The Four Corners Air Quality Group is organizing a second public science forum September 12 in Durango to discuss methane and methane-related issues affecting the region. Air sampling completed during recent flyovers in the area found large methane fluctuations in the air.

Forum speakers will include representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Western Regional Air Partnership and LT Environmental. The forum is planned from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center.

The Four Corners Air Quality Group also is hosting its annual meeting September 13 at the Durango Public Library from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The annual meeting will offer updates on several air quality issues affecting the region. Members of the public are invited to participate and ask questions. Topics will range from monitoring trends analysis to ozone policy issues, with updates on the Four Corners and San Juan power plants. Agencies will present program updates.

The agenda for the upcoming meeting, information on previous meetings and a wide range of documents are available on the New Mexico Environment Department’s Air Quality Bureau site.

Originally convened as the Four Corners Air Quality Task Force a decade ago, the group has met regularly since to provide updates on a wide range of air quality-related topics relevant to the region. The task force produced an extensive report in November 2007 (also available on the website) that included a compendium of options under consideration to address air quality concerns in the Four Corners.