EAST TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
NETAC POLICY COMMITTEE
Thursday, June 28, 2012, 1:00 p.m.
Tyler Rose Garden - Camellia Room
420 Rose Park Drive
Tyler, Texas
MINUTES OF MEETING
1.
Call to Order: NETAC Co-Chairs Judge Bill Stoudt, Gregg County and Mayor
Barbara Bass, City of Tyler
Judge Stoudt called the meeting to order at approximately 1:22pm
2.
Roll Call: Julie Burnfield, ETCOG Community & Economic Development
Manager
Policy Advisory Committee Present
 Jim Mathews, NETAC General Counsel
 Judge Bill Stoudt, Gregg County
 Mayor Barbara Bass, City of Tyler
 Judge Joel Baker, Smith County
 Tammy Campbell, WECAN
 Mayor Buzz Fullen, City of Henderson
 Keith Honey, AEP-SWEPCO
 David Duncan, Luminant
 Greg Morgan, City of Tyler
 Darrell Rachels, Eastman Chemical Co.
Others Present
 Greg Yarwood, ENVIRON
 Sue Kemball-Cook, ENVIRON
 Allison DeuBleyker, ENVIRON
 Julie Burnfield, ETCOG
 Gary Allen, ETCOG
 Ruben Casso, EPA
 Michael Feldman, EPA
 Brian Boerner, Chesapeake
3.
Discussion and approval of the Policy Committee meeting minutes of December 5,
2011 (Enclosure PC1): Co-Chair Mayor Bass
A motion was made to approve the minutes of the April 13th, 2012 meeting of the
Policy Committee. A second was made and the minutes passed without any opposition.
4.
Discussion and consideration of action of EPA's Ozone Advance Program
(Enclosure PC2): Carrie Paige, EPA & Jim Mathews
Carrie Page with EPA discussed this item. The Ozone Advance is a collaborative effort
by EPA, states, tribes, and local governments to encourage emission reductions in
ozone attainment areas, to help them continue to meet the National Ambient Air
Quality Standard (NAAQS). The program goals include: (1) helping attainment areas
take action in order to keep ozone levels below the level of the standard to ensure
continued health protection, (2) to better position areas to remain in attainment, and (3)
to efficiently direct available resources toward actions to address ozone problems
quickly.
If NETAC wants to join the program funds from Rider 8 can be used for this. Once the
group decides how much involvement they want in the program they will provide a
letter to EPA saying that this is the area that is involved, we have a regulatory monitor
on site, this is the monitor number, and the State is up to date on its emissions
inventory. The letter should also include all participants in the program i.e. counties,
economic development boards, the state etc. Ms. Page said that a variety of areas have
joined 17 areas in 15 states and that participants are widely scattered across the country.
A manual of control measures will soon be available on EPA’s website. Ms. Page
concluded her comments stating that the final ozone standard will be announced in
2014 and then areas will be given 2 years to reach the standard. The Committee took no
action on the decision to join or not join the ozone advance program.
5.
Review of 2011 fire and exceptional event analysis (Enclosure PC3): ENVIRON
Sue Kemball Cook of ENVIRON presented the review of 2011 fire and exceptional
event analysis. EPA defines Exceptional Events to be: “Unusual or naturally occurring
events that can affect air quality but are not reasonably controllable using techniques
that tribal, state or local air agencies may implement in order to attain and maintain the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards.” Wildfires create plumes with enhanced
particulate matter (PM) , NOx and ozone relative to background. Wildfire ozone
impacts can be exceptional events. 2011 saw intense heat, drought and wildfire
activity in Texas.
