Overview of the National Monitoring Strategy with an Emphasis on NCore

1. Overview ofthe National Monitoring Strategy with an Emphasis on NCore Mike Papp Ambient Air Monitoring Group EPA OAQPS Dec. 12, 2006 Las Vegas

2. Today Future Directions Air Toxic Monitoring Visibility – IMPROVE & Regional Haze National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy Ozone – PAMS A comprehensive re-examination and re-configuration of air monitoring networks Fine Particles – PM2.5 & Chemical Speciation Inhalable Particles – PM10 Other Criteria Pollutants – NO2, SO2,CO, Pb Acid Deposition – CASTNet, NADP

3. Evolution in NAAQS monitoring over time

4. However, has the evolution gone far enough?

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Monitoring Objectives • Data for general public. • AQI and other public air quality reports • Support risk assessment and management • NAAQS • Visibility • Air Toxics • Ecosystem risks • Endangered species • Food chain • Cultural values • Accountability • R&D – Tool Development

9. 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

10. 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

11. National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy NCore Design What are the pieces?? Network Assessments Current Networks Reconfigured Networks Revised Regulations Quality Assurance Communications Technology

12. General Operating Principles • Partnership • Flexibility for diversity • Work with the scientists more • Keep funding steady • Use the data more intensively

13. National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy Document NAAMS Draft Dec. 2005 CASAC Review Dec ‘04 Overall Direction From NAAMS Steering Committee 2000 CASAC Review July ‘03 NMS First Draft Sept 2002 NMS Draft April 2004 Regulatory Review QA QA Proposed Monitoring Rule Jan. 2006 Technology Public Comments Assessments Comprehensive Document Extended summary and conceptual Implementation Plan Workgroups and Assessments Public Comments PM NAAQS REVISION PROCESS Final Monitoring Rule Oct. 2006

14. 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

15. PM O3 National Core Network: NCORE Goal: Move from loosely tied single-pollutant networks to coordinated, highly leveraged multi-pollutant networks with real-time reporting capability PAMS SO2 PM CO PM IMPROVE CASTNET PM O3 Toxics

16. 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 361010003 Pinnacle Park, New York

17. Relating NCore Monitoring System Objectivesto other Ambient Networks * Not required in NCore regulation

18. Candidate NCore Site Locations November 1, 2006

19. 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

20. NCore Parameter Requirements 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. NCore Network Web Tool