Overview of
the National Monitoring
Strategy with an Emphasis
on NCore
Mike Papp
Ambient Air Monitoring Group
EPA OAQPS
Dec. 12, 2006
Las Vegas
1
Today
Air Toxic
Monitoring
Ozone –
PAMS
Fine Particles –
PM2.5 &
Chemical Speciation
Other Criteria Pollutants –
NO2, SO2,CO, Pb
Future
Directions
National Ambient Air
Monitoring Strategy
A comprehensive
re-examination
and reconfiguration of
air monitoring
networks
2
Evolution in NAAQS monitoring over time
# of Sites by Pollutant (x1000)
5
4
TSP
CO
NO2
PM10
SO2
O3
Lead
PM2.5
3
2
1
0
1970
1980
1975
1985
1981
1987
1986
1989
1988
1991
1990
1996
1995
2000
1999
Cur r ent
3
However, has the evolution gone far enough?
Criteria Pollutant Monitors
Reporting to EPA's AQS database for CY-2004
1400
1200
Number of Monitors
1000
100%+ of NAAQS
800
80 - 100% of NAAQS
60 - 80% of NAAQS
600
<60% of NAAQS
400
200
0
CO
SO2
Annual
SO2
NO2
PB
PM10
Criteria Pollutant
Old
PM2.5
New
PM2.5
Annual
PM2.5
Ozone
4
New strategy required to:
• Keep monitoring matched to evolving and
diverse current air quality challenges
• Integrate or coordinate networks
• Use best new science/methods to get best
data
• Provide better access to data so it gets
used to best benefit
• Match action plans to funding
5
Who benefits?
• State and local agencies
– More focused operations, increase relevancy and
flexibility
• Tribes
– Provides integration/partnering opportunities
• Public
– Faster and more comprehensive data delivery
creates a more informed public
6
Who benefits? (cont.)
• EPA
– Stability/consistency in data for national programs
• Science community
– Enhanced integration with national networks
– Increase in continuous and multi-pollutant data
sets
• Other agencies and organizations
– Commonality in data needs
• Fosters efficient networks and use of data
7
Monitoring Objectives
1. Data for general public.
– AQI and other public air quality reports
2. Support risk assessment and management
•
•
•
•
NAAQS
Visibility
Air Toxics
Ecosystem risks
•
•
•
Endangered species
Food chain
Cultural values
3. Accountability
4. R&D – Tool Development
8
Whose Strategy Is It?
• “National Strategy” really EPA’s strategy
– Plan for using EPA resources and authority to help
achieve goals endorsed by EPA
– Informed by dialog with others
– Intended to support other organizations’ strategies
• Every other monitoring organization should also
have its own strategy
– Goals
– Resources and authority
9
The Strategy Addresses Distinct
Types of Ambient Air Monitoring
• Urban Monitoring
–
–
–
–
NAAQS Networks
Coarse PM
PM speciation
Near Roadway
- NCore Sites
- PAMS
- Air Toxics
- Homeland Security
• Rural Monitoring
–
–
–
–
IMPROVE (visibility)
- CASTNET (dry deposition)
NADP (wet deposition) - MDN (wet deposition)
Proposed Mercury dry deposition network
NCore
• Tribal Monitoring
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National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy
NCore
Design
Network
Assessments
Revised
Regulations
Quality
Assurance
What are the pieces??
Current
Networks
Reconfigured
Networks
Communications
Technology
11
General Operating Principles
•
•
•
•
•
Partnership
Flexibility for diversity
Work with the scientists more
Keep funding steady
Use the data more intensively
12
National Ambient Air Monitoring
Strategy Document NAAMS
CASAC
Overall
Regulatory
Review
NMS
Review
Direction
First Draft July ‘03
From
QA
NAAMS
Sept
Technology
Public
Steering
2002
Comments
Committee Assessments
2000
Comprehensive
Workgroups and
Assessments
Document
NMS
Draft
April
2004
CASAC
Review
Dec ‘04
Extended summary
and conceptual
Implementation
Plan
PM
NAAQS
REVISION
PROCESS
Draft
Dec.
2005
QA
Proposed
Monitoring
Rule
Jan. 2006
Public
Comments
Final
Monitoring
Rule
Oct. 2006
Read the Rest of the Strategy!
