Monitoring

Community Center

The physical environment is a crucial component of any individual’s health and wellbeing. Every community needs access to safe air, land and water.

In Lane County, the poorest outdoor air quality is most often attributed to natural sources of pollution like local or distant wildfires. However, air quality can be negatively impacted by human-generated sources, such as inefficient wood stoves and fireplaces, emissions from vehicles, and industrial emissions.

The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency is the only local Air Authority in Oregon. LRAPA’s fulltime staff work to achieve and maintain clean air across the county. Supported by our member entities of Lane County, Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, and Oakridge, and guided by our nine-member Board of Directors, we play an active role in community development and planning. Despite an increase in population and traffic, the air quality for Lane County’s metro area has continued to improve since our inception in 1968.

This community page connects to the many programs and resources available from LRAPA.

Meetings

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Public Notices

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LRAPA's 2022 Annual Report cover

2022 Annual Report

LRAPA’s 2022 annual report was published on January 30, 2023. This publication highlights work, and accomplishments achieved throughout 2022. The report was published in print and as an interactive ArcGIS StoryMap. The intent of producing a StoryMap version is make it more accessible for the public to see, interact with, and learn about the regulation of air quality in Lane County.

Click the button below to visit the 2022’s Annual report StoryMap. The print version can be found on LRAPA’s Publications, Reports, and Fact Sheets webpage.

View Report
The Air Quality Index, Basics & Beyond

The AQI, Basics & Beyond

The physical environment is an important part of any person’s health and wellbeing. Understanding the quality of the air outside is the first step to avoiding exposure to harmful air pollution. Visit LRAPA’s Air Quality Index Basics & Beyond webpage to learn more about the Air Quality Index (AQI), its six categories and corresponding health categories, and connect to online sources of air quality information across Lane County.

This page provides information on PurpleAir monitoring in Lane County and how to best interpret information displayed online from these sensors.

Air Quality Index, 101
air permit lane county oregon

Air Monitoring

LRAPA is responsible for monitoring air quality in Lane County, which is an important but costly function of the agency. Funding from the City of Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Oakridge, Lane County, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and Environmental Protection Agency support eight regulatory grade monitors and over 90 commercial grade monitors throughout the county.

Learn more about LRAPA’s monitors by clicking the button below.

Ambient Air Monitoring

Public Calendar

LRAPA releases important information and notices that would benefit from the attention, review, and feedback of Lane County residents. These include notification of instances of degraded air quality associated with wildfire and wood stove smoke, as well as notices of public comment on air permits prepared for commercial and industrial businesses in the county.

LRAPA holds monthly meetings, which are open to the public, and informational meetings as well as public hearings on commercial and industrial businesses with air permits.

Public Calendar
Cleaner Air Oregon

Cleaner Air Oregon

Cleaner Air Oregon is a state-wide program designed to regulate emissions from Hazardous Air Pollutants. New sources beginning operation, or existing sources called into the program by LRAPA, must quantify all air toxic pollutants emitted. A computer then models how these pollutants move across Lane County, to understand who is exposed to them and in what amounts. With this information, a health risk assessment is conducted on that exposure which may result in tight regulations of the source. Learn more about this program on LRAPA’s Cleaner Air Oregon webpage.
Cleaner Air Oregon
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Air Toxics Monitoring

Air Toxics are pollutants that, at sufficient concentrations and exposures, are known or suspected to cause cancer, other serious health problems, or damage to the environment. There are nine air toxic monitors across Oregon. LRAPA operates two air toxics monitoring sites in Lane County – one in west Eugene near the intersection of HWY99 and Roosevelt Blvd., and one at the Willamette Activity Center in Oakridge.

Learn more about air toxic of concern in Lane County by clicking the button below.

Air Toxics Monitoring
wildfire cleanup

Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke is responsible for causing the worst air quality in Lane County history. As climate change drives a longer and more intense wildfire season, it is important to familiarize yourself with air quality resources and guidelines around wildfire smoke. As well as become familiar with ways to limit smoke exposure during instances of degraded air quality.

