AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

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AIR QUALITY

This section describes air quality within the park.

Crater Lake National Park is known for its clean air and spectacular vistas. The quality of air plays a vital role in visitor enjoyment, in the preservation of cultural resources, and in the perpetuation of natural systems. Crater Lake National Park has near pristine air quality and is classified as a Class I area as defined in the Federal Clean Air Act. Class I areas are those for which maintenance of air quality is critical for protection of the resource. One factor that contributes to the clean air in Crater Lake National Park is that there are no noteworthy upwind stationary emission sources. Industrial emissions from the Medford and Klamath Falls areas are typically carried south/southwest by the prevailing winds (Winter Use Plan).

Class I areas must not exceed the maximum allowable increment over baseline concentrations of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter as specified in section 163 of the 1963 Clean Air Act. Further, the 1963 Clean Air Act provides that the federal land manager (the assistant secretary for fish and wildlife and parks and the park superintendent) have an affirmative responsibility to protect park air quality-related values (including visibility, plants, animals, soils, water quality, cultural and historic resources and objects, and visitor health) from adverse air pollution impacts. Section 118 of the 1963 Clean Air Act requires the park to meet all federal, state, and local air pollution standards.

Section 176(c) of the 1963 Clean Air Act requires all federal activities and projects to conform to state air quality implementation plans to attain and maintain national ambient air quality standards.