The Magazine for Environmental Managers June 2017
Pittsburgh Cleaner, Healthier, and Thriving
Table of Contents
Pittsburgh: Cleaner, Healthier, and Thriving by Anthony J. Sadar
In honor of the 110th anniversary meeting of the Association, perspectives on western Pennsylvania history, air quality modeling, and monitoring, along with examples of the environmental renaissance of Pittsburgh are the subject of this EM issue.
Be Sure to Check Out the On-Site History Exhibit! Pittsburgh’s Environmental History – How the “Smoky City” Became “America’s Most Livable City”
This exhibit highlights the environmental progress that has been made in the Pittsburgh region since the early 1800s when the region was pressed into the service of industrial production until today. Improvements to air quality, water quality, and land use are described and illustrated on three freestanding displays. Two computer monitors expand on the story by displaying revolving highlights of the people who helped bring about this evolution, the major milestones in the timeline, and some of the technical innovations that originated here. Come wander around this exhibit to learn more about the environmental heritage of the Pittsburgh region.
Features
Pittsburgh’s Evolving Steel City: Forging a More Air Pollution in Pittsburgh: 21st Century Perspectives Diverse and Ever Cleaner Industrial Future by Albert Presto by Susan Zummo Forney
The Challenges of Modeling Air Quality in Q&A with Long-Time A&WMA Member, Allegheny County, PA Stanley J. Penkala by Bart Brashers, Ralph Morris, and Jason Maranche
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Table of Contents
A Summary of the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review: Air Quality Measurements—From Rubber Bands to Tapping the Rainbow by George Hidy, Judith Chow, and John Watson
Good measurements are integral to good public policy for environmental protection. The generalized term for “mea - surements” includes network design, sampling and quantitation, data integrity, documentation, sponsorship and opera - tions, and archiving and accessing for applications. These components have evolved and advanced as knowledge of atmospheric chemistry and physics has matured and pollutant levels have been related to adverse effects on human and ecological health. A&WMA, through its technical meetings and publications, has made large contributions to this evolution. The 2017 Critical Review delineates more than 100 years of progress on this topic, draws conclusions about the effectiveness of measurement systems on policies, and looks to the future.
Join Us for a Special Presentation of the 2017 A&WMA Critical Review Air Quality Measurements—From Rubber Bands to Tapping the Rainbow Presented by Dr. George M. Hidy • Tuesday, June 6 • 9:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA Including a special tribute to the life’s work of Dr. Peter K. Mueller
Stop by the A&WMA Booth Located in the Exhibit Hall, the A&WMA Resource Center and Bookstore provides access to the latest information on the Association and special reduced prices on publications, executive gifts, and more. Free back issues of EM and JA&WMA will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Columns Departments
IT Insight: Grand Finale: Noteworthy Information Message from the President: Technologies of the Past 16 Years The Challenge of a Diverse Membership by Jill Barson Gilbert by Scott A. Freeburn A retrospective look at some of the more significant tech - In Memoriam: Richard W. Sprott nologies since IT Insight first appeared in February 2001. IPEP Quarterly: Bridging Environment, Energy, A&WMA extends a sincere and heartfelt thank you to long- time and Health A&WMA member Jill Barson Gilbert for her many contributions by Diana Kobus, IPEP Executive Director to EM Magazine. We wish her well. Last Stop: PM File: The Power of Why This Month in History (and other fun facts) by David Elam How to better engage team members and leverage their experience by providing key background information on a project.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 The A ir & Wast e M anagemen t A ssocia tion w ould like t o thank the f ollo wing sponsors and g ran tor f or mak ing the 2017 A nnual C onf er enc e & Exhibition possible .
Diamond
Pla tinum Gold
Silv er
Br onz e
Suppor ting
KLO DO WSKI LAW LL C
Louisiana Sectio n
We st Coast Sectio n Gr an tors
Da vid L. La wr enc e C on ven tion C en ter , P ittsbur gh, P A June 5-8, 2017 www.a wma.or g/A CE2017
Con tac t Je S chur man | phone: (412) 904-6003 | email: jschur man@a wma.or g Message from the President The Challenge of a Diverse Membership
by Scott A. Freeburn, P.E. » [email protected]
I am sure that if you asked the average person that has of regulatory focus. It has been a century of effort to achieve some knowledge of A&WMA, they would tell you that it that result. How much the nature of environmental research is group of techno-enviro-geeks that publishes a lot of really and our membership has changed in those one hundred- technical stuff on air and waste and every so often puts on plus years! meetings to talk about it. It would be a pretty fair characteri - zation. We do publish a lot of really technical stuff on air and Diverse interests in human effects on the environment have waste topics and, for the most part, each member has technical blossomed, attracting funding, and allowing research to scale training and is focused on environmental matters as a profession. the problems and help in the development of acceptable In their way, geeks. solutions, including new regulations. Now rather than a few mechanical engineers focused on cfm and capture efficiencies, In its early days, the Association’s members were focused on our membership includes specialists in almost every natural an important, if fairly narrow, environmental issue: the control science you care to name, as well as doctors, lawyers, plan ners, of emissions from industrial smokestacks. The narrowness of and the burgeoning group of environmental scientists and the issue, of course, is a modern perspective because at the engineers. time such emissions were the overwhelming impact and the obvious choice for action. Like all early efforts at what we now It has been my observation that with this growth in the call environmental protection, the goal was the elimination of diversity of environmental interests, our membership now is acute public health effects. Just control these big pollution much more representative of public interests as a whole than sources and life would be good. the narrow field of pollution abatement, as fundamental as
Diversity is a good thing and the Association effectively communicates and educates on a huge variety of environmental matters that other organizations cannot.
We tend to forget how long this process took. Pittsburgh, a that may be to all that we do. Diversity is a good thing and city with some of the most profound problems, started in the the Association effectively communicates and educates on a early 20th century, in public and private efforts, which spawned huge variety of environmental matters that other organizations a model for emission regulation and, of course, this Associa - cannot. We can inform on waste regulation and permitting, tion. Air pollution episodes with acute health effects are very landfill design, contaminated site cleanup and management, rare now in Pittsburgh, and other areas with a similar history air permitting, non-attainment area management, standards
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Message from the President
development, and sampling and analysis technologies, and As a member (volunteer) with this Association, you can take this is a much truncated list. In addition, since we have so advantage of the breadth of membership talents in executing many members that have careers that cross disciplines (EHS programming. Use that talent and those personal connections and corporate environmental managers come to mind), we to enhance the quality of the events your Section or Chapter offer credible training addressing environmental topics beyond produces, whether technical, public service-oriented, or purely our air and waste specialization. These talents are all available social in nature. However, always be aware that often, perhaps before we might consider partnering with other groups. most of the time, a large fraction of the membership will not be interested in your product. That result comes with the Along with all the diversity of talent comes a diversity of diversity we value—and must live with. Plan around this fact fundamental training, interests, and responsibilities. These of Association life by ensuring that your planning group factors affect how members view their needs, value the represents the variety inherent in the membership in products we might develop, and select the method of delivery your area. of those products. My jobs as a regulator, consultant, and environmental manager each demanded different priorities. By the way, invite someone not like you to your next As a consequence, what I looked for from A&WMA changed Association meeting. em with each new position.
Check Out EM via the New A&WMA App! Read EM on the go, wherever, whenever.
The A&WMA App is available to all A&WMA members for FREE download for use on all Apple, Windows, and Android mobile devices. Remember, interactive content, such as video, audio, animations, hyperlinks, pop-up windows, and slideshows, are only available via the App.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Cover Story by Anthony J. Sadar Pittsburgh Cleaner, Healthier, and Thriving
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Cover Story by Anthony J. Sadar
The three navigable rivers that converge at the center of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, along with proximate raw materials helped the city and its surrounding communities to become the nation’s premier steel locale by the late-1800s. Steel, its associated industries, glass factories, and other manufacturing operations abounded in the close-knit river valley neighbor - hoods of southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition, some of the earliest and best pollution control equipment was also designed and built in the area.
The Air Pollution Control Association (now Air & Waste Management Association, A&WMA, and headquartered in Pittsburgh) began in 1907 “to advance the science and art of air pollution control.” A&WMA has for 110 years endorsed cutting-edge theory and practice in the pollution control field, because, although heavy industry was terrific for business, While in Pittsburgh, you may wish to explore the Phipps Pittsburgh air quality and residents’ health suffered. Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, National Aviary, Carnegie Science Center, Carnegie Museum, Heinz History In honor of the 110th anniversary meeting of the Association, Center, or Andy Warhol Museum. Perhaps take in a play or perspectives on western Pennsylvania history, air quality musical at the nearby Cultural District venues such as the modeling, and monitoring, along with examples of the envi - Benedum Center, Byham theater, or O’Reilly theater. Or, ronmental renaissance of Pittsburgh are the subject of this enjoy the classic music of the Pittsburgh Symphony at ornate issue of EM . Although the spatial focus is apparently narrow, Heinz Hall. Maybe even go wild at the Pittsburgh Zoo & the application is broad. As with A&WMA’s Annual Conference PPG Aquarium. Then again, you could cheer on the Pirates & Exhibition, we expect you’ll find insight in this issue into at one of the most beautiful ball-yards in all of baseball: air–science practice that can expand your understanding PNC Park. and motivate innovation in the field for years to come. Whatever your pleasure, take it from a life-long resident, Now, a brief look at the host city… Pittsburgh just may be the biggest hometown-friendly Today, Pittsburgh is a cleaner, healthier, thriving metropolis metropolis in the United States. that is still a leader in environmental theory and practice while maintaining a mix of steel-making operations and Be sure to check out the Visit Pittsburgh website other manufacturing, advanced technology, and top-notch (http://www.visitpittsburgh.com/ACE2017) for a one-stop educational and health care institutions. shop for things to do in the ‘Burgh. em
Anthony J. Sadar is a Certified Consulting Meteorologist and air pollution administrator for the Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program in Pittsburgh, PA. He is also a member of EM ’s Editorial Advisory Committee (EAC).
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Pittsburgh’s Evolving Steel City by Susan Zummo Forney Pittsburgh’s Evolving Steel City Forging a More Diverse and Ever Cleaner Industrial Future
Once evident by the billowing smoke of steel giants, the heart of Pittsburgh’s economic engine today pulses largely unseen in a mix of nationally recognized university research centers, small manufacturers, high-tech startups, medicine, and professional and service sectors. And in what many hope is the catalyst for a new industry, the region’s first petrochemical plant will soon begin transforming ethane from the region’s abundant shale gas into polyethylene resin for plastics manufacturing. Against the backdrop of these industrial evolutions, Pittsburgh has shifted from one of the nation’s most notorious polluted cities to a leader in pollution control and high-tech advancements.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 P!i!t!t!s!!b Ruergphla’sc eE vmoelv iwnigth S thee l cCoirtrye cbty h Seuasdaenr iZnufomrmmaoti oFno r!!n!!e!! y
The Rise and Fall of an Industry Icon continued to account for nearly half of national output into Situated at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny the mid-1950s. 2 Rivers and nestled within the Allegheny Mountains, Pittsburgh was initially valued as a city of both commerce and industry. Amid foreign competition, labor union strikes, and changes Pittsburgh’s premier manufacturing facility was a glass mill in the core technology used to manufacture steel, Pittsburgh’s that opened in the late 1700s. In the next hundred years industry declined over the remainder of the 20th century. By before Pittsburgh’s rapid rise to the epicenter of steel making, the 1980s, more than 75 percent of the steel-making capacity its manufacturing sector grew to include boat building, textile in the Pittsburgh region was shuttered. 3 The steel industry manufacturing, iron and steel production, and steam engine losses accounted for a significant portion of the region’s lost and boiler works. By 1840, iron and iron products were the manufacturing jobs—158,000—between 1970 and 1990. 4 In number one industry. these same two decades, the region lost more than 289,000 residents. 5 Pittsburgh became part of the nation’s rust belt. If not for industrialist Andrew Carnegie bringing the Bessemer steel-making process to Pittsburgh in the 1870s, Pittsburgh’s Clearing the Air industrial moniker may have forever remained “Iron City.” The abundance of soft coal for heating homes and fueling With a more efficient manufacturing process and abundant industrial furnaces, combined with the city’s unique topography , coal resources, Pittsburgh’s steel industry exploded, creating created an air pollution problem that plagued the city long rails for the transcontinental network and expanding products before and long after the rise of steel making. to include steel plate, pipes and structural steel. From 1870 to 1910, Pittsburgh’s population grew at a rate twice as fast To many of the city’s early residents, the smoke was a symbol as the entire nation, as immigrants poured into Pittsburgh of prosperity. To visitors, it was another matter. On a visit to via Ellis Island to work in the steel mills. 1 the city in 1884 to promote his masterpiece, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , Mark Twain said of his trip to Mount While Pittsburgh remained a world leader in steel production Washington: “With the moon soft and mellow … we sauntered for many years, the steel industry eventually began its inevitable about the mount and looked down on the lake of fire and migration west of Pennsylvania. Nonetheless, with increased flame. It looked like a miniature hell with the lid off.” 6 demand for steel during World War I, and the growth of the auto industry and World War II, Pittsburgh’s steel production While public calls for smoke control came as early as 1804,
20 % 20 0, 000
18 0, 000 15 % ) %
( 16 0, 000
t e
10 % n g e
n 14 0, 000 m a y h
5% o C 12 0, 000 l
p l a m u
0% 10 0, 000 E n n
A 80, 000 -5 % 60, 000 -1 0% 40, 000 -1 5% 20, 000
-2 0% 0 19 70 197 5 19 80 198 5 19 90 199 5 20 00 Annu al C han ge (% ) Empl oy ment STohuerc dee: cRliengeio ina Pl Eittcsobnuormghic’s I nmfoar nmuaftaiocntu Sriynsgte jmob. sD eisp atrtt rmenibutte odf Cino lmarm gere cpe a rt to losses in the steel industry. After steep drops in the early 1980s, an overall decline has continued, but at a rate closer to the U.S. as a whole. Shown are manufacturing employment changes in Allegheny County, excerpted from “Allegheny County Economic Trends,” Allegheny Places, 2005.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017
Pittsburgh’s Evolving Steel City by Susan Zummo Forney
the huge growth of industry and lack of concern for smoke levels kept pollution high for nearly another century. 7 Largely to quell occasional public outcries, the city passed several smoke control ordinances in the 1890s and early 1900s; however, the ordinances were weakly enforced.
