The Rapid City area is located in the high plains and is subject to periods of droughts and high winds. These are the main ingredients for fugitive dust problems. Fugitive dust is identified as dust from mining activity, gravel roads, construction activity, street sanding operations and wind erosion. Fugitive dust is the main air quality problem in the Rapid City area. A Natural Events Action Plan for high winds was developed for Rapid City to control fugitive dust emissions.
Air Quality Goals: The goals of the Rapid City Area Air Quality Board are to maintain compliance status with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and to prevent adverse health and environmental effects that result from fugitive dust emissions and smoke from wood burning and open burning. These goals are achieved and maintained through the development and implementation of programs of education, air pollution prevention, abatement and control.