Air Quality Concerns & Monitoring

Do you notice strong odors outside your home, such as petroleum, natural gas, etc? Are you curious as to what it is you are breathing in and if there are possible health hazards? If so, the City invites you to learn about the City's air quality monitoring program in partnership with Maine DEP.

Results from South Portland Ambient VOC Air Quality Monitoring ProjectResults from Maine's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

Visit the Maine DEP website for more details about the South Portland Ambient VOC Air Quality Monitoring Project.

"Grab Canisters"

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provided the City with a limited number of "grab canisters" each week to be distributed to residents so they can capture their own air samples, which will then be analyzed by DEP for certain Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). This program ran from June 10, 2019, to September 9, 2019.

Air Quality Testing

City Efforts

Beyond this, Maine DEP worked with the City of South Portland to install five permanent testing fixtures around the City (one in each voting district) to help monitor air quality.

Fixed 24-hour sampling site locations and status:

Maine Department of Environmental Protection - Air Quality Division

Clean Air Advisory Committee's Report Recommendations

Read the full report under Clean Air Advisory Committee tab below.

Recommendations
Status
Relocate existing Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MEDEP) fixed monitoring stations as soon as possible into communities closest to petroleum storage tank farms and near major truck routes.
  • The Pearl Street Pump Station location has been operational since October 27, 2023.
  • The Front Street Pump Station location is in the works with anticipated first sample to be collected by early to mid-May.
  • Chapter 171 in effect. DEP finalizing fenceline monitoring plans with data anticipated in early 2025.
Take steps to better understand burst emissionsNot started.
Partner with researchers on a health studyNot started.
Better understand transportation emissions
  • Funds requested for FY25 to maintain Purple Air monitors
  • Purple Air Monitors installed on October 21, 2025 for one month testing in single location. Total of six (6) monitors. Monitors are to be relocated after one month testing period near all VOC monitors located in South Portland. Live data available at map.purpleair.com. (Note: this monitor does not actively monitor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but rather larger particulates that have an impact to overall air quality in the area where the purple air monitor is installed. The purpose of the monitors are to collect data alongside the VOC monitors to compare the amount of transportation emissions volume (that can be captured by the purple air monitors) to the VOC's recorded by MEDEP's six (6) day VOC monitors). 
Address odor complaints more comprehensively
  • Odor complaint form created and available on this webpage
Advocate for regulatory changesOn December 4, 2024, the City submitted to the South Portland State Legislative Delegation a memorandum requesting that they introduce, co-sponsor, and/or support or oppose legislation to require at least twenty-four (24) hours' notice prior to filling any bulk petroleum storage tanks and to collect certain information to calculate the emissions being released into the air from these efforts. This action was in response from the City's request to have the various petroleum facilities sign a voluntary agreement - the deadline being December 1, 2024. The City continues to advocate for a voluntary agreement and/or state legislation on this issue per the Clean Air Advisory Committee's (CAAC) report.
Involve Maine's federal delegationNot started.