Beginning in the 1940s, the city’s commitment to clear the air intensified. While World War II delayed implementation of a strict smoke control ordinance passed in 1941, it also seemed to strengthen resolve to address the problem because the increased industrial activity exacerbated the smoke issue. Over the next decade, homes were required to end coal burning for heating, and natural gas was piped into neigh - borhoods. Diesel engines replaced coal firing in locomotives and river boats, and industries began replacing worn out equipment with modern facilities. By 1948, downtown visibility improved 67 percent, and by 1954, the city received 89 percent more sunshine. 8 Pollution was once so bad in Pittsburgh that street In 1957, the Allegheny County Health Department took over lamps and headlights were in use by noon. the duties of the City Smoke Control Bureau. Regulations enacted in 1960 created the Department’s Bureau of Air By the mid-1970s, 65 percent of the particulate emissions Pollution Control and established the strongest particulate and 57 percent of the sulfur dioxide emissions occurring control regulation in the nation. 9 With the help of local when the U.S. Clean Air Act was passed in 1970 had been engineering houses, manufacturers captured more and eliminated. 10 By the late 1970s, frequent air pollution alerts more of the remaining pollution from industry stacks. had largely subsided. 11
An artist’s rendition of Shell’s planned ethane cracker—situated about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River— harkens back to postcards of the many steel mills nestled between the City’s rivers and steep hillsides. Shown below are former blast furnaces of the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company a few miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Pittsburgh’s Evolving Steel City by Susan Zummo Forney
On a visit to the city in 1884 to promote his masterpiece, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , Mark Twain said of his trip to Mount Washington: “With the moon soft and mellow … we sauntered about the mount and looked down on the lake of fire and flame. It looked like a miniature hell with the lid off.”
On the Horizon While Pittsburgh is still home to US Steel and other Fortune The year 2016 was a banner year for capital investment— 500 companies that helped shape the region, it is rapidly more than $10 billion—in manufacturing and energy. 12 And becoming a hub for education, medicine, small manufacturing, just this year, Pittsburgh was ranked third out of 100 metro robotics, and research. Small steel manufacturers, some areas for prosperity, according to Brookings Institution data. revitalized by the demands of the energy extraction industry, now make Pittsburgh payrolls alongside the likes of Google, With Pittsburgh’s steel heritage proudly displayed—from the Apple, Uber, and Facebook. And hi-tech investors are ever uniforms of our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers to the treasured poised to scoop up the latest spinoffs from Carnegie Mellon landmarks of the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area University’s brain trust. (https://www.riversofsteel.com/about/)—the city’s future looks bright indeed. Pittsburgh’s diverse and clean economic By all accounts, Pittsburgh’s post-steel economy and environ - engine, along with the legacy of art, culture, and education ment are thriving. In 2015, Pittsburgh was listed among the sown by generous industrial giants like Carnegie, make the 11 “most livable cities in the world” by Metropolis Magazine . Steel City a place like no other. em
Susan Zummo Forney is an environmental communications and compliance consultant with EHS InfoLink Inc., and lifelong Steel City resident. E-mail: [email protected] .
Acknowledgment: The source for much of the air quality history in this article is attributed to Roger Westman (1945–2016), who served as Manager of the Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program from 1994 to 2008. Roger is remembered fondly by his friends and colleagues at the Department.
References 1. Duverge, G. Beyond Steel: The History of Pittsburgh Business ; Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA, 2015; available online at http://online.pointpark.edu/business/ history-of-pittsburgh-business/ (accessed March 6, 2017). 2. Pennsylvania History; Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 2015; available online at http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/portal/communities/pa-history/ 1861-1945.html (accessed March 3, 2017). 3. Duverge, G. Beyond Steel: The History of Pittsburgh Business ; Point Park University, Pittsburgh, PA, 2015; available online at http://online.pointpark.edu/business/ history-of-pittsburgh-business/ (accessed March 6, 2017). 4. Gradeck. R. The Root of Pittsburgh’s Population Drain ; Carnegie Mellon University Center for Economic Development, Pittsburgh, PA, 2003; available online at https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid= chrome-instant&rlz=1C1GIWA_enUS648US648&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=The+Root+of+ Pittsburgh%E2 %80%99s+Population+Drain&* (accessed March 8, 2017). 5. Ibid. 6. Barcousky, L. Eyewitness 1884: Mark Twain had positive view of Pittsburgh—except from atop the mount; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette , July 19, 2015; available online at http://www.post-gazette.com/ local/pittsburgh-history/2015/07/19/Eyewitness-1884-Mark-Twain-had-positive-view-of-Pittsburgh-except-atop-Mount- Washington/stories/201507190008 (accessed March 11, 2017). 7. Davidson, Cliff, I. Air Pollution in Pittsburgh: A Historical Perspective; J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc. 1979 , 29 (10) 1035-1041; DOI:10.1080/00022470.1979. 10470892; http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/ 00022470.1979.10470892 (accessed March 8, 2017). 8. Ibid. 9. Westman, R. Air Pollution in Allegheny County: A History ; Allegheny County Health Department, Pittsburgh, PA, 1990, revised 2003. 10. Ibid. 11. Ibid. 12. Totaling $10.2 Billion, Capital Investment in the Pittsburgh Region Reaches High Water Mark in 2016 ; Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, 2016; available online at http://www.pittsburghregion.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016_BIS_Release.pdf.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Air Pollution in Pittsburgh by Albert Presto Air Pollution in Pittsburgh 21st Century Perspectives
Pittsburgh has been notoriously associated with air pollution and poor air quality. From the days of “hell with the lid off,” the city and the broader regions of Allegheny and surrounding counties have struggled with air pollution. In some circles, bad air quality is more synonymous with Pittsburgh than the steel industry that once made the city famous. While the smoky city images of the early 20th Century show dramatically dirtier air than today, they do not capture the full picture of continued improvement in Pittsburgh’s air quality. This perspective, which acknowledges the decades-long work of air pollution abatement in Pittsburgh, focuses primarily on events since the promulgation of the fine particulate standard in 1997.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Air Pollution in Pittsburgh by Albert Presto
Efforts to monitor air quality in Pittsburgh and regulate standard, and in 2011 all the monitors were below the 15-µg/m 3 emissions stretch back as far as the 19th Century , spanning limit. Allegheny County remains in non-attainment because a variety of city and county agencies and concerned citizen the Liberty monitor still exceeds the revised 2012 PM 2.5 groups prior to the establishment of the U.S. Environmental annual standard of 12 µg/m 3. Protection Agency (EPA). In the 1950s, air monitoring and enforcement for Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (and readers Overall, ACHD is recording a success story. The median across should note that for the remainder of this piece I will use all the monitoring sites fell from about 15 µg/m 3 to 10 µg/m 3 Pittsburgh and Allegheny County interchangeably, as most from 2000 to 2015. However, Allegheny County remains in county residents identify themselves as Pittsburghers) was non-attainment for PM 2.5 and reducing concentrations at consolidated under the Allegheny County Health Department Liberty remains a challenge (indeed, progress seems to have (ACHD); the ACHD’s Bureau of Air Pollution Control was stalled since 2013), but the population-weighted average established in 1960 (renamed Air Quality Program in the exposure has experienced dramatic decreases over the 1990s). 1 ACHD remains the regulatory body to this day, and last decade. is charged with local activities required under the EPA’s U.S. Clean Air Act—monitoring, enforcement, State Implementation The remnants of heavy industry in Allegheny County also con - Plan (SIP) development, and permitting. tribute to high risks from exposure to hazardous air pollutants (HAPs, also known as air toxics). ACHD has long monitored
ACHD maintains a fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) compliance air toxics in downtown Pittsburgh and in near-source regions. network that currently includes eight sampling sites (see Figure In general, as with PM 2.5 , the trend is toward lower concentra - 1). 2 The monitoring locations are primarily population-based. tions due to a combination of national (e.g., cleaner cars) and Several monitoring stations (Liberty, Clairton, North Braddock) local (reduced emissions from point sources) efforts. 2 are in the Monongahela River Valley. These are more source- oriented, as they are near some of the few remnants of Academic Research Pittsburgh’s once-mighty steel empire. The long history of non-attainment of the EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards has also spurred significant In 2000 (Figure 1), most of these monitoring locations exceeded academic air pollution research in Pittsburgh. In 2001–2002, 3 the PM 2.5 annual standard, which was 15 µg/m . The most Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) led the Pittsburgh Air polluted site—both then and now—was the Liberty monitoring Quality Study (PAQS), funded by EPA and the U.S. Department station, which is near the largest metallurgical coke facility in of Energy (DOE). PAQS characterized PM 2.5 mass, composition, the United States. Since about 2007, through a combination sources, and properties in Pittsburgh. 3 PAQS consisted of of national and local emissions reductions, there has been a multiple sampling locations and modalities—a centrally lo - dramatic improvement at all the monitoring locations. By 2008, cated supersite in an urban park adjacent to CMU’s campus, all the monitors except Liberty were below the annual PM 2.5 satellite sites upwind and downwind of Pittsburgh, and aircraft
25 ) 3 - m
g µ ( 20 n o i t a r t n e
c 15 n o C
10
E PA standard Avalon 5 Clairton Harrison Lawre nce vi lle Li berty Moon Nor th Braddoc k Nor th Park Sou th Fayette 0 Figure2 100. 0 (Left) Ann2u00al4 PM 2.5 at2 P0i0tt8 sburgh-a2re0a1 2 monitorin2g01 s6 tations since 2000–2006. (Right) ACHD monitoring locations. PM 2.5 is not monitored at every site. Source: Allegheny County Health Department 2015 Annual Air Quality Report. 2
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Air Pollution in Pittsburgh by Albert Presto
measurements. PAQS represented a collaboration between The increased focus on air toxics and local exposures over the CMU, other universities, ACHD, the Pennsylvania Department last decade has reflected a larger trend toward quantifying air of Environmental Protection, and researchers from DOE. Using pollutant exposures with fine spatial resolution. 10 While EPA a combination of traditional (e.g., filter samples) and more monitoring networks are designed to ensure clean air across novel measurements, PAQS contributed data that advanced broad swaths of area and population, they are too spatially air pollution science and policy. diffuse to inform neighborhood-scale differences in air pollution
Pittsburgh continues to lead on air pollution monitoring and research.
