Air Quality

Several agencies monitor air quality and provide information and assistance. For information about specific air pollutants and monitoring programs, please use the following links.

Outdoor Air Quality

• Washington Smoke Information This site is an effort by county, state, and Federal agencies and Indian Tribes to coordinate and aggregate information for Washington communities affected by smoke from wildland fires.
• Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) Regulates and monitors outdoor air pollution in Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties.
• Washington State Department of Ecology Works to preserve and enhance the air quality of the state.
• Washington State - Air Monitoring An interactive map of Washington State with air quality information.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulates and monitors air quality nationwide. Their site provides information on regulations and pollutants.
• American Lung Association (ALA) Offers information, advocacy, and research into air quality issues. (Link is to ALA in Washington's website.)

Indoor Air Quality

• Indoor Air Quality - Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Provides consultation, technical assistance, and training to local health jurisdictions and the public about the health effects of indoor air contaminants.
• Department of Health Washington Tracking Network Radon Provides information and data on radon issues in Washington State.
• CDC - Mold Home Page Center for Disease Control's Mold website provides information on mold and health, an inventory of state indoor air quality programs, advice on assessment, cleanup efforts, and prevention of mold growth, and links to resources.
• American Lung Association (ALA) Healthy Air at Home page, offers information, advocacy, and research into air quality issues.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulates and monitors air quality nationwide. Their site provides information on regulations and pollutants.
• Washington State Department of Labor and Industries Addresses workplace air quality issues in Washington State.
• NIOSH Mold Information National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's website.
• American Industrial Hygiene Association Mold Information from the American Industrial Hygiene Association on mold.

Mold Resources

The Clallam County Environmental Health Department often gets questions about mold and how to remove it. 

• Got Mold? Frequently Asked Questions (DOH)
• Mold (ALA)
• Mold Resources (EPA)
• How to Prevent and Remove Mildew (University of Missouri)

Neither Washington State nor Clallam County has laws about monitoring mold or enforcing mold removal. So far studies have shown that identifying the specific type of mold or measuring the amount of mold in the air is not very useful in predicting how harmful it might be. If you have any additional questions, we suggest that you contact the agencies listed under Indoor Air Quality above and if you have health concerns related to mold contact your family physician.

Asbestos Resources

• Asbestos and Demolition Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) asbestos renovation and removal information. ORCAA issues demolition permits for asbestos removal. If disposing asbestos within Clallam County, please call the Regional Transfer Station for Waste Disposal Application, 360-417-4875.
• Asbestos Home Page (EPA)

Burning Waste

Burning garbage is illegal in Washington State. In areas outside of an Urban Growth Area (UGA), you may burn natural vegetation, but only if you follow local permitting requirements. The smoke must not bother your neighbors. For information about burning permits, contact ORCAA, or your local Fire Department or District.

• Outdoor Burning Washington State Department of Ecology
• Burning ORCAA outdoor burning information and complaint forms.
• No Burn Areas ORCAA burn ban information.
• WA Burn Bans Clean Air Stakeholders