Located along the mid-coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is downwind from large urban and industrial areas in states to the south and west. Periodically, high concentrations of air pollutants blow into the park from these areas. Acadia is considered a Class I area under the Clean Air Act, which means that the park deserves the highest level of air-quality protection.

Consequently, Acadia is deeply involved in the National Park Service's comprehensive air resources management program, designed to assess air pollution impacts and protect air quality related resources. The air resources management program at Acadia includes monitoring, research, and regulatory interaction with state and federal agencies. The core program includes long-term monitoring for ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOC's), fine particulates, visibility, mercury deposition and acid precipitation. In addition, there is an ongoing effort to determine the biological effects of selected air pollutants on park resources.