Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Participation in the 2011 Passive Ammonia Study Conducted by EPA Region 6

Previous 2007 Passive Ammonia Study 2007 Participants Methods 2007 Results 2011 Preliminary Results Visibility Results vs Preliminary Results Outline of Presentation Photo by Jeremy Shockley Southern Ute Drum

2007 Passive Ammonia Study In 2005,the Interim Emissions Workgroup of the Four Corners Air Quality Task Force recommended to start an ambient monitoring program for gaseous ammonia in the Four Corners region 1 To set a baseline of ambient gaseous ammonia (NH 3 ) in the Four Corners region to compared with future monitored values after the implementation of certain NOx emission controls (e.g. NSCR) 1 The use of such emission controls may increase NH 3 emission in the area, but these emissions have not been quantified and may or may not significantly increase, or significantly affect visibility 1 1 Four Corners Air Quality Task Force Monitoring Report:

2007 Passive NH 3 Ammonia cont. Five sites in the Four Corners area plus one reference site in Oklahoma participated Sampling period from 12/2006 to 12/2007 Sather, et al., “Baseline ambient gaseous ammonia concentrations in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma, USA”, J. Environ. Monit., 2008, 10,

2 Sather, et al., “Baseline ambient gaseous ammonia concentrations in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma, USA”, J. Environ. Monit., 2008, 10,

Methods Ambient gaseous NH 3 was sampled at the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Bondad, CO air monitoring site 3-week sampling periods from December 2006 through December 2007 The Bondad site is surrounded by agricultural activities and oil and gas development

Methods cont. Ambient NH 3 samples were collected using a Passive Sampling Devices (PSD) The PSD are clipped inside dome like shelters were mounted to a 1.5 meter pole The NH 3 filter analysis was conducted by EPA’s Region VI Houston laboratory

NH 3 generally increase during winter months through summer months 1) Southern Ute peak between the sampling period April 17-May 08, 2007, this might be because of local agricultural activity 2) Substation site peak during the sampling period Oct. 02-Nov 13, 2007, this site is 7 miles from Four Corners Power Plant (2,040 megawatts) and less than 1 miles from San Juan Generating Stations (1,800 megawatts) 2007 Results 2 Sather, et al., “Baseline ambient gaseous ammonia concentrations in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma, USA”, J. Environ. Monit., 2008, 10,

The Farmington Airport had the highest annual mean of 1.5 ppb, followed by Substation with an annual mean of 1.1 ppb The Southern Ute site had an annual mean of 0.8 ppb The Navajo Lake and Mesa Verde NP (rural areas) had an annual mean of 0.2 ppb 2007 Results cont. 2 Sather, et al., “Baseline ambient gaseous ammonia concentrations in the Four Corners area and eastern Oklahoma, USA”, J. Environ. Monit., 2008, 10,

2011 Preliminary Results The preliminary results show a sharp increase in ambient ammonia concentration levels during the sampling period of July 5, 2011 to July 19, 2011 Environmental factors that may have contributed to these significant increases in ammonia concentrations include several wild fires in the Four Corners area 2011 Preliminary Results

2011 Preliminary Results Cont. In the Four Corners area, Substation had the highest annual mean of 1.1 ppb The Southern Ute site had an annual mean of 0.9 ppb The Mesa Verde NP had the lowest annual mean of 0.4 ppb In general annual means, min., and max. concentrations were higher with one exception 1.Substation have the same annual as 2007 results

Visibility Results Results suggest ambient NH 3 concentration above 1.6 ppb can contribute to visibility degradation Regional wildfires also contributed to a decrease in visibility A final report on this second study in collaboration with EPA Region 6 will be available in 2013

Thank You Contact InformationSouthern Ute Indian Tribe Environmental Programs Division Air Quality Program 116 Mouache Drive-P.O. Box 737 MS # 84 Ignacio, CO Phone: (970) Fax: (970) Photo by Jeremy Shockley Southern Ute Drum