Air Quality staff from DEP's Northeast Regional Office recently spent the night monitoring air quality around the Jeansville Mine Fire in Carbon County.

Environmental Air Quality Specialist Brian Paulukonis (photo) demonstrated for the media how a hand-held monitoring device checks for gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulfide. 

Paulukonis, along with DEP Compliance Specialist Christian Ostrowski and Community Relations Coordinator Colleen Connolly, guided the media to three locations near the fire where air quality testing took place.

DEP is in the process of acquiring a new hand-held air monitoring device that is able to detect gases at a much lower level than the devices used in previous monitoring.  The device will give readings at lower background levels so department staff can advise residents on the quality of air in their neighborhoods near the fire. 

Residents requested the air monitoring when DEP staff met with them on May 20.  They specifically requested that monitoring be done during overnight hours when they say a sulfur-like smell is most noticeable. 

Air monitoring in the area is expected to continue for the next few weeks.

NewsClips:

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(Reprinted from the June 25 DEP News.  Click Here to sign up for your own copy.)

6/29/2015