Olympic Region Clean Air Agency

10/12/2026

ORCAA staff took a long trip to the Cheeka Peak NCore and IMPROVE air monitoring site last week to finish getting everything set up and verify that all analyzers are functioning within acceptable parameters. Due to the Hoh River Bridge closure on Hwy 101, an alternate scenic route through Port Angeles was taken. Let's be honest though; both routes are very scenic. Since ORCAA's last visit, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network(PNSN) visited and did some housecleaning of their own. Just look at this clearing and graveling job. They are amazing site-mates, and we are so happy to share the spot with them. PNSN also shared some aerial shots they took with their drone. Thank you, PNSN!

10/05/2026

Monitoring staff were out of the office for various reasons last week, and not much interesting happened. Monitors continued to report clean air across the region. With fire safety burn bans beginning to lift and some clear days ahead, you may start to see and smell some localized smoke from fall burning.

Here is a picture of two of our monitoring assistants enjoying the beautiful fall weather.

09/28/2026

ORCAA's air monitoring operator visited the Port Townsend air monitor on Tuesday. It was a beautiful day up north; however, you don't want to see a gas regulator reading zero pressure at a site when you didn't bring an extra gas cylinder. We use the gas to test the function of the monitor. Luckily, there was just enough gas left in the lines to complete the day's mission. We'll return in the next few weeks to replace the span gas and the screen on our inlet. A small spider can, and eventually will, crawl into that tiny hole, spin webs inside the monitor, and cause everyone to think all of Port Townsend is on fire.

09/21/2026

ORCAA staff got a lot of work done last week. We turned on the air monitors at Cheeka Peak, and the site is almost fully operational. Monthly quality checks were completed at air monitoring sites in Raymond and Lacey. The Alicat flow, temperature, and pressure standard is still out for repairs, so we had to go old school and use a Gilibrator to check the flows. A Gilibrator calculates flow based on the speed at which a soap bubble moves through a column. Yep. A soap bubble. It is surprisingly accurate.

09/14/2026

After nearly 2 years of intermittent operation (including a temporary relocation to a nearby mountain), ORCAA’s Cheeka Peak Observatory (CPO) air monitoring site is nearly back in service.

The two trailers housing ORCAA’s monitoring equipment have been returned to the Cheeka Peak site. We’ve also installed a new electrical transformer, power meter, and service panel. The Clallam PUD will soon be on site to reconnect the electrical service. Once power is restored, ORCAA staff can put the CPO site back in full operation.

09/14/2026

View from atop ORCAA's Cheeka Peak Observatory (CPO) air monitoring station.

09/09/2026

Thanks to the folks from Washington Department of Ecology who joined us at the James P. Werner Air Monitoring Station last month during Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland's vist!

09/08/2026

Get a new home-heating heat pump using rebates/awards

In addition to ORCAA’s Wood Stove Replacement Program, homeowners in Thurston County can save up to $4,000 on a new heat pump system through Energize Thurston.

ORCAA’s program awards $2,200 for the removal of an old uncertified wood stove and the installation of a new heat pump (ducted or ductless). https://www.orcaa.org/burning/indoor-wood-heating/wood-smoke-reduction-program/

That award can be bundled with an Energize Thurston program. Energize Thurston offers Thurston County residents access to exclusive discounts and financial incentives for energy-efficient heat pumps and heat pump water heaters.

Households in Thurston County who work with a program-certified installer can save over $4,000 on qualified heat pump equipment. Additionally, Energize Thurston offers a limited number of fully or partially subsidized heat pump and heat pump water heater installations for income-qualified households through the Energize Thurston Grant Program, opening in October.

Energize Thurston is implemented through a partnership between the cities of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater, Thurston County, and South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity.

Visit the Energize Thurston webpage to learn more about the program.


https://thurstonclimatecollaborative.org/regional-initiatives/energize-thurston/

This Wood Stove Recycling Incentive is available for residents of all six counties within ORCAA’s jurisdiction: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties.

08/31/2026

ORCAA hosted a member of the U.S. House of Representatives last week!

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency enforces clean air laws in Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties.

08/24/2026

We're Back! ORCAA's Ncore site hosted by the Makah Tribe has been relocated back to its original home atop Cheeka Peak after electric service was restored to the site. Final hook-up and relaunch is planned for mid-September.