The goal of the Air Quality Section is to protect human health by maintaining air quality at levels which do not impact human health, and prevent illnesses and diseases that are caused by poor air quality.

• Outdoor Air Quality
  • Air Quality Permitting and Compliance
  • Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
  • Asbestos Removal and Disposal Compliance
  • Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance
  • Emergency and Complaint Response
  • Noise Complaint Response and Noise Variances
  • Education and Outreach
• Indoor Air Quality
  • Citizen Complaint/Service Request Response
  • Occupational Health
  • Radon Testing Kits
  • Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA)

• Air Quality Permitting and Compliance
  Section personnel review construction and operating permit applications, write operating and construction permits, and conduct annual on-site inspections of regulated sources to assure the public that local, state, and federal air emissions regulations and limits are obeyed. Staff are able identify problem areas and offer suggestions to correct the problems. If violations of regulations or emission limits are discovered, section staff will write notices of violation (NOV) and determine monetary penalties. Section staff routinely recommend Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) as a means of penalty mitigation in an effort to improve future air quality conditions, and to help prevent recurring violations.
  • Click here for a current listing of operating and/or construction permits that are currently open for public comment.
  • Click here for the Lincoln- Lancaster County Air Pollution Control Program Regulations and Standards, as well as the portions of the Lincoln Municipal Code and Lancaster County Resolutions relating to Air Quality.
  • Click here for copies of the forms and applications used for permitting and compliance.

• Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
  Using sensitive instruments, the LLCHD monitors the air quality in Lincoln for carbon monoxide and small particulate matter (PM2.5). The LLCHD also has a monitor for ozone placed in Davey, which is north of Lincoln (ozone is a summer pollutant that takes time to form in the atmosphere, and Nebraska's summer winds are predominantly from the south). Staff members review the monitoring data daily. Lincoln has maintained good air quality for over 10 years, and is routinely named as one of the American Lung Association's Top 20 cleanest U.S. cities for ozone pollution. Lincoln's good air quality allows it to maintain the status as an "attainment area" for all regulated air pollutants.
  • Click here for the Air Quality Index for Lancaster County, which is updated daily based on the air quality monitoring results.

• Asbestos Removal and Disposal Compliance
  Air quality professionals ensure that demolition, renovation, removal, and disposal of asbestos-containing material (ACM) is done safely, and in compliance with state and federal regulations. Anyone needing to dispose of (ACM) is required to obtain a waste shipment record from the LLCHD, which allows them to dispose of ACM in the City of Lincoln's Bluff Road Landfill.
  • Click here for copies of the asbestos notification forms, as well as the waste shipment records that are required to dispose of asbestos containing material in the landfill.

• Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance
  Section staff can conduct a non-regulatory on-site visit to identify options for preventing pollution, reducing the use of toxic materials, and cutting costs. This is not an inspection and the visit will not lead to a fine or other penalty. All findings are confidential. The goal of pollution prevention (P2) is to prevent or stop pollution before it is created, thereby reducing public health and environmental risks. The ideal plan is to engage in business practices that do not create waste or pollution or to purchase materials that are less toxic and that can be completely used up rather than discarded.

• Emergency and Complaint Response
  Section staff respond to spills or accidental releases where air contamination is a risk to public health. Staff are capable of conducting air modeling to identify areas in need of evacuation, and identify at-risk populations (i.e. nursing homes, day cares, schools, etc.).

  Section staff also respond to citizen complaints of air nuisances and/or violations of air regulations (i.e. fugitive dust, illegal burning, odor nuisances, etc.). Once the cause of the nuisance or violation is identified, staff take action on the enforcement or remediation of the problem.

• Noise Complaint Response and Noise Variances
  Section staff respond to complaints of excessive noise, which is regulated by Lincoln Municipal Code 8.24. Staff measure noise levels using a 'sound level meter' to determine if a violation exists, and upon finding a violation, staff contact the responsible party and follow an appropriate course of action.

  Section staff also issue noise variances, which allow the applicant to temporarily exceed the maximum noise levels allowed by the Lincoln Municipal Code. Noise variances are most commonly issued for construction activities, or special events.

• Education and Outreach
  Section staff prepare and develop educational and informational materials are available that describe best management practices and explain regulations and options in clear, easy-to-understand language. LLCHD can visit your site and conduct or facilitate workshops to help you and your staff understand pollution prevention.

  Section staff also perform education and outreach on air pollution related topics to students at the annual Earth Wellness Festival. These activities allow the LLCHD to educate youth on the important issues surrounding air pollution, and also encourages children to find ways to reduce air pollution in their own homes.

• Citizen Complaint/Service Request Response
  Section personnel respond to complaints of health problems caused by poor indoor air quality. Those complaints might involve gases such as carbon monoxide or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS, also known as 'secondhand smoke), solvent vapors, "sick building syndrome", mold, and radon.

  Staff will often conduct monitoring to ascertain the cause of the health problems, and identify the source of any air contamination that may be occurring. Staff will recommend practices or solutions to remediate the problem and prevent the recurrence of future problems.

• Occupational Health
  Staff can monitor many other indoor air concerns that might have negative impacts on worker health and safety. Education and technical assistance are primary activities when dealing with occupational health concerns.

• Radon Testing Kits
  The Air Quality Section sells yearly Radon testing kits for $25.00. Because radon levels tend to vary from day to day and season to season, a long-term test will give you a reading that is more likely to tell you your home's year-round average radon level than a short-term test. A more accurate reading will allow you to better determine whether you need to take action to fix your home.

• Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA)
  Staff professionals are involved in the enforcement of the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA), otherwise known as the Nebraska statewide smoking ban. Staff routinely check establishes with 'outdoor smoking areas' for compliance with Title 178, Chapter 7 of the Nebraska Administrative Code. By law, establishes that provide an outdoor smoking area are required to comply with certain requirements regarding the amount of open space provided to the outdoors.
  • Click here for more information on the Nebraska Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA).

InterLinc City of Lincoln Departments Category Location Health Environmental Public Health Environmental Quality Air Quality