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Air Resource Management - About Us

A group of people posing for a group photo on a brick patio, with a lush green forest of trees behind them.
The Air Resource Management Staff, circa May 2024, in Marcell, Minnesota. (USDA Forest Service photo by Scott Copeland)

The Forest Service monitors the effects of pollution on people, cultural resources, as well as living and non-living factors in ecosystems, from streams to plants. In addition, the Forest Service documents the effects of forest activities on air quality, such as prescribed burning, oil and gas development, and mining. We work cooperatively with other agencies, partners, and stakeholders to prevent and reduce air pollution and its effects on natural resources and human health.

Our Staff

The Air Resource Management Program is home to a network of technical and policy-orientated specialists with backgrounds in biology, engineering, physics, ecology, botany, hydrology, soil science, and forestry. Our scientists specialize in understanding air emissions, transport, deposition, and the ultimate effect of these pollutants on the ecosystem. They have longstanding working relationships with federal, state, and local air quality regulators and policymakers. We are known for our ability to interpret research findings in a way meaningful to policy, regulatory input, and forest management strategies. Visit the staff directory to contact us and learn more about our work below.

Listen to podcast episodes featuring our experts:

  • Alexia Prosperi: prescribed fires, smoke management, and communicating findings to the public.

  • Andrea Nick: wilderness air quality assessments and public engagement.

  • David Gay: how air quality has evolved and the problems we face now.

  • Janice Peterson: a 40-year journey working for the Air Resource Management Program.

  • Trent Wickman: impacts of air pollution on water quality and human interaction with the environment.

Our Partners

The Air Resource Management Program depends on partnerships to accomplish much of our work. Because our role is primarily advisory to decision-makers, negotiation and communication skills are integral to our success. Many public and private groups work together to accomplish air quality improvement. Our ability to influence the outcome relies on becoming a visible and active player in partnerships.

Examples of some of our partners include: