Love is in the Air

(or is it?)

An Air Quality Specialist walks into the post office one day and detects a sweet odor in the air. After looking around for the source he spots a man at the counter systematically pasting “Love” stamps on bright pink envelopes with hearts all over them. He then takes a perfume bottle and sprays them. The Air Quality Specialist is curious about what is happening so he walks up to the man and asks what he is doing.The man says “ I’m sending out one thousand Valentines cards signed Guess Who? “

“But Why ? “ asks the Air Specialist

The man replies , “ I’m a divorce lawyer “

Sometimes odors that might seem pleasant can create problems

EPA R-10 sticks out its neck regarding Air quality on Reservations

The Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR)

Established in June, 2005

Purpose of the FARR

• These rules create basic federally-enforceable air quality regulations on the 39 Indian reservations in ID, OR, & WA in order to protect human health and the environment.

• These rules “level the playing field” and ensure that residents within the boundaries of the reservations enjoy air quality protection similar to that existing outside the reservations.

Who is subject to the FARR?

• The FARR applies to all persons and businesses located within the federally-recognized exterior boundary of the reservation.

The FARR applies to everyone inside the federally-recognized exterior boundary (applies to both fee and trust land).

Tribal trust land outside the boundary: the FARR does not apply

trusttrust

fee

Tribal Air Monitoring Goal

• Develop approaches, procedures, processes which ensure that the right kind and quality of data is being collected and used to answer the highest priority questions about air quality in Indian country optimally using the resources available.

Tribal Monitors in Region 10

Stationary Tribal Monitors

• PM 2.5 Nephelometers• PM 2.5 and PM 10 BAMs • PM2.5 and PM 10 TEOMs

• 22 Stationary PM monitors on 15 reservations• Also have NO2 and O3 on one Reservation• Some Additional monitoring based on

situation

Complaints and Concerns

• EPA maintains a FARR complaint hotline• Tribal Air Quality Staff handle air quality

complaints• There are a number of emission sources on

Reservations• Although odors are not regulated under the

FARR we have had strong public concern over these.

Problem

• Complaints and Concerns are not usually occurring where monitoring is present

• We are not monitoring for what the complaint or concern might pertain to

Reason for Obtaining Handheld Monitors

• Gain better information about a repeating complaint

• Be better able to investigate air quality concerns

• Be able to determine if changes or improvements are occurring

• Build overall capability of Tribal Air Staffs

Other opportunities

• Monitoring needs • Monitor placement• Information on impacts from wildfire smoke

What we needed in a monitoring system

• Detect Air pollutants at a meaningful level for our needs ( generally PPM)

• Equipment is easy to use and transport• Equipment is robust • Data is real time and also easy to store and

analyze• Cost of equipment is reasonable.• Advantage if could be used for Indoor Air

What we wanted to analyze

• PM 10 and PM 2.5• VOC’s• Sulfur Dioxide• Nitrogen Dioxide• Carbon Monoxide• Hydrogen Sulfide• Ammonia• Carbon Dioxide

Equipment

• MultiRAE Gas Monitor - has sensors for simultaneously measuring Ammonia, Hydrogen Sulfide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide, and VOC’s.

• EVM-3 Monitor - has sensors to monitor PM10, PM -4 and PM 2.5 (one at a time) and Carbon Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide as well as temperature and humidity.

• Colorimetric Tubes and pump – can measure several gases – one at a time .

MultiRAE Handheld Gas Monitoring

EVM-3 Handheld Gas Monitoring

Colorimetric Tubes and Hand Pump

Important Condition for Use

• It is important to note that this equipment is to be used for investigation purposes or to increase the understanding of air quality. This equipment is not intended to be used for regulatory or enforcement purposes. It also should not be used for safety evaluations for situations like a confined space evaluation for safety to enter.

QAPP Developed for this Equipment

• Program background • Goals and Objectives• Training and Record Keeping• Experimental Design• Quality Control• Data Handling• Reports

Graph of MultiRAE Results

Ingredients in Glass Cleaner

Blue solution IngredientsWater Isopropyl Alcohol 2-Hexoxyethanol Sodium C14-17 Sec-Alkyl Sulfonate Ammonium Hydroxide Propylene Glycol

Multirae output from glass cleaning solution

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 350

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

VOC PPMNH3(ppm)

05101520253035400

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

NH3(ppm)

NH3(ppm)

Response using Multirae and driving by CAFO near fence line

The Future

• Sensor will be more sensitive• Sensors will be cheaper• Citizens will be able to have these and take

readings• How can air agencies use these and handle

the data collected.

All through the year , we should demonstrate we careAbout preserving or improving the quality of our Air.And at this time especially we must draw the line,That we shall have clean air for our Valentine.

Questions and Contact Info

• Gary Olson Tribal and Air Toxics Unit Office of Air, Waste and Toxics EPA R-10 Olson.gary@epa.gov 206-553-0977