No matter where you live in California, the quality of the air must meet the same federal and state standards. And no matter where in California you live, someone is responsible for monitoring the quality of the air.

In most places, that monitoring function is left to the local or regional air quality district. However, Pleasanton is somewhat of an exception to that rule. While it works closely with all the regulatory agencies governing air quality standards, Pleasanton's air quality program is the first of its kind being conducted by a private development, Hacienda Business Park.

The Pleasanton air quality program is a comprehensive, sophisticated program that is unique to the San Francisco Bay Area. The program is a prototype cooperative effort between the Bay Area Quality Management District (BAAQMD), City of Pleasanton, its Environmental Monitoring Committee, Hacienda Business Park Owners Association, and Earth Metrics.

Pleasanton's Environmental Monitoring Committee is made up of local citizens and environmental professionals. Earth Metrics is the environmental firm that monitors the air quality in Pleasanton.

"Our goal is to coordinate the Hacienda Business Park program with the District (BAAQMD), the City and the Environmental Monitoring Committee to ensure that the federal and state air quality standards are being monitored and met," states Gary Deghi, Senior Project Manager with Earth Metrics. The Pleasanton program is a good example of the private sector working closely with the public sector to ensure accurate and advanced air quality monitoring.

The Pleasanton air quality monitorng program consists of three main elements — meteorological testing, particulate testing and carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring.

A mechanical weather station currently located in Hacienda Business Park provides meteorological information for North Pleasanton. The station measures wind speed, wind direction and air temperature. Data is gathered on an ongoing basis and summarized in an annual report.

Testing for particulate matter is a second function of the air quality monitoring program. Samples are collected at a particulate station in Hacienda Business Park. These samples are analyzed to determine local particulate levels and trace metal concentrations. Particulate levels must conform to rigid state and federal standards.   

Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitoring is the third major part of the Pleasanton program. Two types of monitoring are used to collect data for analysis. Air samples are collected at 15 sites in the Tri-Valley, 13 in North Pleasanton, one in Livermore, and one in Dublin. This type of testing gives information about CO levels in specific areas in the Tri-Valley.

A continuous CO monitoring station is being developed in Pleasanton and will begin operating in late Spring. This station will provide information about carbon monoxide levels in the air at all times.

“This continuous monitoring is particularly valuable in determining  carbon monoxide trends in the Pleasanton area,” explains Greg Lawler, Air Quality Scientist with Earth Metrics. ''From this type of data we can determine the specific effects rush hour traffic and meterological patterns have on air quality.”

The Pleasanton air quality program has been in operation since July, 1982 in response to the Conditions of Approval for Hacienda Business Park.

Since its implemetation almost three years ago, the program has determined that current   existing conditions in the Tri-Valley area are well within both federal and state standards.  

To see a reproduction of the original article and edition of Pleasanton Pathways, visit: April 08, 1985 Pathways.