The Western States Air Resources Council (WESTAR) was founded in 1988 by eight western state air agencies. Since hiring staff and opening its office in early 1992, the Council grew to 15 states extending from Alaska to New Mexico; from Hawaii to North and South Dakota. WESTAR was formed to promote the exchange of information between the States, serve as a forum to discuss western regional air quality issues of common concern and share resources for the common benefit of the member states. In 2013, the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP) joined WESTAR, bringing additional federal, tribal, and local air agency members. WRAP is a voluntary partnership of states, tribes, federal land managers, local air agencies and the US EPA whose purpose is to understand current and evolving regional air quality issues in the West.