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Overview ofthe National Monitoring

Strategy with an Emphasis on NCore

Mike PappAmbient Air Monitoring Group

EPA OAQPSDec. 12, 2006

Las Vegas

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FutureDirectionsVisibility –

IMPROVE &Regional Haze

Fine Particles – PM2.5 &

Chemical Speciation

Acid Deposition – CASTNet, NADP

Inhalable Particles – PM10

Air ToxicMonitoring

Ozone – PAMS

Today

A comprehensive re-examination

and re-configuration of air monitoring

networks

National Ambient National Ambient Air Monitoring Air Monitoring

StrategyStrategy

Other Criteria Pollutants – NO2, SO2,CO, Pb

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Evolution in NAAQS monitoring over time

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However, has the evolution gone far enough?

Criteria Pollutant MonitorsReporting to EPA's AQS database for CY-2004

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

CO SO2 AnnualSO2

NO2 PB PM10 OldPM2.5

NewPM2.5

AnnualPM2.5

Ozone

Criteria Pollutant

Number of Monitors

100%+ of NAAQS

80 - 100% of NAAQS

60 - 80% of NAAQS

<60% of NAAQS

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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

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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

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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

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Monitoring Objectives1. 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. Accountability4. R&D – Tool Development

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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

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The Strategy Addresses Distinct Types of Ambient Air Monitoring

• Urban Monitoring– NAAQS Networks - NCore Sites– Coarse PM - PAMS– PM speciation - Air Toxics– Near Roadway - 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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NCoreDesign

NetworkAssessments

Revised Regulations

QualityAssurance

Technology

What are the pieces??

CurrentNetworks

ReconfiguredNetworks

National Ambient Air Monitoring StrategyNational Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy

Communications

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General Operating Principles

• Partnership

• Flexibility for diversity

• Work with the scientists more

• Keep funding steady

• Use the data more intensively

National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy Document

Regulatory Review NMS

DraftApril2004

NAAMSDraftDec.2005NMS

First DraftSept2002

CASACReviewJuly ‘03

Technology

CASACReviewDec ‘04

PublicComments

Extended summaryand conceptual Implementation

Plan

ComprehensiveDocumentWorkgroups and

Assessments

Overall Direction

FromNAAMSSteering

Committee2000

Assessments

QA QA

Proposed Monitoring

RuleJan. 2006

Final Monitoring

RuleOct. 2006

PublicComments

PM NAAQS

REVISIONPROCESS

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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

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National Core Network: NCOREGoal: Move from loosely tied single-pollutant networks to coordinated,

highly leveraged multi-pollutant networks with real-time reporting capability

PAMSPM

O3

O3

PM

PM

SO2

Toxics

PM

CO

IMPROVECASTNET

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NCore Station Attributes

• Collocation of multiple pollutant and supporting measurements

• Robust suite of filter-based 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 361010003Pinnacle Park, New York

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Relating NCore Monitoring System Objectivesto 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

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Candidate NCore Site Locations

November 1, 2006

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• 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

Other Aspects of NCore Network Requirements

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NCore Parameter RequirementsMeasurements 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 humidity1 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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

26NCore Network Web Tool