One of the novel measurements used at the PAQS supersite that may result from different land uses and activity patterns. was an aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS), 4,5 which quantifies For example, it is intuitive to expect higher concentrations of PM size and composition in real time. The wide application nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide adjacent to a highway, of AMS in the years since PAQS has revolutionized the study but the strong spatial gradients observed in the first 100–200 of PM 2.5 composition, particularly the organic fraction of PM 2.5 . meters away from the road edge are not captured by regulatory Factor analysis of AMS data collected in Pittsburgh, and monitoring networks. subsequently repeated in other cities worldwide, revealed that approximately two-thirds of the organic PM mass in the Researchers at both CMU 11 and the University of Pittsburgh 12 urban atmosphere is secondary, rather than primary emissions. 6 have used distributed monitoring techniques to develop This finding has major implications for air pollution control exposure surfaces for Pittsburgh (see Figure 2). The resulting policy. Vehicle exhaust is a major contributor to the approxi - land use regression (LUR) models can be used to predict mately one-third of urban organic aerosol mass arising from human exposures at high spatial resolution. primary emissions. The canonical mass spectrum of this “hydrocarbon-like” primary organic aerosol measured in Current projects in Pittsburgh continue to push the boundaries Pittsburgh in 2001 is still used to this day. 5 of air pollution exposure science. CMU is the lead institution for a recently-awarded EPA Air, Climate, and Energy Center Analysis of data collected at the Pittsburgh supersite and satellite (https://engineering.cmu.edu/caces/index.html). The center has sites helped to reveal that much of PM 2.5 mass is regional a suite of projects that aim to improve predictions of air pollution 7 rather than local. This meant that PM 2.5 exceedances in a city could not be completely ameliorated by implementing controls in that city. The regional nature of PM 2.5 determined in Pittsburgh contributed to the development of the EPA Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. Some of the reductions in
PM 2.5 starting in 2005 shown in Figure 1 can therefore be directly linked to the multi-state approach suggested by results obtained from PAQS.
Two more recent collaborations between Pittsburgh universities and ACHD have improved quantification of air toxics sources and exposures. The 2007–2008 Pittsburgh Air Toxics Study was a collaboration between CMU and ACHD to quantify air toxics and their sources in several Pittsburgh neighborhoods. This study revealed the combined importance of local traffic and point source emissions to the overall toxics burden. 8 A more recent collaboration between ACHD and the University of Pittsburgh investigated the specific impact of diesel buses Figure 2. Land use regression for black carbon in 11 on exposures to air toxics and black carbon in the downtown PM 2.5 in Allegheny County. Pittsburgh core. 9
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Air Pollution in Pittsburgh by Albert Presto
exposure to finer temporal and spatial scales. This includes cost monitors can provide real-time air quality data with extensive stationary and mobile monitoring to quantify varia - neighborhood-level detail. The incorporation of nontraditional tions in PM 2.5 mass and composition, as well as to quantify data sources, such as cameras (http://breatheproject.org/ exposures to ultrafine particles with diameters smaller than learn/breathe-cam) for monitoring the occurrence of hazy 100 nm. The monitoring data will also be used to evaluate the days, engages the public and can help to democratize air performance of national LUR models and chemical transport quality data and awareness. models operating at 1-km resolution. Early returns on these projects echo the PM 2.5 reductions in Figure 1—significantly Pittsburgh continues to lead on air pollution monitoring and lower concentrations than during the 2001–2002 PAQS, research. This should be an exciting time, with opportunity driven in large part by reductions in PM 2.5 sulfate (but no to bring “big data” and machine learning tools to bear on concurrent large reduction in organic PM). growing datasets. However, these are also uncertain times for all environmental science and policy agencies and researchers Future Directions from the federal level on down. Pittsburgh stands as a success Future directions highlight the importance of citizen science story that demonstrates that policy informed by sound science and distributed data collection. Researchers at CMU are can create real improvements, and the pursuit of sound developing and deploying low-cost multipollutant sensors science allows for new opportunities for innovation and that can be widely distributed across a city. While less accurate development. These lessons should not be easily forgotten than federal reference monitors, a network of 50–100 low- or abandoned. em
Albert A. Presto is an assistant research professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and a member of the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA. E-mail: [email protected] .
References 1. Graham, J. ACHD History—Air Quality Eco-Currents ; Allegheny County Health Department, 2007. 2. 2015 Air Quality Annual Report ; Allegheny County Health Department Air Quality Program, 2015 3. Wittig, A.E.; Anderson, N.; Khlystov, A.Y.; Pandis, S.N.; Davidson, C.; Robinson, A.L. Pittsburgh Air Quality Study Overview; Atmos. Environ. 2004, 38 , 3107-3125. 4. Jayne, J.T.; Leard, D.C.; Zhang, X.F.; Davidovits, P.; Smith, K.A.; Kolb, C.E.; Worsnop, D. R. Development of an aerosol mass spectrometer for size and composition analysis of submicron particles; Aerosol Sci. Technol. 2000, 33 (1-2), 49-70. 5. Zhang, Q.; Alfarra, M.R.; Worsnop, D.R.; Allan, J.D.; Coe, H.; Canagaratna, M.R.; Jimenez, J.L. Deconvolution of hydrocarbon-like and oxygenated organic aerosols based on aerosol mass spectrometry; Environ. Sci. Technol. 2005, 39 (13), 4938-4952. 6. Zhang, Q.; Jimenez, J.L.; Canagaratna, M.R.; Allan, J.D.; Coe, H.; Ulbrich, I.; Alfarra, M.R.; Takami, A.; Middlebrook, A.M.; Sun, Y.L.; Dzepina, K.; Dunlea, E.; Docherty, K.; DeCarlo, P.F.; Salcedo, D.; Onasch, T.; Jayne, J.T.; Miyoshi, T.; Shimono, A.; Hatakeyama, S.; Takegawa, N.; Kondo, Y.; Schneider, J.; Drewnick, F.; Borrmann, S.; Weimer, S.; Demerjian, K.; Williams, P.; Bower, K.; Bahreini, R.; Cottrell, L.; Grffin, R. J.; Rautiainen, J.; Sun, J.Y.; Zhang, Y.M.; Worsnop, D.R. Ubiquity and dominance of oxygenated species in organic aerosols in anthropogenically-influenced Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes; Geophys. Res. Lett. 2007, 34 , L13801. 7. Robinson, A.L.; Donahue, N.M.; Shrivastava, M.K.; Weitkamp, E.A.; Sage, A.M.; Grieshop, A.P.; Lane, T.E.; Pierce, J.R.; Pandis, S.N. Rethinking organic aerosols: Semivolatile emissions and photochemical aging; Science 2007, 315 , 1259-1262. 8. Logue, J.L.; Small, M.J.; Robinson, A.L. Identifying priority pollutant sources: Apportioning air toxics risks using positive matrix factorization; Environ. Sci. Technol. 2009, 43 , 9439-9444. 9. Tunno, B.J.; Shmool, J.L.C.; Michanowicz, D.R.; Tripathy, S.; Chubb, L.G.; Kinnee, E.; Cambal, L.; Roper, C.; Clougherty, J.E. Spatial variation in diesel-related elemental and organic PM2.5 components during workweek hours across a downtown core; Sci. Total Environ. 2016, 573 , 27-38. 10. Snyder, E.G.; Watkins, T.H.; Solomon, P.A.; Thoma, E.D.; Williams, R.W.; Hagler, G. S.W.; Shelow, D.; Hindin, D.A.; Kilaru, V.; Preuss, P.W. The changing paradigm of air pollution monitoring; Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47 , 11369-11377. 11. Tan, Y.; Dallmann, T.R.; Robinson, A.L.; Presto, A.A. Application of plume analysis to build land use regression models from mobile sampling to improve model transferability; Atmos. Environ. 2016, 134 , 51-60. 12. Schmool, J.L.C.; Michanowicz, D.R.; Cambal, L.R.; Tunno, B.; Howell, J.; Gillooly, S.; Roper, C.; Tripathy, S.; Chubb, L.G.; Eisl, H.M.; Gorczynski, J.E.; Holguin, F.E.; Shields, K.N.; Clougherty, J.E. Saturation sampling for spatial variation in multiple air pollutants across an inversion-prone metropolitan area; Environ. Health 2014, 13 .
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Air Quality Modeling in Allegheny County by Bart Brashers, Ralph Morris, and Jason Maranche
The Challenges of Modeling Air Quality in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Air quality in Allegheny County, PA, has exceeded the ozone, fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and hourly sulfur dioxide (SO 2) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Air quality modeling is challenging in this area of complex terrain and meteorology, where concentrations are affected by both local sources and regional transport. This article considers several air quality modeling studies covering Allegheny County that supported the development of State
Implementation Plans (SIPs). The discussion focuses on the challenges for PM 2.5 SIP modeling in the region, as ozone SIP modeling 1 tends to use fairly standard modeling techniques 2 and benefited greatly from regional NO X controls (e.g., NO X SIP Call 3). A brief discussion is also presented for some recent SO 2 SIP modeling that required some new and innovative modeling approaches.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Air Quality Modeling in Allegheny County by Bart Brashers, Ralph Morris, and Jason Maranche
The highest PM 2.5 and SO 2 concentrations occur in southern transport and local source contributions. PM 2.5 observations Allegheny County in the Liberty–Clairton area, located from 2005–2009 for Liberty and other nearby monitoring approximately 10 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. The area sites were analyzed and found that Liberty had annual average features a complex river valley with a winding portion of the PM 2.5 concentrations of approximately 4.6 µg/m³ greater Monongahela River, with adjacent hilltops rising in places to than nearby monitors, which was attributable to local sources. approximately 530 feet above the river. Figure 1 shows the Analysis of the speciation of this excess PM 2.5 concentration at
2010 SO 2 nonattainment area (NAA), local sources, and Liberty found that it was mainly due to organic and elemental measurement sites. carbon, ammonium, sulfate, particle bound water (PBW), and some trace elements, as shown in Figure 3. The Liberty monitor is located on top of a school at relatively higher elevation to the northeast of the river, while the Clairton Meeting the Challenges of Air Quality monitor is located in the municipality. The Liberty monitor Modeling in Allegheny County exhibits higher concentrations than regional monitors due to A series of modeling simulations of the region have been contributions from local sources whose emission impacts are performed in support of various SIP revisions in response to influenced by the river-valley topography. The highest PM 2.5 the changing NAAQS over the years. Emissions inventories and SO 2 concentrations at Liberty tend to occur at night or have been improving over time, as have modeling techniques. early morning, when inversions form that confine the local source pollutants in shallow vertical layers. There are numerous 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS in the PBV NAA adjacent and regional industrial sources, mostly located along Based on 2001–2003 measurements, the Pittsburgh–Beaver the Monongahela River. Figure 2 displays the locations of the Valley (PBV) area was designated nonattainment for the 1997 3 Liberty and Clairton monitoring sites and industrial sources 15.0 µg/m annual PM 2.5 NAAQS. The U.S. Environmental in the region. Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the unique aspects of the local source contributions in southern Allegheny County
Pennsylvania is part of the Ozone Transport Region (OTR), so and designated the Liberty–Clairton area as a separate PM 2.5 4 it is not surprising that ozone transport from upwind sources NAA. The 2009 PM 2.5 SIP for the PBV NAA used the Com - is important, with numerous ozone monitors in Southwest munity Multi-scale Air Quality (CMAQ) photochemical grid Pennsylvania recording high ozone levels. Conversely, the model for a 2002 modeling year with 12-km grid resolution. highest SO 2 concentrations are dominated by contributions The CMAQ modeling platform used in the PBV PM 2.5 attain - from local sources that are mainly located in the base of the ment demonstration did not provide sufficient resolution to river valley. The highest PM 2.5 concentrations in the region, which simulate the local source PM 2.5 concentrations in the Liberty– also occur at Liberty, are due to a combination of regional Clairton NAA.
Figure 2. Locations of the Liberty and Clairton
Figure 1. The Liberty–Clairton SO 2 NAA in Allegheny monitoring sites (white) with local sources (red) in the County, with river valley complex terrain. Liberty–Clairton area.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Air Quality Modeling in Allegheny County by Bart Brashers, Ralph Morris, and Jason Maranche
Figure 3. Analysis of the composition of the excess (i.e., local source) PM 2.5 concentrations at the Liberty monitoring site during 2005–2009.
1997 PM2.5 NAAQS in the Liberty–Clairton NAA modeled using the CALPUFF non-steady-state Gaussian puff The Liberty monitoring site violated both the annual and model. CALPUFF used 100-m grid resolution compared to
24-hr 1997 PM 2.5 NAAQS. Like the PBV NAA, CMAQ 2002 CMAQ’s 12-km resolution, so was better able to simulate
12-km modeling was used in the PM 2.5 attainment demonstra - local source impacts. However, the CALPUFF meteorological tion modeling, 5 but local source primary PM emissions were fields were still based on the 12-km MM5 meteorological
Join experts for a neutral discussion of the current climoaf tceli mcha atne gceh arnesg e,a crclimh a tend a ics soune sa nddri ving decisions. Trehdisu c o nofnes r eancde m wi illg aad dorne saslo e nmg e wrgitihn ges p omlica ie sn ga nd cPole mnmar uy nP i acan eolsn w. ill c over the scie nce and ec onomi cs clima te chang e impa cts and adap ta on str ategie s. technologie s f or gr ee nhous e g as (GHG) emissions Pr esen ta on s will pr ese nt r ese ar ch and sol u ons on na ona l, loc al , and corpor ate pol icy , mod eling , CH4 in ventories, and C2 impacts. Keynot e Speak er Ge ner al Ron Keys is a me mber of the re r ed Air F or ce 4-s tar Ge ner al. Tou r the NAS A Godda rd Space Fligh t Cen ter on Cen ter f or Clima te and Se curity ’s Advis or y Boar d, Thur s., Oct. 12 and see one of the pr emie r f acili es Cha irman of the CNA Milit ar y Advisor y Boar d, and a de velop ing and v alida ng clima te chang e models.
Register now at www .awma.org/climatechange.
Climate Change 5-part W ebinar Series developed by the organizers of em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 this conference begins in August – www .awma.org/webinars. Air Quality Modeling in Allegheny County by Bart Brashers, Ralph Morris, and Jason Maranche
Figure 4. 36/12/4/0.8-km (left) and 4/0.8-km (right) domains of the WRF (dotted lines) meteorological and CAMx (solid lines) photochemical grid modeling of the Liberty–Clairton nonattainment area.
data and were unable to adequately resolve the local flow underestimation by CAMx/AERMOD. The final 24-hr PM 2.5 features of the river valley complex terrain. attainment demonstration modeling was conducted using the CAMx/PiG model configuration. 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS Attainment Demonstration Modeling 2010 SO2 NAAQS Attainment Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) meteorological modeling Demonstration Modeling using 800-m (0.8-km) horizontal resolution was conducted To address attainment of the 2010 75 parts per billion (ppb) over the Liberty–Clairton NAA and surrounding regions to 1-hr SO 2 NAAQS, several plume/puff models were evaluated 3 6 address the 2006 35 µg/m 24-hr PM 2.5 NAAQS. WRF was (AERMOD, CALPUFF, and SCICHEM) using high-resolution run with regional modeling domains to address regional (1.333- and 0.444-km) WRF meteorological model output transport, with the 36/12/4/0.8-km grid structure, as shown processed through the Mesoscale Model InterFace (MMIF) 8 in Figure 4. The Comprehensive Air Quality Model with program, as an alternative to using surface observations (e.g., extensions (CAMx) 7 photochemical grid model was selected Pittsburgh National Weather Service data or Liberty monitoring for use with the 36/12/4/0.8-km grid domains. Two different approaches were evaluated for simulating the impacts of primary PM emissions from local sources on PM 2.5 concen - trations at Liberty: (1) application of the EPA-recommended near-field AERMOD steady-state Gaussian plume model; and (2) use of the CAMx subgrid-scale Plume-in-Grid (PiG) Gauss - ian puff module. In the CAMx simulations, the local sources were tagged for treatment by the PM source apportionment algorithm so their impacts could be removed and replaced with the AERMOD results in a mass-consistent fashion.
Figure 5 compares the results of a CAMx simulation with local source impacts removed, and CAMx using the PiG and AER - MOD representations of local source impacts. The CAMx/PiG matches the observed 24-hr PM 2.5 concentrations better than CAMx/AERMOD. CAMx/PiG overestimated the few very highest observed concentrations, but matched the rest of the Figure 5. Predicted and observed 24-hr PM 2.5 concen - observed 24-hr PM 2.5 distribution quite well. However, CAMx trations quantile–quantile (Q–Q) plot using CAMx 0.8-km using AERMOD for local sources systematically underestimated modeling results; with local sources treated using the the observed PM 2.5 concentrations at Liberty. CAMx/PiG CAMx PiG module, using AERMOD, and not including reproduced the 98th percentile 24-hr PM 2.5 concentrations at any local source impacts. Liberty to within 0.6 percent, compared to a 10.6-percent
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • April 2017 Air Quality Modeling in Allegheny County by Bart Brashers, Ralph Morris, and Jason Maranche
data treated as on-site). Ultimately, AERMOD was selected, using MMIF extractions from the 0.444-km resolution WRF 9 output. Each source was modeled separately with its own MMIF-based meteorology and a common set of receptors, and the results summed before calculating the design value.
2012 Annual PM2.5 Attainment Demonstration Modeling The attainment demonstration modeling to address the 2012 3 12 µg/m annual PM 2.5 NAAQS is in progress. It uses an approach similar to the 2006 PM 2.5 NAAQS attainment demonstration modeling, using CAMx with PiG treatment of local major sources. To date, high-resolution WRF simulations have been conducted using a 36/12/4/1.33-km grid configu - ration with the 1.33-km grid focused on Allegheny County. 10
Summary and Conclusions Simulating air quality in Allegheny County presents challenges because of the high contributions from both regional trans - port and local sources, and the complex terrain and resultant complicated meteorological conditions. This article discussed the evolution of air quality modeling in Allegheny County to Figure 6. Comparison of terrain elevation in the address PM and SO SIPs and the model improvements in 2.5 2 Liberty–Clairton area using WRF grid resolutions of representing air impacts in the region. 12, 4, 1.333, and 0.444 km.
Of particular importance has been the improved representation of meteorological conditions through high-resolution WRF the Monongahela River Valley is beginning to be represented, meteorological modeling, which provides spatially and tem - although the difference between the river valley floors to porally varying meteorological conditions. Figure 6 displays ridgeline (~40 m) underrepresents the actual terrain relief terrain in the Liberty–Clairton area with grid resolutions used (~150 m). The 0.444-km grid resolution, however, does a in Allegheny County air quality modeling, from 12 km used much better job in reproducing actual terrain and the resulting in the earliest PM 2.5 SIPs to 0.444 km used in the latest SO 2 WRF simulation is better able to characterize the valley SIP. The 12-km and 4-km terrain representation fails to char - flow features. em acterize terrain of the river valleys. With a 1.33-km resolution,
Bart Brashers and Ralph Morris are both with Ramboll Environ US Corporation. Jason Maranche is with the Allegheny County Health Department, Pittsburgh, PA. E-mail: [email protected] .
References 1. State Implementation Plan for Ozone for the Pittsburgh–Beaver Valley Nonattainment Area—Attainment Plan ; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protec - tion, Bureau of Air Quality, Harrisburg, PA, 1997; available online at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/airwaste/aq/plans/archive/pittfinalattplan.pdf. 2. User’s Guide for the Urban Airshed Model—Volume I: User’s Manual for UAM (CB-IV) ; EPA-450/4-90-007A; Morris, R.E.; Myers, T.C. Eds. Systems Applications, Inc., San Rafael, CA, 1990. 3. Finding of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for Certain States in the Ozone Transport Assessment Group region for Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone ; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1998; available online at https://archive.epa.gov/ttn/ozone/web/pdf/nxsip.pdf. 4. State Implementation Plan Revision: Attainment Demonstration and Base Year Inventory Pittsburgh–Beaver Valley Final Particulate Nonattainment Area ; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Quality, Harrisburg, PA, 2009; available online at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/ airwaste/aq/ plans/plans/Pittsburgh25/Pittsburgh-BeaverValley_SIP-Final.pdf. 5. Revision to the Allegheny County Portion of the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan—Attainment Demonstration for the Liberty–Clairton PM2.5 Nonattainment Area ; Allegheny County Health Department, Air Quality Program, Pittsburgh, PA, 2011; available online at http://www.achd.net/airqual/Liberty-Clairton_PM2.5 _SIP-Apr2011.pdf. 6. Proposed Revision to the Allegheny County Portion of the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan—Attainment Demonstration for the Liberty–Clairton PM2.5 Nonattainment Area 2006 Standards; Allegheny County Health Department, Air Quality Program, Pittsburgh, PA, 2013; available online at http://www.achd.net/ air/pubs/SIPs/Liberty-ClairtonPM25SIP2006Stds_FINAL.pdf. 7. User’s Guide Comprehensive Air-quality Model with Extensions (CAMx) Version 6.40 ; Ramboll Environ, Novato, CA, 2016; available online at http://www.camx.com/ files/camxusersguide_v6-40.pdf. 8. User’s Manual—The Mesoscale Model Interface Program (MMIF) Version 3.3, 2016-12-09 ; Brashers, B.; Emery, C. Eds.; Ramboll Environ US Corporation, Novato CA and Lynnwood, WA, 2016; available online at https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/scram/models/relat/mmif/MMIFv3.3_Users_Manual.pdf. 9. Allegheny County Health Department SO2 State Implementation Plan—Air Quality Dispersion Model Performance Evaluation ; Ramboll Environ, Lynnwood, CA, 2017. 10. Allegheny County Health Department PM2.5 State Implementation Plan—PM2.5 Modeling Protocol ; Ramboll Environ, Novato, CA and Lynnwood, WA, 2016.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Q&A with A&WMA Member, Stanley J. Penkala
A Retrospective on Allegheny County Air Quality EM Interviews a Veteran A&WMA Member
The following is an edited conversation with Dr. Stanley J. Penkala, an A&WMA member since the early 1970s and Pittsburgh resident, about his recollections of Allegheny County’s efforts over the years to clean up the air.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 !!!!!! QRe&pAla cwei tmh eA &wWithM thAe Mcoermrebcet rh, eSatdanerle iyn fJo. rPmenaktiaolna !!!!!!
EM: Dr. Penkala, what brought you to Pittsburgh and how me to my next employer, DeNardo & McFarland Weather did you get involved in air pollution? Services (D&M).
Penkala: The University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Air quality problems in the complex terrain of Pittsburgh’s Public Health (GSPH) brought me in as an Assistant Professor river valleys are compounded by air inversions that trap of Air Resources and Environmental Health. I received a pollutants, sometimes for days on end. At D&M, we worked bachelor’s of science degree in chemical engineering from to moderate high ambient concentrations by forecasting when the University of Pennsylvania, then stayed on to earn a Ph.D. dispersion conditions would be a problem, and by identifying in biomedical applications. The group I was working with at which sources were contributing to high concentration “hot that time were investigating various aspects of cystic fibrosis, spots”. Our daily meteorological forecasts for the Allegheny a disease affecting the lungs of its victims that was acerbated County Health Department (ACHD) kept them aware of by airborne particulates. I was working on ways to automate impending poor dispersion conditions. Forecasts of multi-day analysis of airway sounds in human lungs as a diagnostic tool. poor meteorological dispersion conditions were critical. The ACHD sought and obtained agreements with major sources At GSPH, the air resources students were trained in the envi - to curtail their production activities when poor dispersion was ronmental health consequences of air pollution, the sources imminent, depending upon which areas of the county were of emissions, control techniques, and how emissions were targeted. The forecasts gave the county time to notify dispersed through the atmosphere to affect “ambient air” critical sources to institute curtailment plans. And it gave the concentrations. We educated numerous foreign students who sources the time to significantly modify their operations, were sponsored by their country’s government. They were thereby avoiding or mitigating excessive ambient concentra - expected to return to head up nascent environmental agencies tions. I analyzed some of these critical inversion events that at home, which meant they also got exposed to how local, documented the beneficial effects of the program during state, and federal government agencies interacted in the my work at D&M. United States. Then in 1980 five of us from D&M formed Air Science Pittsburgh was a Renaissance City. Through the auspices of a Consultants Inc., where I’m currently President and semi-retired. coalition of government and industry, the city and Allegheny We provide weather forecasting and environmental consulting County were working to clean up the pollution well before services to private and public clients across the country. the formation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970, and even before the first Federal Clean Air EM: How did the ACHD Air Program interact with the state Act of 1955. 1 The forerunner of A&WMA began in 1907. and federal air pollution control programs? The overriding principle was to create a nonpartisan organi - zation, comprised of members from industry and govern - Penkala: Even before the EPA came into being, Allegheny ment, working together to solve the problems of air pollution, County already had a number of pollution control measures to produce clean air for public consumption. When I joined in place for dealing with the critical pollutants affecting the the faculty, Dr. Mort Corn of the Air Resources Department public. Once EPA was established, the hierarchy of government strongly suggested that I become a member, so I joined the agencies attacking the air pollution problem became more Air Pollution Control Association my first year in Pittsburgh, structured. Allegheny County fell into EPA Region III. The and continue that affiliation to this day. Pennsylvania State Department of Environmental Protection
EM: How did your work in the field evolve?
Penkala: During the three years spent at the GSPH, I was exposed to a wide spectrum of industries. One of my teaching assignments was to conduct plant tours, where the students were exposed to the real-life aspects of industry. They learned where emissions originated, how particulates, gases and vapors were monitored at the sources, and learned the equipment used to measure ambient air concentrations affected by those sources. My engineering training gave me the tools to analyze both the processes and the emissions these industries created. Contact with other members of the GSPH faculty brought the Figure 1. Dustfall jar. opportunity to do outside consulting work, which introduced
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Q&A with A&WMA Member, Stanley J. Penkala
Even before the EPA came into being, Allegheny County already had a number of pollution control measures in place for dealing with the critical pollutants affecting the public.
(PA DEP) was tasked with meeting the ambient air standards advance the strip to a fresh spot. As the next sample was for the entire state. In recognition of the strong program run being collected, the darkness of the spot on the paper was by the ACHD, the PA DEP allowed it to enforce the air compared to a clean filter by measuring the relative light programs for Allegheny County, with oversight by the state, intensity penetrating the clean and gray spots. This quantified and reporting ultimately to EPA Region III. the hourly readings, which provided electronic measures of the ambient particulate pollution much quicker than either EM: Particulate Matter has been one of the biggest concerns dustfall (monthly) or high-volume (24-hour) air sampling. Rapid in Allegheny County. How has monitoring for particulates response was needed if the county was to control sources evolved over the years? during an air pollution episode, rather than after-the-fact.
Penkala: Allegheny County began particulate sampling well EPA’s original National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) before the EPA came into being, using different equipment for particulates 2 was designated “Total Suspended Particulate to target different problems. One of the earliest measurements Matter” (TSP). In recognition of the difficulty in creating a used a “dustfall can”, because the first targeted particulate standard for the wide range of dust particles in the air, EPA pollution was that big stuff that made the city so grimy that specified the monitoring instrumentation as an integral part “white-collar” workers had to put on a fresh shirt half-way of the Federal Reference Method (FRM). TSP theoretically through the day. Dustfall cans were cylindrical containers consisted of particles in the air up to an equivalent aerodynamic about 7.5-inches in diameter and 8-inches long. They were diameter (AED) of 100 microns, although much bigger particles placed on a pole approximately 8-feet high and open at the routinely showed up upon microscopic analysis of the filters. top, to collect anything that fell into them over the course of The biggest ones were visible to the naked eye, and com - a month. The can support had a ring above and of a bigger prised nuisance grime and dust clouds that accumulated diameter, to give birds a place to perch other than the lip on window sills and clothing. of the can itself. This eliminated a lot of the problem with “extraneous” material. The liquid/particulates accumulated The High Volume Air Sampler (hi-vol) became the designated were collected monthly, filtered to eliminate bugs and leaves, FRM monitoring device. The physical structure looked like a dried and weighed. The results were converted to a measure short little aluminum house about 2-feet square and 4-feet of dustfall deposition. A typical standard for dustfall was high, with a pitched roof that formed a gap through which 25–30 tons per square mile per month. These samplers air could enter (see Figure 2). It housed a pump that pulled documented where nuisance sources of particulates were in ambient air through a fiber glass filter mat. A timer turned affecting the county, and gave the ACHD data to force the unit on and off for a 24-hour sampling period, normally controls on such sources (see Figure 1). midnight to midnight. A volumetric flow meter recorded actual flow rates onto a circular chart, which also verified the But finer particulates were floating in the air, obscuring vision, sampling time. Sampling was conducted on every sixth day, creating a persistent haze, and affecting health. To measure although some locations sampled more frequently. The phys - this type of particulate, the county used a meter to measure ical setup required technicians to service the unit during the the coefficient of haze (COH). The meter contained a strip of downtime between sampling periods, collecting the completed filter paper in a long roll. The filter paper was clamped between sample and deploying a fresh filter for the next period. The two cylinders, which sealed off a circle of paper. A pump pulled TSP loading was the accumulated particulate weight on the ambient air through the filter for an hour, at which time the filter (sample minus filter tare weight) divided by the sam - cylinders would release their grip and a take-up reel would pling volume, producing micrograms/ cubic meter (µg/m 3).
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Q&A with A&WMA Member, Stanley J. Penkala
The need for rapid measurement of particulates during air pollution episodes actually crystallized because of a major pollution event that took place in Allegheny County during 1975. The D&M forecast called for episodic poor dispersion conditions to start with a temperature inversion on the evening of November 16, 1975, and conditions were forecast to persist for several days. This forecast, along with increasing COH readings, prompted the ACHD to declare an air pollution alert at 9:00 p.m. that evening. Very stable air in the Monon - gahela River Valley in southern Allegheny County was pro - ducing a rapid buildup of particulates (and other pollutants). The Environmental Meteorological Support Unit (EMSU) of the Pittsburgh Weather Office issued an official Air Stagna - tion Advisory at Noon on November 17.
The stagnation event abated on November 20. It drew national attention from various divisions of EPA and resulted in an episode evaluation running some 90 pages. 3 Some of the hi-vols in the most affected areas failed due to excessive particulate loadings, while the COH samplers reached the highest levels seen to that time. Several individual COH readings exceeded the unit maximum of 10.5, but credible readings on an hourly basis were obtained throughout the episode. They documented the readings as a function of time, and allowed the analysis D&M subsequently performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of extended coking times and other actions taken during the episode.
The number one recommendation of the EPA analysis of the Figure 2. High Volume Air Sampler. event was: “EPA should develop a procedure to monitor total suspended particulate with the speed of response of the tape The Primary PM NAAQS were a maximum 24-hour reading sampler.” More to the point, the TSP measure itself was of 260 µg/m 3, allowed once per year at a given location, and flawed, in that the bulk of the mass collected by a hi-vol was an annual geometric mean of 75 µg/m 3. The biggest drawback dominated by particles too large to affect the human respiratory of the hi-vol was that you couldn’t get a reading until the system. It took until 1987 for EPA to recognize the problem conclusion of 24 hours of sampling, followed by filter condi - with the TSP standards. Then the agency concentrated its tioning and weighing in the lab. The method was totally enforcement efforts on inhalable particulates, designated unsuitable for episode control. PM 10 (for particulate with AED of 10 microns or less) and certified new Reference Method instruments designed to EM: How did the methods compare? What were the relative eliminate particulates bigger than 10 microns from getting benefits of the methods? collected. This was based on the human respiratory system physically trapping the bigger TSP particles and keeping Penkala: When EPA’s PM NAAQS came out, ACHD started them from getting into the lungs. side-by-side comparisons of the hi-vol readings and the simul - taneous 24-hr COH readings. At the time, ACHD was using Another epiphany took place in 1997, when the NAAQS the hourly COH readings in their episode control program. added PM 2.5 to the list (i.e., particulates 2.5 AED and smaller), Assuming a similarity between the particulate collected by again with newly designated FRM equipment. Still, both both monitors, some degree of correlation would allow using PM 10 and PM 2.5 FRMs were long-term (24-hour) monitors, COH hourly data as indicative of the simultaneous TSP sam - unsuitable for episode control. A plethora of instruments were pler’s 24-hour measurement. However, TSP particulate was created to attain the holy grail of monitoring—an instrument not really comparable to COH particulate. The TSP mass that could produce continuous monitor data directly compa - collected was dominated by the big stuff, 10 microns AED rable to the FRM numbers and allow episodic monitoring in and larger, while the COH meter eliminated most of that real time. The definition of “particulates” also changed over big stuff because of its air intake design. the years, as the emphasis shifted to smaller and smaller
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Q&A with A&WMA Member, Stanley J. Penkala
particles. Liquid droplets of those critical sizes were now time framework established by EPA. This requires significant considered part of the valid catch, and the instruments had to source characterization, dispersion modeling, and ambient air be capable of capturing and measuring their impact. Volatile modeling throughout the county, and a clear understanding organic compounds could be caught as a particle, then evap - of the regional meteorology produced by the complex orate as additional sample air got pulled through the filter. terrain of the area. Liquid water droplets containing dissolved solids could dry out, leaving a solid with considerably less mass on the filter Over the past 40 years, I’ve been volunteering my time and of an FRM unit, but get measured differently by a continuous expertise in the monitoring, modeling, and data analysis fields particulate monitor. (By the way, ambient particulates were through the Criteria Pollutants Subcommittee of ACHD. This beginning to be discriminated by source contribution, because subcommittee of the county’s Air Pollution Control Advisory “Primary” particulates were “as emitted” from a source, while Committee provides recommendations and advice to ACHD “Secondary” particulates were formed in the ambient air by on air-quality programs and projects such as SIP development . chemical reaction of gases potentially coming from multiple At the same time, my work for local industry, commerce, and sources.) power utilities meant that I was involved in monitoring and modeling some of the sources that were contributing to the EM: So, what have you been involved with more recently? emissions that would have to be controlled for the county to meet its requirement of compliance with the NAAQS. Penkala: Each of the changes that EPA makes in the NAAQS triggers a requirement for enforcement planning by the ACHD So, to sum up: I’ve had a part in the stewardship of the air of to achieve the standard throughout the county. If there is an Allegheny County. area in the county in violation of a NAAQS, the ACHD is required to prepare a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to EM: Thanks, Stanley. It’s been interesting hearing this part of demonstrate that the emission rules and regulations of the your life. em county will achieve compliance with the standards within the
References 1. Federal legislation involving air pollution began with the Air Pollution Control Act of 1955; See https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/evolution-clean-air-act. 2. PM National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 1971, 36 Fed. Regist. 8186, Apr 30, 1971; See https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_ history.html. 3. Allegheny County Air Pollution Episode November 16–November 20, 1975 ; 903R76901; See https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=901K0O00.txt.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 A Summary of the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review
Air Quality Measurements From Rubber Bands to Tapping the Rainbow
by George M. Hidy, Judith C. Chow, and John G. Watson
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 A Summary of the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review
Good measurements are integral to good public policy and regulation of smoke-stack plumes was introduced more for environmental protection. The generalized term for than a century ago to regulate ducted emissions (Griebling, “measurements” includes network design, sampling and 1952), and variations of the method are used to this day (Du quantitation, data integrity, documentation, sponsorship et al., 2007; Halow and Zeek, 1973; McFarland et al., 2006). and operations, and archiving and accessing for applications. These components have evolved and advanced as knowledge Chemical and physical reactions of pollutants with solutions and of atmospheric chemistry and physics has matured and pollu - materials were found to be more sensitive and quantitative tant levels have been related to adverse effects on human and than the human senses for many pollutants. For example, ecological health. The Air & Waste Management Association Figure 1 illustrates how the depth of cracking in rubber (A&WMA), through its technical meetings and publications, strips from increased ozone production formation led to the has made large contributions to this evolution (Christy, 1960; understanding that ozone is limited by both hydrocarbon Englund, 1979; Watson and Blumenthal, 1998). The 2017 and nitrogen oxide emissions. Dustfall buckets were used to Critical Review (Hidy et al., 2017) delineates more than 100 collect large particles that would deposit close to a source for years of progress on this topic, draws conclusions about the subsequent weighing (Chapman et al., 1955), and candles effectiveness of measurement systems on policies, and looks coated with lead peroxide were distributed to react with sulfur to the future. The full-length review appears in the June 2017 dioxide that would be quantified as PbSO4 by laboratory issue of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association analyses (Keagy et al., 1961). Solutions were developed that (JA&WMA). 1 A brief summary appears below. ( Editor's Note: would change color when pollutant-laden air was bubbled All references herein can be found in the list of references through them (Bromberg et al., 1974; Cherniack and Bryan, included at the end of this summary.) 1965), thereby allowing light absorption to be measured at selected wavelengths that could be related to both pollutant Air quality was first detected by the presence of smoke, odors chemistry and its concentration. Elaborate, automated gas in contaminated air, and immediate respiratory effects, such collection devices were developed and deployed to create as coughing and wheezing. These sensory experiences were an initial data base of pollutant concentrations (Wilson, usually associated with solid, liquid, and gaseous fuel com - 1954). Katz (1980) summarized many of these approaches bustion products (Brimblecombe, 1976,1978; Brimblecombe that were codified by the Intersociety Committee (Lodge, and Bowler, 1992; Davidson, 1979). The visual observation 1989) led by A&WMA members.
