1. Division of Air Quality -- Ambient Monitoring -- EMC Member Continuing Education Session Donnie Redmond Section Chief March 7, 2012

2. Topics to be Covered Ambient Monitoring Why do we do it? Who determines how many to operate? How do we decide where to put them? What do monitors look like? (Pictures!) Improvements and Challenges 2

3. Toxics monitoring The Division does some Toxics monitoring That’s another group You’ll see them another time 3

4. Ambient Monitoring: Why? EPA requirements Highest concentrations Population exposure Background Research Public health effects re pollutant levels To better understand control strategies Public interest 4

5. Ambient Monitoring: What? EPA regulations lay out minimum requirements Number of monitors Where to locate them How long to operate them Different rules for each pollutant Same standards apply across the nation 5

6. Example: Ozone requirements Any metro area (MSA) with 350,000 people Must have at least one ozone monitor If >85% of the standard, must have two Any MSA with at least 50,000 people Must have a monitor if >85% of standard At least one monitor in each area must be for maximum concentration 6

7. Ozone monitoring req’ts (cont.) Nine NC metro areas have >350,000 people Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Winston- Salem, Asheville, Hickory, Fayetteville, Wilmington Each must have at least one monitor Second monitor required if near ozone standard Five other MSAs with <350,000 people Greenville, Rocky Mount, Jacksonville, Goldsboro, Burlington One monitor required if >85% of standard 85% of the standard (75ppb) is ~64 ppb 7

8. Ozone monitoring req’ts (cont.) Other considerations Additional monitors may help reduce the size of a nonattainment area How do you know if you’re >85% if you don’t have a monitor?! Number of required ozone monitors can add up quickly! 8

9. Example: Fine particles (PM2.5) Population and concentration standards 2 or 3 monitors if >1 million people 1 or 2 monitors if >0.5 million people 0 or 1 monitor if > 50,000 people At least one monitor must be in population-oriented area of expected maximum concentration Co-located continuous monitors also required At least one site for background Another for regional transport Speciation monitors also required 9

10. Fine particles (PM2.5) Federal Reference Method or “FRM” Traditionally/historically, this is the monitor to determine attainment or not 24-hour sample, usually every 3 days Filters returned to lab for analysis Results are not known for weeks or months Continuous monitors (new technology) 1-hour samples, runs continuously Results available immediately on website 10

11. Other pollutants NO2 Population and traffic volume SO2 Population and emissions weighted index Lead Emissions-based CO No population-based requirements Additional background monitors in support of PSD permitting 11

12. Ambient Monitoring: Where? http://ncair.org/monitor/data/monitorsites2011.pdf 12

13. Ambient Monitoring: Who? Statewide network Regional office staff operates the monitors Electronics calibration/repair shop in Raleigh Two labs in Raleigh Central office does QA, SOPs, and reporting Local programs Mecklenburg, Forsyth, Western NC Cherokee tribe 13

14. Ambient Monitoring: http://xapps.enr.state.nc.us/aq/ambient/AmbtPollutant.jsp 14

15. Particulate monitor at Spruce Pine 15

16. Particulate at Goldsboro 16

17. Ozone at Mocksville 17

18. Whole bunch of ‘em at Raleigh 18

19. Gaseous monitors 19

20. Continuous particulate monitor 20

21. Hydrocarbon sampler 21

22. SO2 at Bayview (my favorite!) 22

23. Ozone at Purchase Knob 23

24. Site Characteristics Must meet EPA requirements, including Distance from trees, buildings, roads Nearby emissions sources Prevailing wind direction Height of sample probe above ground Other considerations Safety of technicians (traffic, terrain) Access to power and phone Cost to use site (free is good!) Co-located with other instruments 24

25. Miscellaneous Notes Not all monitors run all the time Some are seasonal, some year-round Some continuous, some every six days Some operate every third year Meteorological sites Pollen monitor Not required, but people like the daily tweet Network plan public review every June 25

26. Quality Assurance requirements Chemists/statisticians review, validate, and report all the data Calibrations Power failures “Exceptional events”, i.e., fires Monitor performance issues Temperature, humidity, leaks Insects Completeness 26

27. Challenges It’s expensive! Every pollutant uses different box Must undergo EPA certification Each box typically costs $10k-20k Special materials that don’t react with sample Stuff breaks, need inventory of parts and spares Field operations, travel, phone, utilities, critters Ever changing EPA requirements Standards getting closer to background levels Accuracy becomes more important 27

28. Improvements Reviewing long-time way of doing things Automating some functions, revising others Public demand for instant accurate info Looking into wireless web-based polling Newer technology analyzers Less manpower intensive Cooperative agreements with other agencies 28

29. Questions? Donnie Redmond Ambient Monitoring Section Chief 919-707-8468 donnie.redmond@ncdenr.gov References 40 CFR Part 58, Appendix D http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2010/julqtr/pdf/40cfr58AppD.pdf DAQ website http://www.ncair.org/ 29