PAMZ is a multi-stakeholder, non-profit society that was established in 1997 to identify air quality concerns within the zone and implement management strategies to address those concerns. By following the Clean Air Strategic Alliance (CASA) model of consensus decision making, PAMZ provides a forum for concerned stakeholders to meet, discuss and resolve their concerns in a productive and collaborative manner.

PAMZ boundaries encompass a 45,000 square kilometer area of west central Alberta including the City of Red Deer. Approximately 220,000 people live and work in this area. The zone's major industries are oil and gas processing, agriculture, petrochemicals, forestry and tourism. The zone’s natural regions are very diverse, from the Rocky Mountains in the west through boreal forest, foothills and parkland to the Grasslands in the east.

The foundation for developing strategies to address these issues is a comprehensive ambient air quality monitoring program that began operation in 1999. The data collected by the program plays a key role in the understanding of air quality in the zone.