NETWORK DESIGN: MONITORING GOALS

Karen Magliano Assistant Chief

Air Quality Planning and Science Division

California Air Resources Board

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PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH

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OVERVIEW

• Extent of monitoring network

– Introduction to Minimum Monitoring Requirements

• How data are used

– Regulatory

– Non-regulatory

• Data impacts

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AIR MONITORING NETWORK

• Well established

• More than 250 sites with 650 instruments in 53 counties

• Designed to assess statewide, regional, and local air quality

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MINIMUM MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

• CFR specifies network design criteria and technical monitoring requirements

• Number of sites

• Spatial scale

• Instrument type & measurement method

• Monitoring season & operating schedule

• QA procedures

• Data reporting requirements

• Revised standards = new requirements

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DETERMINING COMPLIANCE WITH AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

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• Identify areas that meet the standards

• Regulatory action requiring complete, quality assured, and certified data

• Certified data meet all federal requirements

PRIORITY MONITORING SITES

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• Key sites are critical for regulatory decisions

• Basis for developing plans

• Determine attainment

• Complete data are essential

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0.02

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8-H

ou

r O

zon

e D

esig

n V

alu

e (p

pm

)

Sacramento Metro Area 8-Hour Ozone Design Value Trend

Federal Standard

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PRIORITY SITES ARE CRITICAL!

• Most areas have multiple sites

• Area does not attain until ALL sites meet standard

• Site with highest concentrations is highest priority

STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN & CONTROL STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

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• Data used to:

– Determine area design value and level of control

– Evaluate nature of problem

– Run models and evaluate performance

EXCEPTIONAL EVENTS DOCUMENTATION

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• Approved days excluded from regulatory process

• Data used to evaluate conditions before, during, and after event

• Need meteorological and air quality parameters

• Observations & field notes very important

AIR QUALITY TRENDS

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0

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40

60

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160

Coastal Valley Inland

Num

ber

of D

ays

Days Above 8-Hour Ozone Standard South Coast

1990 2010

• Evaluate progress toward attainment

• Compare progress in different areas

• Estimate exposure

• Assess effectiveness of control strategy

BOARD PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS

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DATA SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF OTHER PROGRAMS

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• Support health studies

• Basis for regulatory programs such as vapor recovery and off-road riding seasons

• Critical part of emergency response efforts

• Inform community assessments and environmental justice evaluations

AIR QUALITY INDEX

• Familiar to most people

• Indicates the healthfulness of current air quality

• Based on real-time measurements at monitoring sites

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BURN DECISIONS AND AIR QUALITY ALERTS

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• Uses real-time data to forecast conditions

• Supports public notifications

• Helps prevent exceedances and protect public health

WHAT’S THE POINT?

• Reliable data are critical to regulatory process

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• Must meet established siting, operating, reporting standards

• Annual network plans and data certifications document performance

• Data that do not meet standards can compromise regulatory decisions

THE DOMINO EFFECT

PM is good example

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• Limited samples – need 75% data completeness

• Make-up samples must be on acceptable days

• Missing just a couple of samples, can invalidate month, quarter, or year

• Incomplete data impact design value and cannot be used to justify attainment

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VALID MAKE-UP SAMPLES VS. EXTRA SAMPLES

Su M Tu W Th F Sa

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8

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16 16 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

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SAMPLING ON THE CORRECT DAYS MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE

Total Samples 102 102

Creditable Samples 92 102

98th Percentile 72.3 µg/m3 61.3 µg/m3

Rank from Top 2 3

Design Value 61 µg/m3 66 µg/m3

WHAT’S NEXT?

• Different types of networks, how they relate, and ways to leverage

• Minimum monitoring requirements and relevant considerations

• Annual network plans, public comment, and 5-year assessments

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