OZONE PREVENTION & AIR
QUALITY ACTION PLAN
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER
AT SAN ANTONIO
Provided by:
Environmental Health and Safety Department
Revised: June 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MANAGEMENT APPROVAL STATEMENT……………………………..............…………3
ANNUAL REVIEW LOG SHEET ……………………………………………………..………4
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 5
DEPARTMENT CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS ........................................................... 6
NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR AIR QUALITY HEALTH ALERTS ......................7
OZONE PREVENTION INITITIATIVES AT UTHSCSA .................................................. 8
EMPLOYEE/SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................... 10
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
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MANAGEMENT APPROVAL CERTIFICATION
Management Approval Statement
This Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan for UTHSCSA is fully supported by
the management. UTHSCSA will implement this Plan and amend it as needed due to
expansions, modifications and improvements at the facility. A complete copy of this Plan
will be maintained at the facility and it will be made available to the appropriate federal,
state, and local regulatory agencies for on-site review during normal working hours.
UTHSCSA will commit the necessary manpower, equipment and materials required to
support this plan.
______________________
______________________________
Michael A. Charlton, Ph.D., CHP, CIH, CSP
Assistant Vice-President for Risk
Management and Safety
The University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio
Brian Herman, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
The University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio
Page 3 of 10
OZONE PREVENTION & AIR QUALITY ACTION PLAN
ANNUAL REVIEW LOG SHEET
This Ozone Prevention & Air Quality Action Plan will be reviewed and evaluated at least
once each year. As a result of this review and evaluation, the University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio will amend this Plan within six months of the review to
include more accurate and appropriate procedures and initiatives.
Review Date
Signature
Date
1.
June 2009
____________________
____________
2.
June 2010
____________________
____________
3.
June 2011
____________________
____________
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
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INTRODUCTION
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone in July 1997. This new standard
uses rolling eight-hour averages that are more stringent than previous regulatory
standards. Under this standard, a geographical area (e.g. county) will be in violation of
the new standard when its fourth highest daily ozone average, calculated over the
previous three years, exceeds 0.08 parts per million. The San Antonio geographical area
has marginally exceeded this level and may be designated by the EPA as a nonattainment area for ground-level ozone. San Antonio is one of nine Texas communities
participating in the Ozone Forecast Program. The link provided on page six of this plan
lists the current peak one-hour and eight-hour concentrations and the corresponding Air
Quality Index (AQI) rating for ozone. The forecast is updated by 3:00pm each day.
Use AQI to Reduce Risk
Dose = Concentration x Ventilation Rate x Time
 Reduce concentration – schedule activities when pollution levels lower
 Reduce ventilation rate by taking it easier
 Reduce time spent in vigorous outdoor activities
 Pay attention to symptoms
 People with asthma – follow asthma action plan
Ground level ozone is created through a complicated process in the atmosphere.
However, several key ingredients are required to produce ground level ozone. Factors
contributing to the formation of ozone are:
1.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
2.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOX)
3.
Hot, sunny weather
The principal organs affected by ground-level ozone include the lungs and associated
airways. The symptoms include constriction of the lungs, increased severity of allergies
and asthma, and coughing/wheezing.
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
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DEPARTMENT CONTACT PHONE NUMBERS
In order to utilize the Ozone Prevention Initiatives, the following departments will be
involved in implementing this Plan:
1.
Vice President for Research
(210) 567-2015
2.
UT Health Science Center Police Department
(210) 567-2800
3.
Facilities Management
(210) 567-2880
4.
Laboratory Animal Resources
(210) 567-6166
5.
Environmental Health and Safety
(210) 567-2955
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
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NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR
AIR QUALITY HEALTH ALERTS
The following procedure will be used to notify departments of the need to implement the
Ozone Prevention Initiatives:
1.
The Environmental Health and Safety Department is charged with monitoring the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the ozone forecast for the
upcoming workday at: http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/cgibin/monops/ozone_actionday
2.
A representative of the Environmental Health and Safety Department will contact
the following departments:
UT Health Science Center Police Department
Facilities Management
Laboratory Animal Resources
Environmental Health and Safety
3.
(210) 567-2800
(210) 567-2880
(210) 567-6166
(210) 567-2955
Each department will utilize their Ozone Prevention Initiatives on the Air Quality
Health Alert Day.
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
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OZONE PREVENTION INITIATIVES AT UTHSCSA
The following initiatives are currently implemented by UTHSCSA:
1.
A proactive fleet management program to reduce the number of vehicles
employed by UTHSCSA.
2.
An on-site vehicle preventive maintenance program to ensure proper operation.
3.
Increased use of bike patrols and foot patrols by the UT Health Science Center
Police Department. The increased use of bike patrols has decreased the use of
vehicles.
4.
The use of sealed containers for gasoline and degreasers to reduce the potential
generation of volatile organic compounds by evaporation.
5.
The weekly emergency generator testing scheduled for off-peak hours on Sunday
nights.
6.
Flextime and telecommuting are available to UTHSCSA employees as
appropriate. Approximately 20% of all employees utilize this initiative.
7.
The preferential substitution of water-based paints for solvent-based paints where
available.
8.
A vapor recovery system was installed on the UTHSCSA vehicle fueling station
to recapture volatile organic compounds evaporating during fueling.
Upon notification of an Air Quality Health Alert Day, the following initiatives will be
implemented:
1.
Groundskeeping activities involving volatile organic compounds will be
minimized including mowing, edging, mulching, and vehicle fueling.
2.
Vehicle fueling will be limited to between 8 am to 10 am and nighttime,
excluding emergency operations.
3.
Natural gas will be the only fuel used in the Central Energy Plant on Air Quality
Health Alert Days.
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
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4.
Waste volatile organic compound solvent bulking and liquid scintillation vial
shredding will be conducted between 8am to 10am or postponed on Air Quality
Health Alert Days.
5.
Exterior solvent-based painting will be limited to between 8am to 10am on Air
Quality Health Alert Days.
6.
Pollution control devices have been and will continue to be installed on the
Central Energy Plant boilers to reduce emissions in consonance with our TCEQ
air permit.
The following addition measures are under consideration as potential initiatives:
1.
Vapor recovery system on the petroleum storage tank pressure release valves to
reduce volatile organic compound emissions.
2.
Reformulated gasolines when available will be used to reduce the emission of
NOx and VOC’s during UTHSCSA vehicle operation.
3.
An awareness program for UTHSCSA employees and students relating to air
quality improvement initiatives.
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
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EMPLOYEE/SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBLITIES
EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES
SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Know and understand the
requirements of this plan.
1. Know and understand the
requirements of this plan.
2. Ask questions when health and
safety issues are unclear or unknown.
2. Ask questions when health and
safety issues are unclear or unknown.
3. Implement the procedures outlined in
this plan.
3. Ensure that supervised employees
implement the procedures outlined in
this plan.
4. Report noncompliance with this
plan.
4. Report noncompliance with this
plan.
Ozone Prevention and Air Quality Action Plan
Revised: June 2008
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