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Houston Regional Monitoring Network Overview

Houston Regional Monitoring Network Overview. Our Commitment to Air Quality. The safety and welfare of our neighbors and our employees is our highest priority – we all work and live here; improving air quality is a long term effort Our commitment is evident in our results:

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Houston Regional Monitoring Network Overview

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  1. Houston Regional Monitoring Network Overview

  2. Our Commitment to Air Quality • The safety and welfare of our neighbors and our employees is our highest priority – we all work and live here; improving air quality is a long term effort • Our commitment is evident in our results: • air quality continues to improve • investments to improve both monitoring and control equipment continue • We take responsibility to improve the quality of life in our community very seriously

  3. The Houston Regional Monitoring Network (HRM) • HRM is committed to the scientific understanding of air quality in the Houston area • Houston’s air monitoring system is the most extensive in the U.S., with more than 50 monitoring sites • HRM is an important part of Houston’s air monitoring system • HRM has invested over $30M in air monitoring • 10 monitoring sites in Houston • $2.2 million annual budget • Voluntarily funded by our members • 32 years of gathering and analyzing ambient air data • 38 participating ship channel companies • HRM benefits industry, government, and the public

  4. Houston-Area Ozone Monitoring Stations Note: Monitors with text box highlighted in yellow are non-FRM monitors

  5. HRM 10 Mont Belvieu HRM 4 Sheldon Rd HRM 617 Wallisville HRM 11 East Baytown HRM 7 West Baytown HRM 3 Haden Rd HRM C615 Lynchburg Ferry HRM 1 Central St. HRM 16 Deer Park HRM 8 LaPorte HRM SERVICE AREA

  6. View of Monitor Site Sampling GC Inside the trailer Trailer

  7. Our Operating Principles • Provide our members with the best scientific air quality data available • Enable our members to make the best decisions about ways to effectively reduce emissions • Share key air monitoring data with TCEQ, City of Houston and Harris County on a routine basis • Inform citizens, elected officials, and agencies about our results • Demonstrate progress toward attainment of all air quality standards

  8. Our Measuring Process • Criteria Air Pollutants (NAAQS) • Ozone* (O3) • Particulate Matter (PM10, and PM2.5 mass concentration and chemical Speciation) • Oxides of Nitrogen* (NOx) • Carbon Monoxide* (CO) • Sulfur Dioxide* (SO2) • Lead • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) • 157 VOCs emitted by industries, utilities, small businesses, vehicles, household sources, and vegetation • Meteorology/Weather* • Temperature, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, net solar radiation (solar energy) and barometric pressure (Site 16 only) * Continuous Monitoring

  9. Our Measuring Process • VOC samples are taken using EPA-approved methods and equipment • One sample every sixth day for a 24-hour period at each monitoring site • Approximately 10,000 VOC samples collected by HRM in last 25 years with more than 1 million VOC results reported • Sampling methods are routinely audited using EPA audit methods

  10. Our Analysis Process • Upon collecting data from monitoring stations, we: • Compare to EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) • Compare to known benchmark concentrations • Compare with computer modeling results • Analyze trends • Compare with data from other cities • All HRM measurement results are accessible to members via a web portal

  11. Sharing Information • An active process with our member companies, agencies and communities • Monthly Technical Advisory Committee meetings – includes member companies, TCEQ, Harris County and City of Houston • Meetings with CACs and CAPs • Educational Outreach • Participation in studies and committees

  12. What We Know:Putting Houston’s Air Quality in Context • Houston’s air meets 5 of 6 of the federal NAAQS, the exception being ground-level ozone • Houston air compares favorably with other cities when looking at all of the NAAQS • According to EPA data, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City all fail to meet two or more of the NAAQS • On average an 80 percent reduction in ambient concentration of key VOCs (BTEX) in the past 18 years • Industry has spent $4-6 billion in Houston from 2002-2012 to improve air quality -- on top of substantial investment in the 1990s

  13. Are We Meeting Air Quality Standards?

  14. Days When Houston Area Monitors ExceededEPA Ozone Air Quality Standard Significant Decline In Number of Ozone Exceedance Days

  15. 2012 8-hr Ozone Design ValueRegulatory Monitors in Houston Area All but one Regulatory Monitor in Houston Area is in attainment for 84 ppb 8-hr STD

  16. 2012 1-hr Ozone Design ValueRegulatory Monitors in Houston Area 125 ppb 1-hr Standard All but one Regulatory Monitor in Houston Area is in attainment for 125 ppb 1-hr STD

  17. Annual Average NOx ConcentrationHRM and Core Houston Area Monitors --Crawford/Texas Ave, Clinton, Lang, Aldine

  18. Annual Average BTEX Trends HRM Network - 1988 through 2011 BTEX – Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene HRM every sixth day 24-hour composite canister sampling data 85% Reduction in BTEX Concentrations Since 1988

  19. Using TCEQ Air Monitoring Comparison Values (AMCVs) As Air Quality Indicator • TCEQ implemented use of the term “air monitoring comparison values” (AMCVs) to evaluate air monitoring data. AMCVs are chemical-specific air concentrations set to protect human health and welfare • Exposure to an air concentration at or below the AMCV is not likely to cause adverse health effects • AMCVs are a collective term that refers to all values used by TCEQ to review ambient air monitoring data • The short-term AMCV, based on acute exposure health and welfare data, is compared to monitored concentrations ranging from instantaneous to up to one hour. The long-term AMCV, based on chronic health and welfare data, is used to evaluate annual averaged monitored concentrations or annual concentrations averaged over multiple years (if available)

  20. What We Know:Monitoring Data Indicate Good Air Quality • A comparison of the 2012 monitored ambient concentrations of a list of common urban air pollutants to the AMCVs generally indicates very good air quality in the greater Houston area. • The 2012 annual average benzene concentration at all monitoring sites were below the AMCV.

  21. Our Mission Going Forward:Maintaining and Improving Air Quality • Provide data to member companies to enable them to meet state and federal air standards • Assist TCEQ in air monitoring to meet NAAQS • Monitors must show progress toward meeting NAAQS for ground-level ozone and confirm attainment • Houston area targeting an 80 percent reduction in NOx and substantial reduction in HRVOCs • Use HRM data as input to rigorous permitting process to identify air control improvements in projects • Communicate with neighbors about our improving air quality and address their questions

  22. What This Means for Air Quality • Houston’s air quality has dramatically improved and will continue to improve • Houston’s air quality is monitored and analyzed using the most thorough network in the country • HRM and its members recognize our responsibility and have made significant investments as part of our commitment – but we can and will do better.

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