1. E-Enterprise Advanced Monitoring: A Path Forward for EPA, States, and Tribes by Leslie Cronkhite for the National Environmental Monitoring Conference 2018 Collaborative Efforts to Improve Environmental Monitoring, Session 1 Thursday, August 9, 2018, 2:30 to 3:00 p.m.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1

2. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Presentation Outline
Background
Defining advanced monitoring
Examples
Value of monitoring
Paradigm Shift
E-Enterprise Projects
Third party certification options analysis
Scan and Screen Network
Data interpretation and communication
Data standards
Leaning methods approval processes
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

3. Advanced monitoring is part of our life…
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

4. Definition of “Advanced Monitoring”
“Advanced monitoring technology refers to a broad range of sampling and analytic equipment, systems, techniques, practices for enhancing detection and measurement of environmental conditions. It is generally defined by one or more of these factors:
Not yet widespread in a sector or program;
Monitors real-time (or near), often without lag times for lab analysis;
Less expensive, easier to use, or more mobile;
Data quality more complete or easier to interpret for a specific need; and/or
Existing technology used in new way to provide better info on pollutants, pollution sources, or environmental conditions.
From: Advanced Monitoring Technology: Opportunities and Challenges. By Hindin, Grumbles, et al. In em∙ The Magazine for Environmental Managers, November 2016.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

5. Examples of Advanced Monitoring Devices
New monitoring devices provide numerous types of improvements over traditional monitoring such as:
Immediate feedback: Purple Air monitors PM2.5,
Greater Sensitivity: The PhyloChip matches known DNA sequences with the DNA in the sample and shows what microbes are present and the sources.
Continuous monitoring: ZAPs LiquID Continuous, remote monitoring of water quality
Real-time data, remote sensing: Spectrophotometer Measures every two minutes and internet connectivity provides real time web updates and mobile device alerts
It’s not always clear to consumers – including government – what device is appropriate for a particular monitoring goal.

6. Promise of Advanced Monitoring: Making the Invisible Visible
Reduce pollution by improved:
Ability of sources to prevent, reduce, treat pollution (before it becomes violation).
Ability of government to assess environmental quality and target resources to significant problems.
Avoid hotspots.
Public engagement in doing the monitoring
Transparency
Permits and inspections
Advanced monitoring technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to make the invisible visible.
New devices can be powerful tools for screening, assessment of sources and addressing problems before they become violations
Supplement existing “gold standard” monitors with richer data on air and water quality (more localized, more continuous)
Public engagement in doing the monitoring creates a rich body of data, from many sources.
Future vision is of a shared vast body of environmental information that can be used by all
GRAPH
Data from Passive FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) monitoring were used by R5 and OECA in developing CAA judicial enforcement actions against at refineries.
The data showed that companies had been substantially underestimating their VOC emissions from flares, thus exposing nearby communities to far greater pollution impacts than had been assumed.
In this case, the facility assumed a 98% combustion efficiency and reported the estimated VOC emissions of 453 tons per year (TPY) (in BLUE on the chart).
PFTIR monitoring showed that actual emissions (in RED on the chart) were 10 times greater at BP Whiting than the estimates by the companies due to lower actual combustion efficiencies. .
Extrapolate these results nationwide!  (Most other refineries have similar flares.)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

7. Real Time Monitoring vs Periodic Grab Samples
This graph illustrates the power of advanced monitoring that allows for real-time, continuous monitoring as compared to periodic grab sample monitoring.
These are real sampling results from a study of nonpoint source pollution in a NW watershed across a 6-month timeframe.
The blue graph illustrates data from continuous monitoring. You can see spikes throughout the duration of sampling.
The red arrows show when traditional monitoring through grab samples were collected and what levels of pollution were collected.
When continuous monitoring is streamed and available to the public, what is the message about the spikes? Are they too high, something to watch, or of no concern…and on what basis?

