The National Ambient Air Monitoring The National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy and Network DesignStrategy and Network Design

Westar Spring 2007 Business MeetingWestar Spring 2007 Business Meeting

April 4, 2007April 4, 2007

Bruce Louks, Idaho Department of Environmental QualityBruce Louks, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

DRAFT National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy, DRAFT National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy, December 2005December 2005

Revised April 2004 draft, less detail, broader scopeRevised April 2004 draft, less detail, broader scope

Dispenses 3-tiered NCore, establishes integrated National Ambient Dispenses 3-tiered NCore, establishes integrated National Ambient Air Monitoring SystemAir Monitoring System

Formative, focus more on goals rather than strategic plansFormative, focus more on goals rather than strategic plans

Periodic stakeholder review and revisionPeriodic stakeholder review and revision

Goals of National Air Monitoring StrategyGoals of National Air Monitoring Strategy

SLT networks are reconfigured to be consistent with basic SLT networks are reconfigured to be consistent with basic environmental and programmatic needs for current environmental environmental and programmatic needs for current environmental managementmanagement

Integrate monitoring networks where opportunities existIntegrate monitoring networks where opportunities exist

Improve the scientific and technical competency of the nation’s air Improve the scientific and technical competency of the nation’s air monitoring networks to ensure high quality data; andmonitoring networks to ensure high quality data; and

Enhance data storage, dissemination, and analyses so that Enhance data storage, dissemination, and analyses so that stakeholders have improved access to ambient monitoring data.stakeholders have improved access to ambient monitoring data.

Air Quality Management ChallengesAir Quality Management Challenges

New standards for ozone, particulate matter, regional hazeNew standards for ozone, particulate matter, regional haze

Human health risk from exposure to air toxicsHuman health risk from exposure to air toxics

Pollutant thresholds below which there are no harmful effectsPollutant thresholds below which there are no harmful effects

Environmental justiceEnvironmental justice

Ecosystems Ecosystems

Multistate and international transport of pollutantsMultistate and international transport of pollutants

Climate changeClimate change

Urban NAAQSUrban NAAQSMonitoring NetworksMonitoring Networks

Attainment, trends, control strategies, AQI, environmental Attainment, trends, control strategies, AQI, environmental justice and health effects, methods development, models, justice and health effects, methods development, models, source-receptor. Most are single pollutant. The Strategy source-receptor. Most are single pollutant. The Strategy recommends:recommends:

• Reconfigure existing NAMS/SLAMS/PAMS and STN into Reconfigure existing NAMS/SLAMS/PAMS and STN into NCore multi-pollutant sites; overall reduction in number of NCore multi-pollutant sites; overall reduction in number of sites.sites.

• Streamline PAMSStreamline PAMS• Emphasize continuous PMEmphasize continuous PM• Integrate CASTNET, NATTS and other networksIntegrate CASTNET, NATTS and other networks

Urban Air ToxicsUrban Air Toxics Monitoring Networks Monitoring Networks

Urban hot spots, assess control programs, trends, health effects, Urban hot spots, assess control programs, trends, health effects, research, source-receptor relationships. The Strategy research, source-receptor relationships. The Strategy recommends:recommends:

Maintain NATTSMaintain NATTS Fund local-scale projectsFund local-scale projects Utilize PAMS, IMPROVE and CASTNETUtilize PAMS, IMPROVE and CASTNET Refine model-based assessment tools (e.g. NATA) Refine model-based assessment tools (e.g. NATA)

Rural Monitoring NetworksRural Monitoring Networks

Atmospheric deposition trends, mercury and PBT deposition, Atmospheric deposition trends, mercury and PBT deposition, visibility, PSD, pollutant transport, trends, regional air-quality visibility, PSD, pollutant transport, trends, regional air-quality model data input and validation, source-receptor relationships. model data input and validation, source-receptor relationships. The Strategy recommends:The Strategy recommends:

• Maintain and upgrade CASTNET, NADP, IMPROVE as Maintain and upgrade CASTNET, NADP, IMPROVE as core elements for acid deposition, mercury and visibilitycore elements for acid deposition, mercury and visibility

• Retain current stations “as is” (e.g. PSD) for NAAQS Retain current stations “as is” (e.g. PSD) for NAAQS • Track rural backgroundTrack rural background• Formally integrate CASTNET with urban networks for air Formally integrate CASTNET with urban networks for air

quality management effortsquality management efforts

Other Monitoring NetworksOther Monitoring Networks

Near Roadway MonitoringNear Roadway Monitoring• Assess exposure impacts, determine long-term trends Assess exposure impacts, determine long-term trends

(potentially NAAQS compliance.(potentially NAAQS compliance.• Develop and incorporate into national network as Develop and incorporate into national network as

appropriate.appropriate.

Tribal MonitoringTribal Monitoring• Leverage benefits to Tribes and national monitoring Leverage benefits to Tribes and national monitoring

networksnetworks• Data sharingData sharing• Explore rural site operation of national/regional interestExplore rural site operation of national/regional interest

Homeland SecurityHomeland Security

Network Design and the StrategyNetwork Design and the Strategy

Existing NAAQS compliance networks need to be reconfigured to Existing NAAQS compliance networks need to be reconfigured to emphasize persistent attainment problems.emphasize persistent attainment problems.

1.1. Shifting resources, divest in some pollutants (maintain adequate Shifting resources, divest in some pollutants (maintain adequate trends network)trends network)

2.2. Incorporate continuous and multipollutant measurements where Incorporate continuous and multipollutant measurements where possiblepossible

3.3. Emphasis on rural background monitoring for evaluation of long Emphasis on rural background monitoring for evaluation of long range transport, interstate concerns, NAAQS control strategies range transport, interstate concerns, NAAQS control strategies (CAIR, CAMR). Better integration of networks such as CASTNET, (CAIR, CAMR). Better integration of networks such as CASTNET, IMPROVEIMPROVE

4.4. Linkage between ambient air monitoring and ecosystems, Linkage between ambient air monitoring and ecosystems, deposition, ozonedeposition, ozone

5.5. Implement performance based quality system allows technological Implement performance based quality system allows technological advancesadvances

6.6. Enhanced storage and dissemination of data.Enhanced storage and dissemination of data.