Vermont operated two ozone (O₃) monitoring sites in 2003; one at the Proctor Maple Research Facility in Underhill and the other in Bennington. The 8-hour average ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) is 0.08 parts per million (ppm) and is assessed relative to the running 3-year average of the annual 4th maximum daily maximum 8-hour average. Based on this criteria, both Underhill and Bennington are 100% of the NAAQS (0.08 ppm) for 2003; this is in compliance with the standard, which must not be exceeded. The highest 8-hour concentration of ozone in 2003, 0.082 ppm, was recorded at the Bennington site. The highest recorded 8-hour concentration of ozone at the Proctor Maple Research site was 0.077 ppm. The highest 1-hour concentration of ozone in 2003, 0.093 ppm, was recorded at the Bennington site while the highest recorded 1-hour concentration of ozone at the Proctor Maple Research Facility was 0.085 ppm.

PM_2.5

Vermont maintained four monitoring sites that sampled for particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 microns (PM_2.5). PM_2.5 sampling in 2003 was conducted at Rutland, Bennington Airport Road, Burlington Zampieri Building and Burlington Main Street. PM_2.5 sampling was discontinued in 2003 at both the Bennington Bradford Street site and at the Proctor Maple Research Facility in Underhill. PM_2.5 sampling continues in Underhill through the IMPROVE program and the Bennington Bradford Street site was moved to the Bennington Airport Road site. Vermont began PM_2.5 sampling in 1999. The annual average PM_2.5 standard is assessed relative to the three-year average of the respective annual averages. The PM_2.5 annual average NAAQS is 15 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Compliance was assessed at only the Burlington Zampieri site as it was the only site with the last three consecutive years of annual averages. Both the Bennington Airport Road site and the Burlington Main Street site were established in 2003. Rutland's annual average was not used for compliance assessement due to less than 75% data capture because the site was taken off-line for the 4^th quarter due to local construction. The three-year average as the Burlington Zampieri site was 9.6 µg/m³ (64% of NAAQS). The PM_2.5 24-hour average standard is assessed relative to the three-year average of the annual 98th percentile sample concentration. Given Vermont's 1-in-3 day sampling schedule, the annual 98th percentile concentration is the annual third 24-hour maximum concentration. The PM_2.5 24-hour standard is 65 µg/m³. Compliance was assessed at the Burlington Zampieri site and the three-year 98^th percentile average was 31 µg/m³ (47% of NAAQS).

PM₁₀

In 2003, Vermont maintained only one monitoring site that sampled for particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 10 microns (PM₁₀) for the entire year at Burlingon Main Street. The highest 24-hour concentration recorded in Burlington for 2003 was 51 µg/m³. The annual PM₁₀ average (weighted) concentration in Burlington was 19 µg/m³. These concentrations are well below the former PM₁₀ annual maximum 24-hour average NAAQS of 150 µg/m³ and the PM₁₀ annual average NAAQS of 50 µg/m³. Yearly variability in the data is common, in part determined by meteorology, transport of particulate matter from distant sources, and changes in the emission strength of local sources.

Carbon Monoxide

During 2003, Vermont operated two Carbon Monoxide (CO) sites in Rutland and Burlington Main Street. No exceedance of the NAAQS for CO was recorded. The highest 1st and 2nd maximum 8-hour concentrations of CO recorded at Rutland were 2.2 ppm and 1.9 ppm. The highest 1st and 2nd maximum 8-hour concentrations of CO recorded at Burlington were 1.9 ppm and 1.7 ppm. The five-year trend line shows in Rutland shows a slight downward trend with the second highs at levels between 21% and 28% of the 8-hour NAAQS of 9 ppm. The Burlington CO site was not in operation in 2002; however was put back in operation for 2003 where it continues to operate. CO measured in Burlington from 1995 through 1999 resulted in second 8-hour maximums ranging between 24% and 37% of the standard. The second 8-hour maximum in Burlington of 1.7 ppm in 2003 was 19% of the standard. In 2003, the maximum one-hour concentration of CO recorded at Burlington and Rutland was 2.9 ppm and 3.1 ppm, respectively.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Vermont operated two nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) monitoring sites in Rutland and Burlington Main Street in 2003. No exceedance of the NAAQS for NO₂ was recorded. In 2003, the annual average for NO₂ at Burlington and Rutland was 0.015 ppm and 0.012 ppm, respectively. Historical data for the most recent five years (1999-2003) indicate that the annual average concentrations of NO₂ have remained relatively stable. During this time period, the annual averages for the Rutland site ranged from 0.011 ppm to 0.013 ppm NO₂. The Burlington NO₂ site was not in operation in 2002; however was put back in operation for 2003 where it continues to operate. During the period of 1996 to 2000, the annual average NO₂ concentrations ranged from 0.017 ppm to 0.018 ppm in Burlington. The five-year annual NO₂ average trend in Burlington and Rutland ranged between 21% to 34% of the NAAQS. In 2003, the maximum one-hour concentration of NO₂ recorded at Burlington and Rutland was 0.060 ppm and 0.075 ppm, respectively.

Sulfur Dioxide

In 2003, Vermont maintained one sulfur dioxide (SO₂) monitoring site in Rutland. No exceedance or violation of the NAAQS for sulfur dioxide was recorded. The Burlington NO₂ site was not in operation in 2003; however was put back in operation for 2004. The highest 24-hour average concentration of SO₂ in Rutland in 2003 was 0.029 ppm. The highest 3-hour and 1-hour average SO₂ concentrations were 0.062 and 0.073 ppm, respectively. The annual average of 0.004 ppm in Rutland for 2003 is 13% of the NAAQS. For compliance purposes, the annual second maximum 24-hour average of 0.026 ppm is 19% of the NAAQS. The annual second maximum 3-hour average of 0.050 ppm is 10% of the NAAQS. Five years (1999-2003) of historical SO₂ data indicate little variability in SO₂ concentrations in Rutland.

Lead

Vermont is not required to measure the concentration of lead in ambient air. No measurement data are available. [Note: The Vermont Air Pollution Control Division discontinued monitoring lead concentrations in Vermont in 1989.]