8. Proliferation of Sensors
Technology is changing rapidly and the proliferation of sensors is occurring at a dizzying pace. Devices range in uses and users and costs.
There many different markets - private citizens, community groups, private sector businesses and local, state, and federal governments.
Low-cost sensors for simplified use, mid-tier to expensive sensors may be pretty sophisticated – they measure more pollutants or have built in functionality.
The technology often is modified in rapid succession often making it difficult to fully understand how a particular “device” responds as well as evaluation value from earlier testing

9. Paradigm Shift Revolutionizing Environmental Monitoring
Current Technology
Expensive
Often snapshot
May require expertise to use
Often delays for lab analysis
Established QA protocols
Collected by gov, industry, researchers
Data stored and explained on gov websites
New Technology
Low cost
Often continuous
Perhaps easy-to-use
Real-time w/o lab analysis
QA protocol gaps
Collected by communities and individuals
Data crowd-sourced, shared and accessed on non-gov sites
Opportunities of Advanced Monitoring are creating a paradigm shift in environmental monitoring.
Traditionally, government agencies charged with environmental and public health protection prescribed monitoring methods, held the resulting data, and interpreted the results.
Now,
Devices are smaller, more portable, and less expensive
Offer unprecedented opportunities to alternative approaches to detecting pollution
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

10. The Challenges
Technologies are rapidly evolving; EPA and States cannot keep up
Potential for false positives or false negatives
Large multi-$B industry but most purchasers of technology (agencies or citizens) are not able to judge performance
Agency testing reveals manufacturer claims not always confirmed (but most sensors are not tested)
Interpreting short term data when our standards are often longer term averages
Adjust to likelihood that government won’t be primary repository of monitoring data
Agency “gold standard” methods approval takes time and addresses only those appropriate for regulatory use
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

11. E-Enterprise Advanced Monitoring Projects
Voluntary, independent third-party certification
Technology scanning, screening and user support
Data Interpretation and Communication
Data exchange standards
EPA Methods Approval Processes
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

12. 1. E-Enterprise Advanced Monitoring: Third Party Certification Study
Feasibility study: 3rd-party program for certifying the performance of new sensors
Team’s consensus top recommendation: Establish independent, non- governmental, voluntary program
Operations similar to certification programs such as UL, Energy Star, and NSF
Examples of certification programs
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

13. Generic Certification Program Structure
Manufacturers pay to have device tested and certified
Certified labs test according to established methods
Certifying bodies certify against performance standards
EPA and states drive the initiation and may post certified products to websites, but ultimately program run by private-sector organization(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

14. Benefits to EPA and State Programs
Improve government response to citizens’ data
Reduces time addressing false positives
Raises awareness of potential false negatives
Provides insight on quality of data for use in assessments
Improve government program work
Potential to speed up EPA methods approval programs, allow compliance monitoring to keep closer pace with technology development
Spurs manufacturers to produce higher-quality sensors and avoids “race to the bottom” that competition pressure from low-cost, low-quality sensors brings
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

15. 2: Scan, Screen and User Support
Network of EPA, state, tribal, and local experts – review new technology for potential use
Establish a process to rapidly:
Scan: Assess new technologies to determine the utility
Screen: Recommend specific sensors for further and more rigorous evaluation based on all readily available data, including information provided by the manufacturer
Clearinghouse
Hosted on SharePoint
Contains information about >300 water and air monitoring devices
Maintenance by EPA OECA for now; eventually, Network members may contribute
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

17. Current Conditions in Durham, NC ~3:30pm on 3/15/18
3: Develop Tools and Guidance on Interpretation of Data from Emerging Technologies
Durham
Current Conditions in Durham, NC ~3:30pm on 3/15/18
Developing a framework to communicate the meaning of short-term results
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

18. 4: Data Standards for Continuous Monitoring
Monitoring data are collected in inconsistent formats
EPA-State team identified
existing standards and
characterized utility of
Each in various use cases
Stakeholder feedback very positive
Piloted data standards on 2 projects
Link to Data Standards Report and Recommendations
Standards need to be consistent across EPA, States, Tribes and the private sector. ‘
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

19. 5. Lean Technology Evaluation Processes
Current EPA approval has a longer timeframe compared to the rapid rate of monitoring technology development
5 EPA monitoring approval programs were considered for a process review
Clean Water Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Clean Air Act
Many other programs have methods approval processes that could be subjected to process review
Source emissions monitoring methods for air
Clean Air Act ambient air monitoring methods
Safe Drinking Water Act methods for Drinking Water
Safe Drinking Water Act methods for Underground Injection Control
Clean Water Act methods – went through a LEAN process in 2016 and results are being implemented
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

20. References and Resources
E-Enterprise Advanced Monitoring Article
“E-Enterprise Advanced Monitoring Technologies: Opportunities and Challenges – A Path Forward for EPA and States” /documents/article-adv-mon-technology.pdf
E-Enterprise for the Environment
U.S. EPA ORD Sensor Toolbox Evaluations
air-pollution-sensor-performance
South Coast Air Quality Management District Sensor Performance Evaluation Center
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency