cory r. chadwick, director hamilton county does (hcdoes) october 5, 2011

Cory R. Chadwick, DirectorHamilton County DOES (HCDOES)

October 5, 2011

Complainants, environmental groups, and citizens have historically voiced two main concerns:• What is in the air I am breathing• Odor no longer present when investigator arrives

Started in the City of Cincinnati in 1999 Expanded by HCDOES in 2002 to all four

counties in SW Ohio

Fifteen – 6L canisters utilized in four county area

Citizen keeps evacuated canister and takes sample as needed (outdoor only)

Citizens trained how to take sample, record weather information, and use chain of custody

Take sample when odor is strongest After taking sample, complainant

calls hotline

Hotline call initiates field investigation Inspector picks up canister and

arranges for canister to be shipped to approved lab

Samples typically analyzed using US EPA Method TO-15

Additional analysis if particular compound of concern (CO, Methane, Sulfur, etc.)

Canisters used for both instantaneous and 24-hr samples

Program also uses real time monitoring (stand alone or in conjunction with canister program)• Photo Ionization Detector (PID) – ppb

level of VOCs• Multi-Rae – ppm range VOCs, CO, H2S,

LEL and Oxygen• Flame Ionization Detector (FID) – ppm

Methane and VOC

PID

Multi-Rae

FID

Complainants call in less, stop calling, or even decide not to take sample (waiting for really bad odor)

Gives the complainant some control in evaluating the odor present

Communication of sampling results very important

Toxicologist review if needed (none on staff) Not a tell all – just tool in our toolbox

Canisters cost approx. $500 per can Analysis is around $250 per can, more if

special compounds requested Average cans used per year is 10 -12 Analysis cost $2,500 to $3,000 per year Penalty dollars used to purchase cans Analysis costs covered by penalty and

regular budget

INEOS (chemical plant 10 miles west of Cincinnati on the Ohio river• Complaints about chemical odors (35 to 45 minutes from our office)• Canister sample found 81 ppb of 1,3 butadiene 1.5 miles from facility

Rumpke (Sanitary Landfill 15 miles NE of Cincinnati)• Subsurface landfill fire since 2009• Combination of real time data and canister data has calmed fears of citizens

For additional information please visit our Website at www.hcdoes.org or call Kerri Castlen, our complaints supervisor, at (513) 946-7738