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/monstratdoc.html
Next Iteration – Early 2007
• Catch up with specifics of new Rule
• Improve other aspects not well addressed in Dec. 2005 draft
– Near Roadway issues
– Deposition and air monitoring for accountability
• Reflect new budget reality, if necessary
• Useful to monitoring organizations as they prepare July 2007
monitoring plans for EPA approval
14
National Core Network: NCORE
Goal: Move from loosely tied single-pollutant networks to coordinated,
highly leveraged multi-pollutant networks with real-time reporting capability
SO2
PM
PM
PAMS
PM
CO
O3
O3
Toxics
PM
IMPROVE
CASTNET
15
NCore Station Attributes
• Collocation of multiple
pollutant and supporting
measurements
• Robust suite of filterbased PM samplers
• Emphasis on continuous
operating instruments
• Use of high-sensitivity
precursor gas monitors
• Diversity of representative
site locations
• Leverage with existing
multipollutant networks
Candidate NCore Site 361010003
Pinnacle Park, New York
16
Relating NCore Monitoring System Objectives
to other Ambient Networks
Objective
Monitor Types
Example Analyses/Rationale
Public reporting (continuous PM2.5 and ozone)
Local sites (primary)
NCore sites (secondary)
direct reporting through AIRNow
Emission strategy development (trace gases,
PM2.5 speciation, VOCs*)
NCore sites (primary)
model evaluation, source
apportionment and other
observational models
Assessing effectiveness of emission reductions
and AQ trends (trace gases, PM2.5
speciation, VOCs*)
NCore sites (primary)
Local sites (secondary)
time series comparisons to emissions
projections
Support health assessments and NAAQS reviews
(trace gases, O3, PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 (mass
and species))
NCore sites (primary)
Research and local sites
(secondary)
ambient input to exposure models;
direct association analyses
Compliance (NAAQS comparisons) (PM2.5 and
O3)
Local sites (primary)
NCore sites (secondary)
point and spatial field comparisons to
NAAQS
Science support (all pollutants)
Research sites (primary)
NCore sites (secondary)
methods evaluation, size distribution
analyses, diagnostic analysis
(model processes, particle
formation)
Ecosystem assessment (NOy, HNO3*, NH3*, O3)
NCore sites
mass balance analysis, deposition
calculations
* Not required in NCore regulation
17
Candidate NCore Site Locations
November 1, 2006
18
Other Aspects of NCore Network
Requirements
• Between 62 and 71 stations must be operational
by Jan. 1, 2011
– NCore monitoring plan due July 1, 2009, as part of annual
monitoring network plan. Items that can be negotiated:
• Delegation of required sites between state and local
agencies.
• Operation of additional sites by states, local agencies,
and/or tribes
• Urban vs. rural locations
• NOy and meteorological measurements (more later)
– NCore sites approved at Administrator level
• Ultimate size of deployed network: ~75 stations
19
NCore Parameter Requirements
Measurements
Comments
PM2.5 FRM mass
typically 24 hr. average every 3rd day
PM2.5 speciation
Organic and elemental carbon, major ions and trace metals (24
hour average; every 3rd day)
PM10-2.5 FRM mass
typically 24 hr. average every 3rd day
PM10-2.5 speciation
typically 24 hr. average every 3rd day
continuous PM2.5 mass
1 hour reporting interval
ozone (O3)
all gases through continuous monitors
carbon monoxide (CO)
capable of trace levels (low ppb and below) where needed
sulfur dioxide (SO2)
capable of trace levels (low ppb and below) where needed
nitrogen oxide (NO)
capable of trace levels (low ppb and below) where needed
total reactive nitrogen (NOy)1
capable of trace levels (low ppb and below) where needed
surface meteorology2
wind speed and direction, temperature, relative humidity
1
In areas with negligible expected difference between NOy and NOx measured concentrations, the Administrator may
allow for waivers that permit NOx monitoring to be substituted for the required NOy monitoring at applicable NCore sites.
2 The requirement for meteorological monitoring can be waived by the Administrator if the NCore site is not suitable for
representative meteorological measurements due to the site’s physical surroundings and it is possible for nearby
meteorological measurements to fulfill this data requirement.
20
NCore Methods
• For SO2, CO, NO2, O3, PM2.5, or PM10-2.5:
– Must be FRM or FEM, or Approved Regional Method
(ARM) if comparing to NAAQS
– Not an issue for NOY monitors (no NAAQS)
– FRM or FEM trace-level SO2 and CO monitors
becoming more widely available
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/criteria.html
21
NCore Methods (cont.)
• Trace-level monitoring integral part NCore
– Includes rural sites, background and transport
sites, and many sites in urban areas where SO2,
NO2, and CO levels have declined significantly
over time
– OAQPS has provided training on trace-level
monitors
22
NCore Site Placement
• Design Issues
– Need sites representative of ambient concentrations over
extensive area
• Urban scale (4-50 kilometers) or larger
• Neighborhood scale (0.5 -4 kilometers) if location is representative
of many similar neighborhoods
– Minimal influence by local emission sources that are not
impacting the entire urban or rural area
23
NCore Site Placement (cont.)
• Collocated with PAMS, NATTS, CASTNET, and STN
sites where possible
• Logistical Issues
– Long-term sites (>5 years)
– Room for multiple gas monitors, equipment, meteorology
– Ground footprint allows accessibility for TTP audit vehicle
24
Status Of NCore Pilot Program
• Approximately 70 existing and potential NCore site
locations
• Regions negotiating with monitoring organizations
about some locations
• Final proposed NCore sites must be included in July
1, 2009 plan
• OAQPS developing AMTIC-based web tool to help
organize information about NCore sites and serve as
outreach tool for potential data users
25
NCore Network Web Tool
26