Northeast Texas had a number of high ozone (>75 ppb) days in 2011. The question is
should any of these high ozone days be excluded as exceptional events due to impacts
from wildfires? ENVIRON Evaluated the four highest 8-hour ozone days at the
Longview, Tyler and Karnack monitors and asked is it possible to establish a clear,
causal relationship between wildfire and high ozone? Sue gave an example of a
candidate exceptional event that illustrates the method of analysis used for all 2011
events. In her summary of review of 2011 high ozone days, HYSPLIT model and back
trajectory cluster from SMARTFIRE suggest transport from fire region to Karnack is
possible. As far as Karnack ozone 2005-2011 in concerned, current ozone data from
TCEQ website shows that the 3 highest hourly ozone values for March 10 have since
been flagged with AQI tag and rejected by TCEQ validators. The TCEQ validators
have reviewed the data and determined that it is not valid. The Karnack Monitor for
March 20, 2011 has simultaneous peaks in PM, ozone and NOx and is consistent with
wildfire plume impact. The plot made shortly after March 10, 2011 with ozone data
available on TCEQ website at that time shows that ozone data for 11 am, 12 pm and 6
pm have since been flagged AQI. PM2.5 data during the evening of March 10 are
flagged LIM and that the data exceeds automatic criteria for rejection. For pollution
parameters, this indicates that the instrument failed a scheduled automatic calibration or
span check. High values of NOx, PM, ozone at Karnack could have a possible Wildfire
impact or could the impact have come from another source? There were no nearby drill
rigs on this day and no upsets reported to TCEQ from any facility in the region. Sue
Kemball Cook’s conclusion was that March 10 would be a potential exceptional event
if ozone data had been valid.
In Longview the 4 Highest Ozone Days were June 5th, August 26th, October 15th, and
September 26. In Tyler the 4 highest ozone days were August 26th, September 21,
August 28th and August 27th. In Karnack the 4 Highest Ozone Days were August 26th,
September 13, August 30th, and October 16th. In conclusion Sue Kemball Cook said
that none of the four highest days at Northeast Texas monitors during the summer of
2011 is a candidate for further exceptional event analysis
6.
Update on current projects (Eastman Complex HRVOC monitoring, ozone
modeling, truck idling study, and Haynesville Shale survey) (Enclosure PC4):
ENVIRON
Greg Yarwood presented the update on the Eastman Complex HRVOC monitoring. He
began talking about the importance of HRVOC Emissions. Prior NETAC
measurements indicate that HRVOCs from Eastman Complex can play a role in high
ozone events at CAMS 19. A 2005 aircraft study observes ozone > 200 ppb, and 2008
and 2010 HRVOC studies at CAMS19 are both discussed. CAMS 19 drives Northeast
Texas attainment status. It is necessary to improve the understanding of HRVOC
sources within Eastman Complex. Mr. Yarwood also discusses the use the Solar
Occultation Flux (SOF) method which 1) measures emission fluxes of ethene and
propene (kg/hr) and 2) shows HRVOC plume location which in combination with wind
direction can indicate source locations.
The background of the 2011 SOF study is outlined and the objectives of the NETAC
2012 SOF Study are as follows: 1) to measure total emissions of ethene and propene
(HRVOCs) with an accuracy of ±30%, and 2) to repeat the measurement of at least 7
days to obtain more representative results. The SOF method included vehicles driving
across the width of a plume, the SOF measuring compounds through the plume depth,
and taking wind measurements that enable flux calculation. Instruments were mounted
inside camper shell to make measurements through a skylight. Wind measurements
were taken with height, had temporary towers installed at 5 and 15m and balloon
launches were also be used.
Preliminary Ethene Emission results showed a mean flux of 249 kg/hr, and peak flux of
almost 1000 kg/hr. 67 transects were taken on 8 days. It was determined that May 7th
was an unusual day. The preliminary propene emissions showed a mean flux of 211
kg/hr and a peak flux of about 650 kg.hr. 60 transects were take on 8 days. May 10th
was an unusual day.
The next steps to be taken include the ENVIRON team completing the data analysis
and preparing a draft report. The team will also request that Eastman, Westlake, and
Flint Hills reviews their operations from May 2-10 and report to NETAC on their
estimated typical emissions of ethane, propene, and VOC for this period, and also
report as to any occurrences of exceptional events and associated emission release
estimates.
Sue Kemball-Cook presented the study on the Haynesville Shale. When the survey for
this study was originally sent out they did not receive any input in return so they
developed the study with State figures instead. This year they sent out another, more
simple survey and they have started receiving responses to it already. Once all the
surveys are complete and the information is logged they will start to put this into the
study and which will allow them to make production forecasts for the future. Everyone
on the list has been followed up with in the hopes that more surveys will keep coming
in. The original study completion date was meant to be August 1st but it will now be
November or December instead. The TCEQ contract has been extended to all for this
completion date.
