The Tejon Ranch Co., which owns a massive 270,000 acres of land along Interstate 5 south of Bakersfield, is offering the Valley a free air monitor worth $100,000 to $200,000, and air officials are interested in negotiating an agreement to get it.

The monitor, which the company has used to check air quality near Lebec, would allow the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to track particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen (an ingredient in ozone) and weather.

The district would spend about $74,000 annually to maintain the monitor. Though the Tehachapi Mountains are not considered a trouble spot, the information would help the Valley and surrounding air districts to understand pollution transport from other districts.

After the agreement is negotiated, district staff will approach the board for approval.