For Immediate Release
Media Contact
Hilary Flint, Director of Communications and Community Engagement, BCMAC, hilaryfflint@gmail.com
BCMAC Launches “Eyes on Air” Webpage to Provide Real-Time Air Quality Data for Beaver County
BEAVER COUNTY, PA (February 27, 2025) — The Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community (BCMAC) is thrilled to announce the launch of their new webpage, Eyes on Air, designed to provide free, real-time air quality data to all Beaver County residents. Built with community accessibility in mind, this platform provides residents with the tools they need to understand what’s in our local air, track pollution trends and learn how to advocate for cleaner air.
Eyes on Air presents air quality data in a clear, visual format and includes:
- Real-time air data from BCMAC’s AirSense project
- The PurpleAir map showcasing broader air quality trends
- Resources to help everyday community members understand and analyze air pollution
The AirSense project includes five Aeroqual AQM 65 monitors, strategically placed in Beaver, Brighton Township, Center Township, Raccoon Township, and Rochester. These high-quality monitors continuously track key air pollutants linked to health risks, providing residents with reliable, localized air quality data. In March, BCMAC will launch a mobile ENMET eGC air monitor for targeted testing of hazardous pollutants like benzene and 1,3-butadiene. Residents can sign up to host the monitor for two weeks, contributing to localized air quality research and community advocacy.
“The process of creating Eyes on Air alongside the community has been an incredible experience,” said Hilary Starcher-O'Toole, Executive Director of BCMAC. “Through focus groups, surveys, and social media discussions, residents shared what they needed in an air quality resource, and we built this platform together. As someone born and raised in Beaver County, it’s been rewarding to co-create a tool that truly reflects the concerns and hopes of my neighbors. This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to keep evolving Eyes on Air with the community’s input.”
AirSense is funded by the Environmental Mitigation Community Fund, created as part of a May 2023 Consent Order and Agreement (COA) between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA-DEP) and Shell Chemical Appalachia LLC. Under this agreement, the Shapiro administration secured nearly $10 million for DEP and local communities, including $5 million for projects benefiting Beaver County residents. As part of the settlement, Shell acknowledged exceeding emission limits for air contaminants and committed to corrective actions to prevent future violations.
Eyes on Air also features real-time data from Project SPOTlight, a collaborative effort between BCMAC and The Breathe Project to expand community air monitoring. Through this initiative, residents can apply to host a free PurpleAir sensor, which continuously measures PM2.5 levels. Data from these sensors is integrated into the PurpleAir map on the webpage, providing a more complete picture of air quality trends.
BCMAC encourages all residents to explore Eyes on Air and use it as a powerful tool for advocacy and awareness. Visit the webpage at https://www.marcellusawareness.org/eyes-on-air/ to learn more.
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The Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community seeks to protect the residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania, with emphasis on those in Beaver County, by informing them about the health, safety, environmental and economic impacts of fracking infrastructure, including the petrochemical buildout; and by supporting sustainable alternatives to carbon-based energy sources and economic development strategies in Beaver County. For more information, please visit marcellusawareness.org