Our Mission

DEM's Office of Air Resources (OAR) is responsible for the preservation, protection, and improvement of air quality in Rhode Island. This is accomplished, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, by regulating the emission of air pollutants from stationary and mobile sources.

The purpose of the Air Resources program is to carry out the policy of the State as declared in Rhode Island General Law § 23-23-2, that is:

“…to preserve, protect, and improve the air resources of the state to promote the public health, welfare, and safety, to prevent injury or detriment to human, plant, and animal life, physical property, and other resources, and to foster the comfort and convenience of the state's inhabitants.”

To learn more about the Office’s major activities, take an interactive tour via our StoryMap Collection: