Air Monitoring: A Critical and Evolving Field

Deborah Jordan, Director, Air Division U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9

U.S. EPA Region 9

• Purpose: Ensure public health protection

• Three key roles of good monitoring data

• Consequences of poor data quality

• How to assure good data

– Importance of Primary Quality Assurance

Organizations

• Emerging issues, closing thoughts

Overview

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Smog obscures buildings in Los Angeles

What are the three key regulatory roles of good monitoring data?

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• Requires EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

– Ambient = air the general public can access

• Two types of NAAQS:

– Primary NAAQS to protect public health

– Secondary NAAQS to protect public welfare

The Clean Air Act (CAA)

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The CAA requires EPA to review NAAQS every five years. • Consider available scientific information to determine if

the NAAQS should be revised.

• Monitoring data are a critical part of the Integrated Science Assessment.

– Spatial and temporal variability of concentrations

– Relationship of concentrations to epidemiological information

Determining the NAAQS

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NAAQS Review Process

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Monitoring data are critical in setting the NAAQS:

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MONITORING

Epidemiological Studies

Review of relevant scientific

information

Retained or Revised NAAQS

When a NAAQS Is Set or Revised:

• EPA must determine if areas are meeting (attainment areas) or not meeting (nonattainment areas) the standard.

• Typically, we determine whether an area is attainment or nonattainment using monitoring.

• If a monitor violates, state (local) agencies/EPA identify the “nonattainment” area, through a public process.

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When a NAAQS Is Revised (cont’d)

• To protect public health: States must develop plans (State Implementation Plans – SIPs) to bring nonattainment areas into attainment of the standard – Plans include rules requiring emission controls

– Monitoring shows whether the area is improving / attaining

• Once an area is attaining the standard, typically rely on continued monitoring to show the area remains clean.

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8-ho

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8-hour ozone NAAQS

San Francisco Bay Area, CA

San Joaquin Valley, CA

Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin, CA

US EPA REGION 9 AIR QUALITY TRENDS, 2000-2013 8-HOUR OZONE DESIGN VALUES FOR SELECT AREAS IN CALIFORNIA

Source: US EPA's Air Quality Systems (AQS) database (February 24, 2014). The 2008 national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for 8-hour ozone is 0.075 parts per million (ppm), or 75 parts per billion (ppb). The design value is a calculation of each year's 4th-highest day's recorded values, averaged over a 3-year period at an air quality monitor. X-axis labels represent the last year of a monitor's 3 year time period. All exceptional event data (e.g., high winds and wildfires) that EPA has concurred on have been excluded from design value calculations. Code of Federal Regulations rounding conventions set the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS at 85 ppb. Data from 2013 are preliminary and have not been reviewed by EPA.

CA RFG III CA LEV Standards

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MONITORING

Determination of Nonattainment

Controls and Rules to Improve Air

Quality

Determination of Attainment!

• Contribute to the scientific assessment that informs National Ambient Air Quality Standards

• Determine where and by how much air quality needs to improve (nonattainment designations)

• Show air quality trends and determine when NAAQS are met (attainment designations)

Summary of Monitoring Data’s Three Key Regulatory Roles

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Informing the public………….

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And an overarching role of good data

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…about the air we breathe

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What are the possible consequences of poor monitoring data?

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Fewer reliable data to inform health studies.

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MONITORING

Epidemiological Studies

NAAQS review of health information

Revised NAAQS

?

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MONITORING

Determination of

Nonattainment

Controls and Rules to Improve

Air Quality

Determination of Attainment

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Poor data may prevent attainment determinations

• Critical quality assurance checks missed • Critical monitor not operating • Lack of documentation affecting defensibility

Why wouldn’t we be able to use monitoring data?

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• Missed samples have meant:

Different design value for an area

Substantial increased workload to address missing data

Real-World Consequences:

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• Inability to designate an area nonattainment because of defensibility issues has delayed implementation of controls and longer exposure to the community.

Real-World Consequences:

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• Lack of data can also prevent redesignation to attainment affects permitting

Real-World Consequences:

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• EPA has received comments on issues including:

– Siting

– Data completeness

– Flow verification checks

– Calibration checks

– QAPP adoption & execution

– Collocation requirements

Recent Challenges:

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• EPA was challenged on approval of an Annual Monitoring Network Plan and associated SIP approval. – Lack of near-roadway PM2.5 monitors

– Lack of max. concentration PM2.5 monitor

Recent Challenges:

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California: Unique Challenges

• Worst ozone and PM issues in the nation

• Geography and meteorology combine to create conditions conducive to poor air quality

• Many entities: Federal, State, Local, Tribes, other

• Complex sources

• Active NGOs

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How can we assure good quality monitoring data?

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Primary Quality Assurance Organizations: Partnership, Support, and Oversight

• Stronger quality assurance programs, catching issues earlier

• Oversight = Safety net – To ensure your data can be used for its intended purpose

• ARB Primary Quality Assurance Organization = A resource

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Emerging Issues: Near Roadway Monitoring

• Background – 35 million+ living within 300 ft of major road in US – Studies showing potential for higher concentrations

• Monitor Deployment – NO2 (2014-2017); CO & PM2.5 (2015-2017) – Targeting highest trafficked roads – Must be within 50 meters – Encouraging multi-pollutant platforms

• Data Use – NAAQS comparison & review of standards – Implications on designations process = work in progress

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Emerging Issues: Sensor Technology • Air monitoring paradigm is changing

- Emergence of lower-cost, easy-to-use, portable air pollution monitors (sensors) that provide high resolution data in near real-time

• Sensor devices are available now, new devices are continually being introduced

- Monitor a range of air pollutants

• Significant challenges and questions - Determining the quality of the data - Appropriate data use - Communication with the public

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EPA Resources: Next Generation of Air Monitoring

• EPA Air Sensors Research http://www.epa.gov/airscience/air-sensor-research.htm

• Draft Roadmap for Next Generation Air Monitoring – Summarizes literature reviews, workshops, and discussions about the Next Generation of Air Monitoring http://www.epa.gov/research/airscience/docs/roadmap-20130308.pdf

• EPA Sensors Workshop, June 9-10, 2014 – EPA's fourth sensors workshop – Addressing opportunities and challenges

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Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Monitoring

• Federal Government – NOAA: Monitoring – EPA:

• Regulations: GHG permitting, vehicle emission standards, proposed power plant standards

• GHG Reporting Program • Annual inventory of U.S. emissions

• State and Local agencies have been undertaking their own programs

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Thank You!

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