Figure 1. Excerpt from Haagen-Smit and Fox (1954, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00966665.1954.10467649) that related the depth of cracks in a rubber strip to ozone formation in a flask illuminated with ultraviolet irradiation. It was known that an oxidizing atmosphere would degrade rubber, but quantification of these oxidants, the main one being ozone, was uncertain. In this first “smog chamber” experiment, Haagen-Smit demonstrated that increasing nitrogen oxides beyond a certain concentration reduced the depth of the rubber cracks, indicating oxidant reduction. Similar tests were done with different amounts of hydrocarbons (HC, of which 3-Methylheptane is an example) for fixed nitrogen oxides values, demonstrating the now well-accepted notion that both nitrogen oxides and HC emissions must be addressed to reduce ozone levels.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 A Summary of the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review
Suspended particulate matter (PM) presented a greater criteria pollutants may also be measured to elucidate atmos - challenge than gases owing to its large range of particle sizes, pheric chemical processes relevant to emission changes. chemical compositions, and concentrations. Investigators recognized that particle fallout buckets were not capturing Early measurements were obtained from open laboratory particles effectively, so filter-based sampling was introduced windows to roof tops. Current practice uses environmentally- (Blasewitz and Judson, 1955). This first involved adapting a controlled enclosures with access to rooftops. Stations are canister vacuum cleaner (see Figure 2) to collect PM resulting located in open areas free of surrounding obstacles where from atomic testing. Since then, filter-based and in situ PM electric power is available. Gas sampling is conducted at instrumentation have evolved to better elucidate aerosol designated heights of a few meters above ground. PM properties (Biswas and Wu, 2005; Chow, 1995; Chow et al., sampling takes place either combined with gas sampling, or 2008; Forrest and Newmann, 1973; Lamb et al., 1980; Watson on the roof of the station. Stations often include meteorological et al., 1995; Watson, 2002; Wexler and Johnston, 2008). data. Contemporaneous gas measurements are hourly and sequential with calibrations and audits done by trained tech - Acquisition of accurate and precise air quality measurements nicians. Particle monitoring has relied on sampling using supported the designation of National Ambient Air Quality filters and laboratory-based gravimetric mass concentration Standards (NAAQS) in the U.S. Clean Air Act and its amend - determination, with recent additions of filter tape samplers ments (Bachmann, 2007; Chow et al., 2007). These pollutants for continuous hourly averages. Ambient observations are include, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides as nitrogen dioxide, complemented with measurements that determine dry and carbon monoxide, ozone, PM, and airborne lead. Criteria wet deposition to address welfare or “secondary” ambient pollutants are measured at hundreds of locations to: 1) standards for criteria pollutants specified in the Clean Air Act. determine NAAQS compliance and develop control measures where needed; 2) develop and apply air quality models to Ground-based monitoring has been supplemented with formulate and justify controls; and 3) track long-term trends experiments using aircraft and towers to quantify vertical to demonstrate the effectiveness of the control measures. These pollutant distributions. These have produced episodic data measurements are prescriptive in nature with requirements that have improved the capabilities of models to address links for reference standards and procedures. Specialized, non- between surface conditions and the troposphere as a whole.
Figure 2. The original high-volume particulate matter sample similar to that of Harris and Levine (1953, http://www. tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00966665.1953.10467584) was created to quantify radioactivity associated with atmospheric nuclear testing and was later adapted to sample total suspended particulates. The pleated filter was inserted after the nozzle (shown detached) and before the Electrolux canister vacuum cleaner blower.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 A Summary of the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review
Space-based remote sensing (Hidy et al., 2009; Hoff and pollution (e.g., urban-population centers) so that uniformity in Christopher, 2009; Randerson, 1968) has added to the U.S. geographical coverage is lacking. Attempts to provide portfolio of long-term large spatial scale observations for more uniform coverage have relied on special programs or nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. Remote shorter-term studies designed with less concern for environ - sensors provide optical depth values related to the atmos - mental risk characterization. pheric PM column. After creation of measurement networks and a portfolio of PM size fractions and determination of chemical species such instrumentation and operating procedures, the final step in as sulfate, nitrate, and black and organic carbon have added the measurement system involves data management and to knowledge of aerometric processes. Recognition of the dissemination. The contemporary framework provides for multi-spatial and temporal scales of atmospheric processes, and verification of the data quality and establishes a system for the consequent variability in human and ecosystem exposure public access and use of the data not only for regulatory pur - has influenced the requirements for network design or oper - poses but for applications to risk characterization and atmos - ations. Prioritization for measurements favors areas of intense pheric process studies. Criteria for effective data management
Attend the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review Presentation
Air Quality Measurements—From Rubber Bands to Tapping the Rainbow Presented by Dr. George M. Hidy
Tuesday, June 6 • 9:00 – 11:45 a.m. Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom
With a special tribute to the life’s work of Dr. Peter K. Mueller
Following the review presentation, a panel of invited experts will critique the presentation and offer their own views on the topic. This year’s invited discussants are:
Sara Head, Yorke Engineering Eric Stevenson, Bay Area Air Quality Management District Ralph Morris, Ramboll Environ Inc. John Watson , Desert Research Institute
Join the Discussion Comments also will be solicited from the floor and from written submissions to the Critical Review Committee Chair. The Chair will then synthesize these points into a Discussion Paper that will be published in the October 2017 issue of JA&WMA . Comments should be submitted in writing to Dr. Michael T. Kleinman, Critical Review Committee Chair, at [email protected] by no later than July 31, 2017. The full-length review will be published in the June 2017 issue of JA&WMA .
Get Involved Get involved with the Critical Review Committee and help further our scientific understand by attending the Annual Meeting of the Critical Review Committee on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 3:00–4:00 p.m. Room: 329.
2017 Critical Review Committee Michael Kleinman, Chair Patricia Brush Samuel Altshuler, Vice Chair Prakash Doraiswamy George Hidy, Past Chair (2009–2012) Stanley Hayes Judith Chow, Past Chair (2001–2008) Naresh Kumar John Watson, Past Chair (1994–2000) Mark McMillan Christina Akly Eric Stevenson John Bachmann
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 A Summary of the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review
and access are specified by the National Research Council convince sponsors that new, comprehensive observations are (NRC, 2007). The advent of electronic data processing and essential for the sciences and regulation as pollutants approach the personal computer has advanced data management and a background level in the air. Measurement sciences are dissemination. Accessibility to validated air quality data (CIRA, advancing with new solid state sensors for gases, and more 2017; U.S.EPA, 2017) has permitted an explosion in meas - elaborate and reliable sensors for particle characterization urement-related analysis and interpretation across the world. (Dye et al., 2014; Hagler et al., 2014; Kaufman et al., 2014b, Unfortunately, large bodies of historic data have been lost a; Kilaru, 2014; Long et al., 2014; Preuss and French, 2014; from multi-million dollar experiments since the 1970s as a White et al., 2012; Williams, 2014; Williams et al., 2014). result of inadequate institutional planning and commitments These advances will be adapted to exposure monitoring, at to save such data in accessible and readable forms. least for high risk populations, to complement fixed site observations. These improvements combined with improved The future of air quality measurements depends on resources communication methods will enable broader access and use available to these programs and the ability of researchers to of data for experts as well as the lay community.
About the Authors
G.M. Hidy P.K. Mueller S.L. Altshuler J.C. Chow J.G. Watson
A&WMA is especially fortunate to have five long-term members of its Critical Review Committee as authors of this Review. These contributors have a combined experience of more than 200 years in air quality measurements, modeling, and emission reduction strategy development. This is the third Critical Review led by Dr. George M. Hidy, who also authored the 1984 and 2010 Reviews. Dr. Hidy is a long-term A&WMA member, a former JA&WMA co-editor, and a pioneer in early aerosol charac - terization studies in southern California and the eastern United States. The Review is informed by Dr. Peter K. Mueller, A&WMA’s longest continuous member (65 years) and another pioneer in air quality measurements. Dr. Mueller’s experience extends from the early days of impingers and color-changing paper to the automated systems in place today, beginning with his service at California’s Air & Industrial Hygiene Laboratory in the 1950s.
Drs. Hidy’s and Mueller’s careers span the entire development of modern air quality measurement science. The importance of measurements for policy decisions benefits from the experience of Mr. Samuel L. Altshuler, who spent a career on pollution issues at Pacific Gas and Electric Company in California and served 15 years on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s Advisory Council. Dr. Judith Chow is a measurement expert who authored the 1995 Critical Review on this topic and provided several decades of innovation related to particulate matter sampling and analysis. Finally, Dr. John G. Watson, who has been a continuous Critical Review Committee member since 1982, and authored the 2002 Critical Review, identifies many of the important contributions made to measurement science by A&WMA members through JA&WMA , specialty conferences, and the annual meeting and exhibition. em
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 A Summary of the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review
References 1. Hidy, G.M.; Mueller, P.K.; Altshuler, S.L.; Chow, J.C.; and Watson, J.G. 2017 Critical Review: Air quality measurements—From rubber bands to tapping the rainbow; J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc. 2017 , 67 (6); 637–668; DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2017.1308890.
G. M. Hidy et al. A Summary of the 47th Annual A&WMA Critical Review Bachmann, J.D. 2007. Will the circle be unbroken: A history of the US national ambient air quality standards-2007 Critical Review. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 57:652-697. Biswas, P. and Wu, C.Y. 2005. 2005 Critical Review: Nanoparticles and the environment. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 55:708-746. Blasewitz, A.G. and Judson, B.F. 1955. Filtration of radioactive aerosols by glass fibers. Air Repair, 4:223-229. doi:10.1080/00966665.1955.10467674. Brimblecombe, P. 1976. Attitudes and responses towards air pollution in medieval England. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 26:941-945. Brimblecombe, P. 1978. Air pollution in industrializing England. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 28:115-118. Brimblecombe, P. and Bowler, C. 1992. The history of air pollution in York, England. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 42:1562-1566. Bromberg, S.M., Akland, G.G. and Puzak, J.C. 1974. Survey of laboratory performance. Analysis of simulated ambient SO2 bubbler samples. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 24:1073-1076. Chapman, H.M., Bradley, B.A., Chass, R.L., Cralley, L.J., Gruber, C.W., Hall, S.R., Hammond, J.W., Johnson, H.C., Linsky, B., Peterson, A., Radcliffe, J.C., Smith, J.H. and Wheeler, E.P. 1955. Recommended standard method for continuing dustfall survey (APM 1-a). J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 5:176-180. doi:10.1080/00966665.1955.10469277. Cherniack, I. and Bryan, R.J. 1965. A comparison study of various types of ozone and oxidant detectors which are used for atmospheric air sampling. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 15:351-354. doi:doi: 10.1080/00022470.1965.10468391. Chow, J.C. 1995. Critical review: Measurement methods to determine compliance with ambient air quality standards for suspended particles. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 45:320-382. Chow, J.C., Watson, J.G., Feldman, H.J., Nolan, J., Wallerstein, B.R., Hidy, G.M., Lioy, P.J., McKee, H.C., Mobley, J.D., Bauges, K. and Bachmann, J.D. 2007. 2007 Critical review discussion - Will the circle be unbroken: A history of the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 57:1151-1163. Chow, J.C., Doraiswamy, P., Watson, J.G., Chen, L.-W.A., Ho, S.S.H. and Sodeman, D.A. 2008. Advances in integrated and continuous measurements for particle mass and chemical composition. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 58:141-163. Christy, W.G. 1960. History of the air pollution control association. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 10:126-174. doi:10.1080/00022470.1960.10467911. CIRA 2017. Federal Land Manager Environmental Database (FED). Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. http://views.cira.colostate.edu/fed/ (Accessed March 1, 2017) Davidson, C.I. 1979. Air pollution in Pittsburgh: A historical perspective. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 29:1035-1041. Du, K., Rood, M.J., Kim, B.J., Kemme, M.R., Franek, B.J., Mattison, K. and Cook, J. 2007. Field evaluation of digital optical method to quantify the visual opacity of plumes. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 57:836-844 . Dye, T.S., Gordon, B.J. and Roberts, P.T. 2014. Air sensors: Quality data for the right application. EM, 22-27. Englund, H.M. 1979. Looking back. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 29:594-595. Forrest, J. and Newmann, L. 1973. Ambient air monitoring for sulphuric compounds - A critical review. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 23:761-768. Griebling, R.T. 1952. Maximilien Ringelmann - Man of mystery. Air Repair, 2:4-6. Haagen-Smit, A.J. and Fox, M.M. 1954. Photochemical ozone formation with hydrocarbons and automobile exhaust. Air Repair, 4:105-136. doi:doi: 10.1080/00966665.1954.10467649. Hagler, G.S.W., Solomon, P.A. and Hunt, S.W. 2014. New technology for low-cost real-time air monitoring. EM, 20:6-9. Halow, J.S. and Zeek, S.J. 1973. Predicting Ringelmann Number and optical characteristics of plumes. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 23:676-684. Harris, W.B. and Levine, H.D. 1953. Sampling and measurement of radioactive atmospheric pollution. Air Repair, 3:17-21. doi:10.1080/00966665.1953.10467584. Hidy, G.M., Brook, J.R., Chow, J.C., Green, M.C., Husar, R.B., Lee, C., Scheffe, R.D., Swanson, A. and Watson, J.G. 2009. Remote sensing of particulate pollution from space: Have we reached the promised land?: Critical review discussion. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 59:1130-1139. Hidy, G.M., Mueller, P.K., Altshuler, S.L., Chow, J.C. and Watson, J.G. 2017. Critical review: Air quality measurements—From rubber bands to tapping the rainbow. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 67:accepted. Hoff, R.M. and Christopher, S.A. 2009. Remote sensing of particulate pollution from space: Have we reached the promised land? A critical review. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 59:645-675. Katz, M. 1980. Critical review: Advances in the analysis of air contaminants. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 30:528-557. Kaufman, A., Brown, A., Barzyk, T. and Williams, R. 2014a. The citizen science toolbox: A one-stop resources for air sensor technology. EM, 20:48-49. Kaufman, A., Brown, A., Barzyk, T. and Williams, R. 2014b. A sensor world: Next generation air monitoring at EPA. EM, 20:20-24. Keagy, D.M., Stalker, W.W., Zimmer, C.E. and Dickerson, R.C. 1961. Sampling station and time requirements for urban air pollution survey, Part 1: Lead peroxide can - dles and dustfall collectors. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 11:270. Kilaru, V. 2014. Air sensors: Big data, big dreams. EM, 20:16-19. Lamb, S.I., Petrowski, C., Kaplan, I.R. and Simoneit, B.R.T. 1980. Organic compounds in urban atmospheres : A review of distribution, collection, and analysis. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 30:1098-1115. Lodge, J.P. 1989. Methods of Air Sampling and Analysis, 3rd ed. Chelsea, MI: Lewis Publishers, Inc. Long, R., Beaver, M., Williams, R., Kronmiller, K. and Garvey, S. 2014. Procedures and concepts of EPA's ongoing sensor evaluation efforts. EM, 20:8-15. McFarland, M.J., Rasmussen, S.L., Stone, D.A., Palmer, G.R. and Wander, J.D. 2006. Validation of the digital opacity compliance system under regulatory enforcement conditions. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 56:1260-1266. NRC 2007. Environmental data management at NOAA: Archiving stewardship and access. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Preuss, P. and French, R. 2014. A sensor world: Next-generation air monitoring at EPA. EM, 20:20-24. Randerson, D. 1968. A study of air pollution sources as viewed by Earth satellites. J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc., 18:249-253. U.S.EPA 2017. Interactive map of air quality monitors. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC. https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality- data/interactive-map-air-quality-monitors (Accessed March 1, 2017) Watson, J.G., Thurston, G.D., Frank, N.H., Lodge, J.P., Wiener, R.W., McElroy, F.F., Kleinman, M.T., Mueller, P.K., Schmidt, A.C., Lipfert, F.W., Thompson, R.J., Dasgupta, P.K., Marrack, D., Michaels, R.A., Moore, T., Penkala, S., Tombach, I.H., Vestman, L., Hauser, T. and Chow, J.C. 1995. Measurement methods to determine compliance with ambient air quality standards for suspended particles: Critical review discussion. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 45:666-684. Watson, J.G. and Blumenthal, D.L. 1998. A&WMA publications: Help make a good thing better. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 48:1022-1022. Watson, J.G. 2002. Visibility: Science and regulation - 2002 Critical Review. J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 52:628-713. Wexler, A.S. and Johnston, M.V. 2008. What have we learned from highly time-resolved measurements during EPA's Supersites program,and related studies? J. Air Waste Manage. Assoc., 58:303-319. White, R.M., Paprotny, I., Doering, F., Cascio, W.E., Solomon, P.A. and Gundel, L.A. 2012. Sensors and ‘Apps’ for community-based atmospheric monitoring. EM, 2012:36-40. Williams, R. 2014. Findings from the 2013 EPA air sensors workshop. EM, 20:5-5. Williams, R., Watkins, T. and Long, R. 2014. Low-cost sensor calibration options. EM, 20:10-15. Wilson, W.L. 1954. An automatic impinger for air sampling. Air Repair, 4:8-13. doi:10.1080/00966665. 1954.10467642.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 IT Insight by Jill Barson Gilbert
The station used to test blended biomass fuels and study combustion conditions at EPA's Multipollutant Control Research Facility in RTP, NC. Noteworthy Information Technologies of the Past 16 Years
IT Insight first appeared in February 2001. I envisioned this column as a way to bridge the worlds of environment, health, and safety (EH&S) and information technology (IT). As I write my final column, I can say that IT has been an interesting ride!
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 IT Insight by Jill Barson Gilbert
Solidly into the 21st Century, my typical day goes something slim profile, light weight, and long battery life make tablets a like this… I check my email and social networks on my iPad go-to tool for emails, social networking, and Web browsing. at the breakfast table. I check text messages and voicemails While tablets have taken the business world by storm, most on my smartphone. Then I go to the office, where I log on to still lack the ability to truly replace a full-featured laptop. my notebook computer and have a video Webcast—all without leaving the house. On my way to a business appointment, Connectivity and Communications I connect my iPhone to the car via Bluetooth to take French The most significant advances in this area include wireless lessons or listen to hundreds of digital songs. Alternately, I listen technologies, namely Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, that enable mobility, to satellite radio or digital HD radio (I don’t recall if my car has and standardized data and power technologies such as USB, a CD slot). When I come home for the evening, I sit in the Lightning, and Thunderbolt. recliner and check emails and social networks again. Then I watch network TV shows, access video on demand through Wi-Fi my cable provider, or stream video through my smart TV. While In 2001, a local area network usually meant a hard-wired we take these technologies for granted, many are fairly recent. Ethernet with colorful cables that connected each computer This column takes a quick look at some of the more significant to more cables in the office walls and ceiling, which connected technologies since IT Insight first appeared in February 2001. to a computer server. This required us to be in the office, unless we traveled to a remote site, when we might be able Computers and Operating Systems to dial in using a telephone connection. Desktops and Laptops When I started this column 16 years ago, we “knowledge In 2017, wireless networks are the norm. Wi-Fi technology workers” used desktop or laptop computers on Windows replaces high-speed cabling with radio frequency (RF) signals, NT; businesses largely ignored Windows 2000 and Windows connecting devices within 20 m (66 ft). Where many Wi-Fi Millennium Edition (ME) and waited until Windows XP became networks have security measures like passwords, both business available in late 2001. This was Microsoft’s most popular and personal networks can be vulnerable to attack—think operating system ever, and many businesses continued to about the last time your business changed its Wi-Fi password. use XP after Microsoft stopped supporting it more than 12 years later. Bluetooth Bluetooth is another RF technology, connecting devices Today, my “go to” laptop is a MacBook Pro, and my backup within a few feet. It enables mobility by pairing devices like is a Windows 10 touchscreen laptop. Web-enabled apps and smartphones or laptops wirelessly with headphones or speakers. the ability to create files in universally readable formats provide Developed by Ericsson in Sweden, this technology is named EH&S managers and other knowledge workers a wide choice for Harald Bluetooth, a 10th Century Danish King who united of computers and operating systems. Of course, choice opens warring factions in what are today Denmark, Norway, and a Pandora’s Box, with IT departments challenged to support Sweden. The Bluetooth logo combines Old Danish runes and ensure security of a variety of company-issued and for “H” and “B.” personal devices and networks. USB, Lightning, and Thunderbolt Data Storage Not too long ago, each input and output device—mice, key - Software today is more complex than it was 16 years ago, boards, displays, and printers—had its own, proprietary cable. resulting in larger data files and an exponential increase in The Universal Serial Bus (USB) set the new standard for cables; the amount of data stored. Fortunately, data storage technology USB 2.0 for high-speed connections in 2001, and USB 3.0 for has kept pace, and today we have a choice of storage methods . super-speed connections in 2008. Standard, micro- and mini- My first PC had a whopping 20 MB of disk space (yes, you USB cables allow connection with devices like smartphones read that correctly); today, my MacBook Pro and Lenovo and cameras that require a smaller data transfer port. laptop have 512 GB each. Apple developed the Lightning connector, a small computer While many laptops still have hard disk drives with moving bus and power connector, in 2012. This new, 8-pin connector parts, the trend is toward solid state drives, with no moving is tiny, compared to the 30-pin dock connector it replaced, parts, faster access to data, and less heat produced. Many and can be inserted face up or face down. Apple and Intel large enterprises still use servers and magnetic tape backup, developed the Thunderbolt connector, used to connect pe - and many others use Cloud storage and backup. ripherals to a computer. Versions 1 and 2 used a mini display port connector; version 3 uses an interchangeable USB Type-C Smartphones and Tablets connector. Thunderbolt is a serial connector that also supplies It is hard to believe that smartphones became commercially DC power. available only 10 years ago. Before then, “feature phones”— some with QWERTY keyboards—and Blackberrys were stan - The Internet dard for business and personal use. What would we do without the Internet, a massive network of networks, an infrastructure that connects millions of computers? Tablets are even newer, with the iPad’s debut in 2010. Their The Internet provides the framework for the World Wide Web
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 IT Insight by Jill Barson Gilbert
(or Web), an information-sharing model. Inventor Tim Berners- device to receive and display the information, whether it be Lee was honored in April 2017 with the $1-million Turing music, video, or podcast. Streaming services like Amazon Award for his work inventing the Web. Video, Apple Music, Spotify, Hulu, and Netflix charge a monthly subscription fee; YouTube and Pandora offer free The Internet also enables several business-critical and social online streaming. technologies: Looking Ahead • Cloud computing We will continue to use information technologies to add • Cloud data storage business value, though we do not know how we will manage • Social networks or consume information technologies 5, 10, or 20 years from • Media streaming now. All we know is that it will be different.
Cloud Computing Here are a few things I would like to see: Cloud computing uses a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather • A better relationship between users and technology, than a local server or a personal computer. In medium and resulting in EH&S software that is easier to implement large enterprises, Cloud computing services provided by and easier to adopt; Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, and others displaces the • Improvements in IT security, including the death of older client—server software model. passwords; • More “heads up,” face-to-face social interaction; less Cloud Data Storage “heads down” interaction with smartphones; and Online data storage in the Cloud (Internet) allows data to be • IT laws and ethics catching up with technology. stored in and accessed from multiple distributed and connected resources. Major Web services providers above also provide Closing data storage for enterprises; DropBox, Google Drive, Microsoft In 2000, I pitched an idea for IT Insight to the EM editorial OneDrive, and iCloud offer personal Cloud storage solutions. staff. The column would help bridge the worlds of environment, health, and safety (EH&S) and information technology (IT), Social Networks addressing emerging technologies and their applicability to Social networks represent relationships and flows among the EH&S market, for instance: people, groups, organizations, computers or other information/ knowledge processing entities. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn • how EH&S vendors use emerging technologies in their are common marketing tools, allowing businesses to reach products and services; new audiences. • how end users leverage new technology and EH&S applications; Media Streaming • the benefits of data integration between and among Imagine holding your entire record and movie collection in systems; and your hand… you can, with media streaming. Faster Internet • the business benefits of IT. speeds and high-powered laptops, tablets, and smartphones have enabled streaming to displace vinyl records, magnetic I trust that my columns stayed close to this charter, and that it tapes, CDs, DVDs, and Blue-Ray discs. Data transfers as a has been as interesting for you to read as it has been for me steady and continuous stream, and all the user needs is a to research and write. Thanks for reading IT Insight ! em
Sources www.webopedia.com https://en.wikipedia.org/ https://commons.wikimedia.org/ www.computerhope.com
Jill Barson Gilbert is a thought leader on environment, health, and safety (EH&S) and sustainability software. Her perspective reflects more than 30 years of EH&S, information management, and business experience. As President, CEO, and founder of Lexicon Systems, LLC, she advises senior management in industrial and software companies, venture capital, and consulting firms. She is a Board Member of the IPEP Foundation and a past Vice President and Director of A&WMA.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 PM File by David Elam
The Power of Why How to better engage team members and leverage their experience by providing key background information on a project.
