Two local groups will work with researchers over the next year to monitor pollution and spread awareness about new air-quality regulations.
Their work will be made possible thanks to two $5,000 grants from the AirWaterGas Sustainability Research Network based at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Pagosa Springs High School students will use the money to monitor air quality as part of their global science class.
The students will use portable air-quality monitors that were developed by the AirWaterGas research team at CU-Boulder.
“We are thrilled to support these community groups and their interests in exploring air and water quality,” said Michael Hannigan, AirWaterGas co-investigator and CU-Boulder associate professor of mechanical engineering. “In turn, we look forward to learning about how different communities react to oil and gas development in their regions.”
The Mountain Studies Institute in Silverton plans to use the funds to hold a series of discussions on the relationship between water and energy.
The meetings will be held in Telluride, Pagosa Springs, Durango, Silverton, Vallecito and Ignacio.
The institute also will update an informational booklet about air-quality standards and air-quality monitoring capacity in the San Juan Mountains region.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
