upwind sources.
ARD operates a network of Air Quality Monitoring Stations throughout the state to measure meteorological parameters and levels of ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, small particle pollution, and other pollutants of concern in the outdoor (ambient) air. ARD uses monitoring and meteorological data, in conjunction with regional modeling results, to forecast daily air quality conditions and issue air quality alerts to the public as appropriate.
The Energy/Climate Change Program in ARD includes broad incentive-based efforts, such as energy efficiency/ conservation and emission reductions trading programs, to address a range of emissions, especially greenhouse gases, across large geographical areas.
The Mobile Sources Program is engaged in a number of strategies and control programs to reduce air pollution from mobile sources (e.g., cars, trucks and buses). Many activities are related to regulatory programs, such as vehicle inspection/maintenance programs and land use/transportation planning. The mobile source program also includes numerous voluntary, collaborative pollution prevention initiatives, such as the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition, the Granite State Clean Cars Program, and clean school bus idling campaign.
The Environmental Health Program within ARD promotes health and quality of life in New Hampshire by investigating, preventing and reducing illnesses and diseases that are related to interactions between people and their environment. Activities include health risk assessment, air toxics control, indoor air quality education, radon awareness and testing, environmental toxicology evaluation, and chemical emergency preparedness.
Craig A. Wright, Acting Director
(603) 271-1370
(603) 271- 1381 (fax)