Houston Regional Monitoring
Network Overview
Houston Regional Monitoring
HRM
Our Commitment to Air Quality
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The safety and welfare of our neighbors and our
employees is our highest priority – we all work and
live here; improving air quality is a long term effort
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Our commitment is evident in our results:
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air quality continues to improve
investments to improve both monitoring and control
equipment continue
We take responsibility to improve the quality of life in
our community very seriously
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The Houston Regional Monitoring
Network (HRM)
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HRM is committed to the scientific understanding of air quality in the
Houston area
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Houston’s air monitoring system is the most extensive in the U.S., with
more than 50 monitoring sites
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HRM is an important part of Houston’s air monitoring system
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HRM has invested over $30M in air monitoring
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10 monitoring sites in Houston
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$2.2 million annual budget
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Voluntarily funded by our members
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32 years of gathering and analyzing ambient air data
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38 participating ship channel companies
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HRM benefits industry, government, and the public
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Houston-Area Ozone Monitoring Stations
Note: Monitors with text box highlighted in yellow are non-FRM monitors
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HRM SERVICE AREA
HRM 10 Mont Belvieu
HRM 4 Sheldon Rd
HRM 617 Wallisville
HRM 3 Haden Rd
HRM 7 West
Baytown
HRM 11 East
Baytown
HRM C615
Lynchburg Ferry
HRM 1 Central St.
HRM 16 Deer Park
HRM 8 LaPorte
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View of Monitor Site
Sampling GC Inside the trailer
Trailer
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Our Operating Principles
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Provide our members with the best scientific air
quality data available
Enable our members to make the best decisions
about ways to effectively reduce emissions
Share key air monitoring data with TCEQ, City of
Houston and Harris County on a routine basis
Inform citizens, elected officials, and agencies about
our results
Demonstrate progress toward attainment of all air
quality standards
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Our Measuring Process
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Criteria Air Pollutants (NAAQS)
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Ozone* (O3)
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Particulate Matter (PM10, and PM2.5 mass concentration and
chemical Speciation)
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Oxides of Nitrogen* (NOx)
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Carbon Monoxide* (CO)
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Sulfur Dioxide* (SO2)
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Lead
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
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157 VOCs emitted by industries, utilities, small businesses,
vehicles, household sources, and vegetation
Meteorology/Weather*
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Temperature, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, net solar
radiation (solar energy) and barometric pressure (Site 16 only)
* Continuous Monitoring
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Our Measuring Process
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VOC samples are taken using EPA-approved
methods and equipment
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One sample every sixth day for a 24-hour
period at each monitoring site
Approximately 10,000 VOC samples collected
by HRM in last 25 years with more than 1
million VOC results reported
Sampling methods are routinely audited using EPA
audit methods
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Our Analysis Process
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Upon collecting data from monitoring stations, we:
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Compare to EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS)
Compare to known benchmark concentrations
Compare with computer modeling results
Analyze trends
Compare with data from other cities
All HRM measurement results are accessible to
members via a web portal
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Sharing Information
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An active process with our member
companies, agencies and
communities
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Monthly Technical Advisory Committee
meetings – includes member
companies, TCEQ, Harris County and
City of Houston
Meetings with CACs and CAPs
Educational Outreach
Participation in studies and committees
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What We Know:
Putting Houston’s Air Quality in Context
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Houston’s air meets 5 of 6 of the federal NAAQS, the exception
being ground-level ozone
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Houston air compares favorably with other cities when looking
at all of the NAAQS
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According to EPA data, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh,
Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, and Salt Lake
City all fail to meet two or more of the NAAQS
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On average an 80 percent reduction in ambient concentration of
key VOCs (BTEX) in the past 18 years
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Industry has spent $4-6 billion in Houston from 2002-2012 to
improve air quality -- on top of substantial investment in the 1990s
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Are We Meeting Air Quality Standards?
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Days When Houston Area Monitors Exceeded
EPA Ozone Air Quality Standard
Significant Decline In Number of Ozone Exceedance Days
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2012 8-hr Ozone Design Value
Regulatory Monitors in Houston Area
All but one Regulatory Monitor in Houston Area is in attainment for 84 ppb 8-hr STD
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2012 1-hr Ozone Design Value
Regulatory Monitors in Houston Area
125 ppb 1-hr Standard
All but one Regulatory Monitor in Houston Area is in attainment for 125 ppb 1-hr STD
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Annual Average NOx Concentration
HRM and Core Houston Area Monitors -Crawford/Texas Ave, Clinton, Lang, Aldine
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Annual Average BTEX Trends
HRM Network - 1988 through 2011
BTEX – Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene
HRM every sixth day 24-hour composite canister sampling data
85% Reduction in BTEX Concentrations Since 1988
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Using TCEQ Air Monitoring Comparison
Values (AMCVs) As Air Quality Indicator
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TCEQ implemented use of the term “air monitoring comparison values”
(AMCVs) to evaluate air monitoring data. AMCVs are chemical-specific air
concentrations set to protect human health and welfare
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Exposure to an air concentration at or below the AMCV is not likely to
cause adverse health effects
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AMCVs are a collective term that refers to all values used by TCEQ to
review ambient air monitoring data
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The short-term AMCV, based on acute exposure health and welfare data, is
compared to monitored concentrations ranging from instantaneous to up
to one hour. The long-term AMCV, based on chronic health and welfare
data, is used to evaluate annual averaged monitored concentrations or
annual concentrations averaged over multiple years (if available)
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What We Know:
Monitoring Data Indicate Good Air Quality
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A comparison of the 2012 monitored ambient
concentrations of a list of common urban air pollutants
to the AMCVs generally indicates very good air quality
in the greater Houston area.
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The 2012 annual average benzene concentration at all
monitoring sites were below the AMCV.
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Our Mission Going Forward:
Maintaining and Improving Air Quality
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Provide data to member companies to enable them to meet state
and federal air standards
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Assist TCEQ in air monitoring to meet NAAQS
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Monitors must show progress toward meeting NAAQS for
ground-level ozone and confirm attainment
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Houston area targeting an 80 percent reduction in NOx and
substantial reduction in HRVOCs
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Use HRM data as input to rigorous permitting process to identify
air control improvements in projects
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Communicate with neighbors about our improving air quality and
address their questions
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What This Means for Air Quality
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Houston’s air quality has dramatically improved and
will continue to improve
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Houston’s air quality is monitored and analyzed using
the most thorough network in the country
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HRM and its members recognize our responsibility
and have made significant investments as part of our
commitment – but we can and will do better.
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