1. PMcoarse , Monitoring Budgets, and AQI
Westar Spring 2007 Business Meeting
April 4, 2007
Bruce Louks, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

2. PMcoarse Monitoring Methods
Revised Ambient Air Monitoring Regulations, Dec
FRM – two PM2.5 FRM’s, one sampling PM10, PMcoarse by difference
Approval criteria for PMcoarse FEM to facilitate filter based direct measurement and subsequent chemical speciation
Established approval criteria for continuous PMcoarse FEM

3. PMcoarse Monitoring Requirements
Revised Ambient Air Monitoring Regulations, Dec
NCore network, 55 urban and 20 rural; operational by 2011
PM2.5 speciation, PMcoarse and PMcoarse speciation
EPA will ensure consistent and advanced technology for PMcoarse speciation
PM10 network divestment (1,200 monitors down to 200 – 500 will pay for PMcoarse monitoring.

4. Questions about PMcoarse Monitoring
If NCore sites are not required to be monitoirng PMcoarse until 2011, will this be useful information for the next review of the PM NAAQS?
If future regulations will provide more targeted protection against those coarse particles and sources that prove to be of concern, based on PMcoarse speciation data, should the rural NCore sited to represent population exposure?

5. AQ Monitoring Budget Issues
FFY07 – continuing resolution, funding same as FFY06
EPA waiting for direction, no earmarks
103 funds will be between 24 and 42M
Agencies required to enhance PM2.5 monitoring frequencies will be compensated
Require agencies to use FY07 funds by April 2008
FY08 funds distributed on same cycle for all
Supplement 105 funds to fill gaps
FFY08 Administration proposed STAG reductions of $35M (16%)
Shift 103 to 105 (I assume $25M), match required
$35M diesel retrofit ($49M FY07)
FY08 Draft Guidance on web:
Improve network reductions may become an issue again next year.

6. EPA’s FY 2008 Grant Guidance – Appendix A Highlights
25.5M for PM2.5 (60% of 42.5M) moved to section 105 – work plans will ensure no reduction in essential monitoring.
Disinvestment in low-value monitoring for several criteria pollutants Seeking funding approach for:
NCore ammonia (some sites)
Continuous speciation monitoring
Daily metals speciation (~3 sites)
Will consider additional monitoring requirements imposed by new daily PM2.5 NAAQS. May need to shift funds within Regions to cover speciation for new non-attainment areas.
Does not specifically target funds for PMcoarse mass or speciation.
2008 speciation trends (STN) network is stable. Supplemental speciation sites and State protocol IMPROVE may move or shut down.

7. Fine Particulate (PM2.5) Monitoring Network
Nationally, fewer sites will be required
Lowered required number of sites in urban areas
Removed requirement for monitoring outside of MSA other than transport and background
Some new sites and increased sampling frequency.
Shifting resources to precursor level monitoring of CO, SO2 and NO2/NOy.
And a larger network of PM2.5 continuous monitors.
Any additional PM2.5 monitoring required in Appendix D takes effect January 1, 2008 (~12 sites).
Continuous equivalent methods (NAAQS and AQI) could provide cost benefit.

8. Fine Particulate (PM2.5) Monitoring Network Miscellaneous
Replacement of Anderson PM2.5 FRM’s
New carbon channel for STN ($835,000)
Recommend addition of ammonia, enhanced meteorology, data management systems (with existing budgets)
PM2.5 data analysis for network support ($126K)

9. Monitoring Networks for Other NAAQS Pollutants
Divestments based on local needs
Ozone network assessment
PAMS requirements – EPA working with NAACA on reallocation process ($14M)
Air Toxics - $22.3M
$10M for NATTS and community scale projects
IMPROVE – FY06 $1.2M 103, $2.6M STAG (110 sites). FY08 IMPROVE reductions (if any) will be retained in PM monitoring program

10. AQI – PM2.5 EPA issued White Paper February, 12 2007
Proposed rule, summer 2007
Final rule, fall 2007
Historical approach
AQI 50 at short-term standard
AQI 100 at long term standard
1997 PM2.5 EPA set AQI 100 at below short-term standard (40 ug/m3) to reflect dual role of short/long term standards and AQI 150 at short-term standard (65 ug/m3)
2006 PM2.5 EPA recommends AQI 100 at short-term standard (35 ug/m3) and AQI 150 at 55 ug/m3

11. AQI PM2.5 - continued
AQI 500 = Significant Harm Level -EPA proposes SHL at 350 ug/m3 (60% of the PM10 SHL)
EPA requesting information on episodes and public health data
Intermediate breakpoints based on linear relationships between increasing index values and increasing PM2.5 concentrations
EPA intends to issue guidance for short-term episodes (e.g. one to several hours)
EPA requesting information from agencies who use short-term concentrations for advisories
EPA will report on expected impacts to AQ forecasting programs 2nd quarter 2007.

12. AQI Scheme