Air Monitoring FY 2014

Transcription

1 Air Monitoring FY 2014 Region 3 Status Update Alice H. Chow Associate Director Office of Air Monitoring & Analysis

2 Agenda Budget/Resources Current Projects Direction of Air Monitoring in R3 Quality Assurance Workshop Questions

3 Budget/Resources We are operating on Continuing Resolution budget to Jan. 15, 2014; overall, we expect a 5% decrease for 2014 Only the Section 105 grant monies have been released to date; there has been no discussion of any separate monies coming under Section 103 We have not been given any specific dollars toward PM2.5, SO2, etc. for 2014 Any equipment and resource needs would come out of 105 funds In terms of staffing and coverage, Drew Hass has left the air division. Lori Hyden will cover ozone and PAMS; Howard Schmidt will cover air toxics monitoring.

4 Current Projects Working with ORD on 2 projects using low cost, passive VOC pods to determine if technique can replace TO-15 ORD RARE (Regional Applied Research Effort) project in South Philadelphia; at the PES refinery (formerly Sunoco) Site also has an air sensor placed on electronic billboard Site is also planning on testing an open-path monitor (AMS) ORD Regional Methods project in Philadelphia (2 sites) and Delaware (1 site)

5 RARE Project at PES Refinery 15 passive VOC pods

6 Region Methods Project: Philadelphia International Airport

7 Region Methods Project: Evraz Steel, Claymont, DE

8 Passive VOC Samplers

9 Regional Methods: Duplicate Summas, Passive VOC sampler, Claymont, DE

10 VOC Air Sensor 3D Sonic anemometer Prototype sensor package (pres. temp. RH. VOC) 7 ft Solar panel Battery backup and data logger Inside of battery box

11 Direction of Air Monitoring in R3 Ambient Monitoring Maintain current programmatic responsibilities Hexavalent Chromium monitoring with MDE Source Monitoring New sensor technologies New methodologies being evaluated Passive VOCs sampling Passive Coarse PM sampling SO 2 - S/Ls can elect to place monitors at sources instead of modeling for Phase 2 designations OECA- Fenceline Monitoring for Consent Decrees

12 Direction of Air Monitoring in R3 (cont.) Adapting to a new normal Need to develop source monitoring skills Need to understand how air monitoring is used in other programs (industrial vs. ambient) Need to address data collected from academic and research institutions as well as the public Need to see how new methodologies and techniques can be incorporated into a monitoring program Need to develop partnerships in order to provide cross training opportunities

13 Direction of Air Monitoring in R3 (cont.) Adapting to a new normal (cont.) Need to address data quality concerns with existing monitoring networks, both a national as well as a regional issue Incidences of poor lab work Falsification of data Turnover of field technicians Limited training opportunities

14 Quality Assurance Workshop R3 and MARAMA will conduct a QA workshop in 2 nd quarter 2014 to be held in Philadelphia why? Nationally, OAQPS is concerned with QA and data problems; turnover of experienced personnel and limited training of new hires have impacted QA work Regionally, our Technical Systems Audits have found a wide disparity of capabilities In addition, there seems to be a disconnect between field techs, data analysts, and program personnel

15 Quality Assurance Workshop Monitoring data submitted by our S/Ls are paramount to regulatory decision making; questionable data undermines and damages credibility R3 plans to develop a 2-day MARAMA sponsored workshop as a means to bring together field personnel, data and program analysts to discuss and address QA concerns, improve understanding and provide a forum for an exchange of ideas. If you are interested in helping us develop this workshop, please contact Kia Hence, at hence.kia@epa.gov

16 QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?