Next Ms. Kemball-Cook talked about the diesel truck idling study. The goal is to
improve the on-road mobile source emission inventory. There are truck stops all along
I-20 and they are mandated to take rests every so often and it is most likely that during
these times they leave their truck idling. The question is what impact is this having on
the ozone in the area. ENVIRON staff will be going out to truck stops along the I-20
corridor to identify truck stops and idling trucks. The study should be underway
sometime this summer and they are hoping that it will be finished by August.
Ms. Kemball-Cook then talked about the how TCEQ is no longer pursuing the 2008
baseline year and that perhaps it would be better to direct their efforts elsewhere. So
instead they will be take NETAC 2005’s model and the TCEQ model from 2006 and
incorporate them into their day specific wildfire figures. They will take the emissions
and incorporate them into the model. TCEQ stated that they will continue to use 2006
as their baseline and no intermediate baseline will be used as previously thought. Greg
Yarwood proposed to build and inventory for fire emissions from the 2006 and 2005
data and plug it into the current model and see how it improves the model. In this way
they will use the $10,000 that is left in the work plan for an emissions inventory. This
plan revision was unanimously approved and ETCOG was authorized to make the
change in the workplan.
The gas compressor engine update was discussed next. The gas compressor engine
study that was originally created by TCEQ will be updated. Data will be gathered by
ENVIRON staff and the study will be completed sometime in the fall. Photo chemical
modeling is also ongoing.
7.
Discussion of TCEQ priorities for Near NonAttainment Areas for FY 2012/2013:
Doug Boyer, TCEQ
Doug Boyer of TCEQ presented this item. Houston and Dallas are TCEQ’s main areas
because they have been declared NonAttainment. Houston has only been declared a
marginal area and Dallas a moderate area. North East Texas’ current design value is
right on the edge of 75ppb, if it did go over then perhaps EPA would declare it in
NonAttainment and would be in a similar situation as Houston and Dallas but there is a
lot of discretion there and they don’t know absolutely what is going to happen.
Currently the priorities for these areas that are close to NonAttainment include the
collection of ambient air quality monitoring data and accompanying analysis of items
that have been discussed at today’s meeting, emissions inventory improvements
(biggest requirements), development of local control strategies for ozone reduction,
photochemical modeling, program planning, outreach, public awareness, education, and
any other activities that can help improve the air quality in the local area.
Jim Mathews commented that NETAC has always been trying to do “good science”
and work with TCEQ to make sure that our work was getting us in the right position so
that if we got to the point of a NonAttainment designation, that we would be prepared
to deal with it. Mr. Boyer stated that the ozone standard may go down to 70 ppb. He
suggested that NETAC still focus on 2006 as a baseline.
8.
Discussion of FY 2012/2013 NETAC Work Plan: ENVIRON & Jim Mathews
Greg Yarwood stated that they have received enough information from TCEQ from this
meeting that they can draft a workplan. They will draft a plan and then will take it to
the technical committee via conference call in order to approve the workplan before the
August 2nd deadline.
Sue Kemball-Cook discussed the 2006 Ozone Modeling results. The Goal of the study
is to develop emissions control strategies. Lower ozone levels give many human health
benefits and also keep NNAs in attainment of NAAQS. She explained the CAMx
photochemical grid model as well as the base case model, the baseline year model, the
future year model, and local control strategies.
In 2006 TCEQ developed an inventory. In the inventory it was shown that Point
Sources (EGUs) were the largest contributor to NOx emissions, and the Voc emissions
were dominated by biogenics. WRF Meteorological Modeling was also done by TCEQ
and ENVIRON evaluated the performance of their two runs and compared modeled and
observed winds, temperature, mixed layer heights, and precipitation. It was found that
the second run did not perform as well as the first. CAMx modeling was also performed
with the original TCEQ WRF run.
The goal of this ozone study is to determine how much of the area’s ozone was locally
produced and how much came from somewhere else in the state or country. The study
found that additional work is needed to improve model performance. The Model
performance shows overall high bias and may affect attribution of local versus
transported contribution. These issues must be addressed before the model can be used
for control strategy development. Preliminary source apportionment results show
transport and local sources both contribute to highest ozone days in Northeast Texas
which is consistent with conceptual model and previous modeling.
The next steps include improving model performance by addressing wind performance
in Northeast Texas and high ozone bias in 36 km grid. ENVIRON will investigate the
effects of grid resolution and chemistry on 36 km model performance in collaboration
with TCEQ. The goal is to have two full working episodes.
9.
Other Business
No other business was discussed.
10. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 2:15pm