Learn more about the health impacts of wildfires and how to minimize wildfire smoke exposure by clicking the button below.

Wildfire Smoke

Prescribed Burns

Prescribed Burning is the process of planning and starting a controlled fire to achieve a specific goal. They’re an important part of maintaining healthy ecosystems in Oregon, to defend against wildfires by disposing of built-up fuel loads, and minimizing the spread of invasive species and insects.

Learn more about prescribed burning in Lane County and find the daily prescribed burning map by clicking the button below.

Prescribed Burns & Maps
Wood Burning at Home

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality refers to the quality of air within and around buildings and structures, specifically as it relates to the health and comfort of those inside. Air quality impacts our health and wellbeing, understanding and controlling common pollutants can reduce your exposure and risk associated with indoor air pollution.

Learn more by visiting our Indoor Air Quality webpage.

Indoor Air Quality

Public Oversight

LRAPA receives direction and oversight from three independent committees who represent the diverse interests of Lane County’s communities.

  1. LRAPA’s Board of Directors
  2. Citizen Advisory Committee
  3. Budget committee

These are filled by volunteers in Lane County and their meetings are open to the public.

Learn More

Supplemental Environmental Projects

A Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) is an environmentally beneficial project funded by a company or individual to mitigate part of a civil penalty assessed by LRAPA.

Community groups and individuals can submit SEP ideas to LRAPA. Once approved, a project could be funded as part of a settlement agreement. Do you have an idea for a SEP? Let us know by submitting your idea.

Learn More

Nondiscrimination Policy

LRAPA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, or marital status in administration of its programs or activities. LRAPA does not retaliate against any individual because they have exercised their rights to participate in, or oppose actions protected by, 40 CFR Parts 5 and 7 or for the purpose of interfering with such rights.

Read LRAPA’s full nondiscrimination policy and view the agency’s Title VI Documents, Forms, Policies and Procedures on the nondiscrimination webpage.

Nondiscrimination policy

LRAPA monitors air quality throughout Lane County with eight regulatory-grade monitors and over 90 commercial-grade air sensors. Air Quality Index values are updated hourly.

Find the current air quality, look up the closest monitor to you, and learn more about the Air Quality Index (AQI) on the Current Air Quality Page.

LRAPA regulates the burning of wood and yard debris, known as “outdoor burning,” in Lane County. LRAPA also enforces home wood heating – such as fireplaces and wood stoves – opacity ordinances for the cities of Eugene, Springfield and Oakridge. Seasonal and daily restrictions can exist for both forms of burning. Check to see if there are any active burning curtailments in effect on the burning restrictions webpage.
LRAPA logo
LRAPA is responsible for issuing air permits to commercial and industrial operations with emissions above a certain threshold. Check to see if your business needs a permit by following our 5-step guide on our Permitting Overview webpage.

Asbestos is the name of a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are heat-resistant, strong and extremely durable. Asbestos has historically been used in over 4,000 building products because of these properties.

Asbestos can cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma. There is no safe level of exposure to friable asbestos.

LRAPA regularly solicits public comment on proposed agency actions such as rule changes, proposed air permits, and the agency’s annual budget. LRAPA also hosts monthly Board of Director and Citizen Advisory Committee meetings.

Learn more about these public comment window and public meetings on our News, Notices & Public Calendar webpage.

The physical environment is a crucial component of any individual’s health and well-being.  Every community needs access to safe air, land and water.  LRAPA has curated together a collation of topics commonly asked about by the community to provide information, important details, and connect interested community members with resources.

Explore the many topics of information on our Community Center webpage.

LRAPA is the local air authority responsible for monitoring Lane County’s air and administering programs that protect and improve air quality. LRAPA was founded in 1968 as an intergovernmental agreement between the cities of Springfield and Eugene. Today’s intergovernmental agreement includes Lane County and the cities of Cottage Grove, Eugene, Oakridge, and Springfield.