In a previous column, we examined the “five whys” method problem. The model uses five iterations to drill down to the to determine the root cause of a problem with the goal of problem; however, additional or fewer iterations may be developing a corrective action plan. 1 The first step in the appropriate for some problems. Once the root cause is iden - process is to collect the facts and then define the problem. Once tified, corrective actions are established and implemented. the problem is defined, the investigator, using an iterative process, asks why the problem occurred, focusing on operations, Although the process is useful in determining why a problem processes, behaviors, and policies. The goal is to identify the occurred and how best to fix it, the same iterative approach fundamental system or process that failed and caused the can be used to better understand why we are undertaking a
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 PM File by David Elam
project and what we need to do to improve the prospects for to optimize a process so that the facility can remain in opera - project success. We’ve explored the use of project instructions tion. Without this information, our project team is operating in a past column, 2 outlining the importance of defining project at disadvantage and we may fail to achieve the underlying objectives, project team organization, schedule and budget, project objectives. communication channels and authorities, and deliverable requirements; however, it is easy to assume that a brief Although we might expect our team to use standard operating description of project objectives is sufficient to explain why procedures and “follow the method” to perform their work, the project is being undertaken. Unfortunately, this brief we can better engage team members and leverage their description of project objectives can be inadequate, leaving experience by providing them this important background team members to complete project tasks based on their information. For example, the measurement team may suggest assumptions of why the work is being performed. modifications to sampling or analytical procedures to overcome past measurement problems, identify additional quality As an example, consider an emission testing or wastewater control procedures or documentation to substantiate empirical sampling project. These programs may be conducted for a emission factors, or share knowledge gained from similar number of reasons: projects that can guide improved process operations.
• Compliance Demonstration – An owner is conducting At a recent conference, a presenter described an experiment the measurement program to demonstrate that emissions that the company had undertaken to determine the effects or discharges comply with a permit limit. of different sample recovery operations. All of the recovery • Engineering, Permitting, Inventory, or Litigation Support operations were acceptable within the framework of the test – An owner wants to collect measurement data that supports method, but the company had established preferred practices pollution control equipment design, preparation of a permit and wanted to validate them. The study was performed by application, completion of an environmental release inven - junior staff under the direction of a principal. The principal tory or information collection request, or substantiate a explained to junior staff that the experiments would allow the legal claim or defense. firm to develop best practices. Once the study was completed, • Process Optimization – An owner may undertake the study results were shared with the staff. As a result, the measurement programs to quantify emissions or discharges firm established a collection of best practices, some of which relative to energy usage, feedstock consumption, and pro - were different from practices that the firm had employed duction under different process operating conditions with before the study. Staff readily adopted the new practices the goal of improving yield, reducing cost, or optimizing because they understood why the study had been under - pollution control equipment performance. taken and why the new practices improved data quality.
As project manager, we gain important background information Without fully understanding why a project is being undertaken, during project scoping that affords us a perspective that may the engagement, knowledge, and creativity of the project be lost when we provide an abbreviated description of the team can be lost, resulting in a completed project that fails project objectives to our project team. For example, we may to achieve underlying objectives. As project managers, it is learn during scoping discussions that previous compliance our duty to thoroughly understand why the project is being testing attempts had failed when using standard test procedures. undertaken and then share that information with team mem - Similarly, we may learn that measurement data are being bers. If we apply the five whys approach at the project outset collected as an alternative to standard emission factors for and then share the resulting information with the project team, use in toxic release inventory reporting because the owner we will be less likely to use the five whys approach to investigate believes that the information will put the facility below a project failures. em reporting threshold. Or we may learn that the owner wants
David L. Elam, Jr., CIH, CMQ/OE, PMP, is a consultant with TRC. E-mail: [email protected] .
References 1. PM File: The Five Whys: Getting to the Root of the Problem, EM March 2015, 38-39. 2. PM File: Simple Communication Tools Drive Project Success, EM April 2007, 30-31.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 In Memoriam
Richard (Rick) W. Sprott
A&WMA Fellow and Past-President Richard (Rick) W. and progressive corporations in their development of energy Sprott passed away on February 14, 2017, at Lovelace and climate policy, strategies, and practices. Hospital in Albuquerque, NM. An A&WMA member since 1994, he served as Great Basin Sprott received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Grinnell Chapter Board member (1996–2008), Vice Chair (1997), and College and a master’s degree in environmental management Chair (1998), and as A&WMA President in 2009. He also from Duke University. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he chaired the 1999 A&WMA Compliance Assurance Monitor - joined the Utah Division of Air Quality, Salt Lake City as an ing Workshop. Sprott was made an A&WMA Fellow in 2010. environmental scientist in 1994, where he wrote and reviewed Title V operating permits and New Source Review approval In addition to A&WMA Fellow Membership, he received several orders. In 1998, he was promoted to Permitting Branch awards throughout his career, including an NSF Traineeship, Manager, followed by Planning Branch Manager. University of New Hampshire (1968–1971); the Atmospheric Sciences Academic Achievement Award from the Central NC In 2000, he became Director of the Utah Division of Air Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (1994); and Quality, Salt Lake City, where he directed more than 100 2010 Volunteer of the Year from Western Resource Advocates. employees that implemented the Utah Air Conservation Act He was also a member of the Environmental Law Institute. and U.S. Clean Air Act and oversaw an annual operating budget of $10 million. Sprott moved from Utah to the Village of Angel Fire, New Mexico, with his wife Cindy about 15 years ago, where they In 2007, he became Executive Director of the Utah Depart - enjoyed snowboarding, golf, and trail riding. He was an active ment of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake City, where he was member of the local community: a board member for the responsible for more than 400 employees, and managed an National Veterans Wellness and Healing Center, a volunteer annual budget of $45 million. Sprott retired as Executive at Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park, and chair of the Director in December 2008. The following year, he established Village of Angel Fire’s Wildfire Protection and Sustainability Bear Claw Environmental Consulting, to assist governments Committees. em
In Next Month’s Issue…
EPA’s New Guideline on Air Quality Models In 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized long-awaited revisions to the Guideline on Air Quality Models (“Appendix W”). This is the first update to Appendix W since 2005 and incorporates guidance on several new topics affecting regulatory modeling applications, including secondary formation of PM 2.5 and ozone. This issue will provide background and history on Appendix W, discussion of the new topics added through this rulemaking, and case studies concerning implementation of the new guidance.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 IPEP Quarterly by Diana Kobus, IPEP Executive Director
Bridging Environment, Energy, and Health
The term “environmental professional” can mean a lot of IPEP’s partnership with the American Board of Industrial very different things. Our credentialed practitioners perform Hygiene is a reflection of the fact that protecting human health jobs ranging from wetland scientist to environmental engineer means protecting environmental health, and that protecting to university instructor, and they may work for small firms, environmental health inherently includes protecting human government agencies, multinational corporations, or health. Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs) keep workers and universities. their families healthy and safe, and Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEPs) and Environmental Professionals In- Despite the many different sectors and fields of study in which Training (EPIs) work in a myriad of capacities to protect the these individuals specialize, understanding the relationships health and integrity of the environment. among environment, energy, and health are fundamental to the IPEP Exam Bodies of Knowledge and the work our As a proud Bronze sponsor of the 110th A&WMA Annual credentialed practitioners perform on a daily basis. As the Conference & Exhibition, IPEP recognizes the importance of world moves closer toward an ideal of scientific, social, and the work environmental professionals perform every day, and economic balance between energy and environmental our goal continues to be to offer recognition of your educa - health, environmental professionals are on the front lines of tional, ethical, and practice standards through our rigorous the struggle to protect human health everyday, whether it is certification process. monitoring streams for pollutants, striving to reduce carbon emissions in everyday operations, or checking the safety of To find out more about applying for IPEP’s credentials, energy infrastructure. visit ipep.org.
www.ipep.org Accredited by www.cesb.org
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 As the country , and the world, struggles to balance energy , environment and health, the Air and W aste Management Association (A&WMA) will m—ee tJ inu Hnaertf o2rd5, -C2o8n,n e2c0tic1ut8 f o•r tHhea firrstft otimred i,n CNeown Enngelacntdi cinu t 43 years.
SIn 1A 66V2, HEar tfTordH sigEned Dits CA haTrteEr frS om the King of England under the Charter Oak, which has become a symbol of Connecticut. During the Continental Congress, Connecticut proposed the compromise that allowed the big states and the small states to accept the Constitution and thus became the Constitution State. This conference will strive to develop new understandings of the compromise required to maintain balance between energy , environment and health.
Join us in Hartford to exchange information that will help us work together to develop the charter for the future of the environmental industry . Last Stop
This Month in History (and other fun facts)
Did You Know?
The month of June is named for Juno, the Roman queen of the gods. Spanish: En Junio June includes the Summer Solstice (June 21), the day with the Italian: Giugno longest daylight of the year. June is often considered a “summer French: Juin month,” whereas September is not; this is despite the fact that September Polish: Czerwiec has twice as many summer days as June. Latin: Junius
June’s gem is pearl, and its flower is honeysuckle.
This Month in History
June 9, 1650: The Harvard Corporation, one of the June 19, 1905: The first nickelodeon two administrative boards of Harvard University, was theater opened in Pittsburgh, PA. established. It was the first legal corporation in the Americas.
June 11, 2002: Antonio Meucci was acknowledged as the first inventor of the telephone by the U.S. Congress. His 1871 patent was not as detailed as Alexander Graham June 15, 1752: Benjamin Franklin proved that Bell’s 1876 patent. lightning is electricity by flying a kite with a metal key tied to the string.
June 22, 2009: Eastman Kodak Company announced that it would discontinue sales of the June 26, 1870: So much for Christmas in July … Kodachrome Color Film. Christmas was officially declared a federal holiday in the United States.
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 Staff and Contributors
A&WMA Headquarters Steven P. Frysinger, Ph.D. Stephanie M. Glyptis James Madison University Executive Director Term Ends: 2018 Air & Waste Management Association Keith Gaydosh One Gateway Center, 3rd Floor Affinity Consultants 420 Fort Duquesne Blvd. Term Ends: 2018 Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1435 1-412-232-3444; 412-232-3450 (fax) C. Arthur Gray, III [email protected] Amazon.com Inc. www.awma.org Term Ends: 2019 Advertising Mingming Lu Jeff Schurman University of Cincinnati 1-412-904-6003 Term Ends: 2019 [email protected] Dan L. Mueller, P.E. Editorial Environmental Defense Fund Term Ends: 2017 Lisa Bucher Managing Editor Brian Noel, P.E. 1-412-904-6023 Trinity Consultants [email protected] Term Ends: 2017 Editorial Advisory Committee Blair Norris John D. Kinsman, Chair Ashland Inc. Edison Electric Institute Term Ends: 2017 Term Ends: 2019 Teresa Raine John D. Bachmann ERM Vision Air Consulting Term Ends: 2017 Term Ends: 2017 Anthony J. Sadar, CCM Robert Basl Allegheny County Health Department EHS Technology Group Term Ends: 2018 Term Ends: 2019 Golam Sarwar Leiran Biton U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Term Ends: 2019 Term Ends: 2019 Anthony J. Schroeder, CCM, CM Gary Bramble, P.E. Trinity Consultants AES Term Ends: 2019 Term Ends: 2017 Susan S.G. Wierman Prakash Doraiswamy, Ph.D. Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association RTI International Term Ends: 2018 Term Ends: 2017 James J. Winebrake, Ph.D. Ali Farnoud Rochester Institute of Technology Ramboll Environ Term Ends: 2018 Term Ends: 2017
Layout and Design: Clay Communications, 1.412.704.7897
EM , a publication of the Air & Waste Management Association, is published monthly with editorial and executive offices at One Gateway Center, 3rd Floor, 420 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15222-1435, USA. ©2017 Air & Waste Management Asso - ciation (www.awma.org). All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced, redistributed, or translated in any form without prior written permission of the Editor. A&WMA assumes no responsibility for statements and opinions advanced by contributors to this publication. Views expressed in editorials are those of the author and do not necessarily represent an official position of the Association. A&WMA does not endorse any company, product, or service appearing in third-party advertising.
EM Magazine (Online) ISSN 2470-4741 » EM Magazine (Print) ISSN 1088-9981
em • The Magazine for Environmental Managers • A&WMA • June 2017 The Magazine for Environmental Managers