Measuring Air Pollution : NACAA Positions| Related Documents| Related Links

Air pollution can be directly measured as it is emitted by a source (e.g., grams/second) or in the atmosphere as a concentration (e.g., micrograms/m3). Ambient air monitoring data is used to determine air quality, establish the extent of air pollution problems, assess whether established standards are being met, and characterize the potential human health risk in an area. Alternatively, air pollution concentrations can be simulated using computer models, and then validated using data collected from direct measurements at selected monitors or sources. Air pollution data and models are used together to examine the impacts of control strategies on the ambient air.

NACAA Positions

• NACAA Comments on Emissions Factors Program Improvements Announced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (December 14, 2009)
  NACAA submitted comments on EPA’s Announced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Emissions Factors Program Improvements, which was published in the Federal Register on October 14, 2009. NACAA’s comments provided input on each of 14 specific questions EPA had included in the notice, as well as several general points. Most importantly, NACAA expressed concern that the existing Emissions Reporting Tool is not based on current technology and would not be an effective platform on which to base a national emission factor program. NACAA recommended that EPA instead employ a web-enabled technology platform. Additionally, NACAA recommended that EPA use a system that provides state and local agencies with access to raw emissions data. Since data quality is a critical component of an effective emissions inventory program, the existing system, which relies on AP-42 and WebFIRE and lacks quantitative measures to assess data quality, should be improved upon. NACAA also noted that emission factors are used for many purposes and that determinations about the appropriateness of using them should be evaluated in the context in which they are applied and decided upon by state and local agencies on a case-by-case basis.
• Change is in the Air: NACAA Recommendations to the New Administration on Improving Our Nation’s Clean Air Program (December 16, 2008)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Comments on EPA Exceptional Events Proposal (May 25, 2006)
  
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Air Quality Modeling :  NACAA Positions| Related Documents| Related Links

As an alternative to or in conjunction with direct monitoring, computer models are often used to predict the levels of pollutants emitted from various types of sources, and how these emissions eventually impact ambient air quality over time. The models themselves vary in terms of sophistication, accuracy and precision of their outputs. Different models are used to estimate emission rates, source activity levels, and ambient air quality impacts. For example, models are available for estimating emissions from mobile and stationary sources, predicting meteorological factors and the likely photochemical and dispersion characteristics of air pollution, as well as predicting traffic patterns and congestion. In addition, emissions models and preprocessors can be used to provide input data for air quality models that need emissions based on chemical species, and broken down into very fine temporal (e.g., grams/second) and spatial (1 km x 1 km grid) resolution.

NACAA Positions

• STAPPA/ALAPCO Comments on NARSTO' s Draft Emissions Inventory Assessment (November 9, 2004)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Comments on Proposed Changes to Consolidated Emissions Reporting Requirements (CERR) (July 26, 2004)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Letter to EPA on Emissions Factors Revisions Project (April 7, 2004)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Letter on EPA's proposed revisions to AP-42 Section 11.19.2 on Crushed Stone Processing and Mineral Processing (December 22, 2003)
  
• Revised Comments on CERR (September 12, 2000)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO's Comments on EPA's 'Guideline on Air Quality Models' (August 21, 2000)
  
• STAPPA and ALAPCO’s Comments on Proposed Consolidated Emissions Reporting Rule (July 7, 2000)
  
• STAPPA and ALAPCO Comments on EPA' s Rule Effectiveness Policy (June 12, 2000)
  

Related Documents

• Overview of the NARSTO Emissions Inventory Assessment (September 20, 2005)
  
• EPA Guidance on Developing Mobile Source Emission Inventories for PM2.5 Nonattainment Areas (August 22, 2005)
  
• EPA's Presentations on MOVES 2004 - Roadmap (April 5, 2005)
  
• Looking Ahead: MOVES 2006 (April 5, 2005)
  
• MOVES I/M (April 5, 2005)
  
• EPA OTAQ's "MOVES 2004" (November 9, 2004)
  
• Summary of Emissions Factors Improvement Project Fact Finding Survey (July 26, 2004)
  
• EPA’s Response to STAPPA/ALAPCO's Letter on Emissions Factors Improvement Project (May 27, 2004)
  
• NAS Report: Air Quality Management in the United States (January 30, 2004)
  
• Speciate Database Update Workplan (January 7, 2004)
  
• AP-42 Fifth Edition (November 18, 2003)
  
• Draft Report on Process Classification Code (PCC) (November 5, 2003)
  
• National Crushed Stone Processing and Pulverized Mineral Association reports in support of AP-42 11.19.2 Crushed Stone (October 28, 2003)
  
• EPA Proposed Revision of Re-Entrained Road Dust Equation in AP-42 (September 25, 2003)
  
• Emissions Factors Improvement and Application Project (September 12, 2003)
  
• EPA's modeling documents in support of Clear Skies legislation (August 11, 2003)
  
• Presentation Comparing Clear Skies 2002 to Clear Skies 2003 and Other Federal Multi-Pollutant Bills (July 2003)
  
• Draft Emission Analysis Plan for MOVES GHG (January 7, 2003)
  
• EPA’s MOBILE6.2 Model (November 13, 2002)
  
• EPA’s Draft Design and Implementation Plan for Multi-scale Motor Vehicle & Equipment Emission System (MOVES)(October 21, 2002)
  
• EPA'S Consolidated Emissions Reporting Rule (CERR) (June 10, 2002)
  
• MOVES: A Comprehensive Mobile Source Emissions Model (June 2002)
  
• EPA's Proposed Electronic Reporting and Record-Keeping Requirements (January 15, 2002)
  
• EPA/STAPPA/ALAPCO Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) Survey Results (October 5, 2001)
  
• EPA's Consolidated Emissions Reporting Requirements HAPs Questionnaire (July 12, 2001)
  

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Monitoring :  NACAA Positions| Related Documents| Related Links

Air pollution monitoring activities are typically separated into two classifications: source monitoring and ambient air monitoring. Both source and ambient air measurements can be made directly using continuous measurement instrumentation or manual methods, or remotely using optical sensing systems. Source monitoring involves the measurement of emissions directly from a fixed or mobile emission source, typically at the point of exhaust, vent, stack or chimney. Stationary source data is used to determine whether established permit limits are being met, and as input to ozone and/or health risk prediction models. Major stationary sources may have continuous emissions monitors (CEMs) installed to report real-time emissions based on pre-established reporting cycles. Ambient air monitoring involves the measurement of specific pollutants present in an immediate surrounding atmosphere. Most major urban areas will operate several ambient air monitoring instruments, each dedicated to measuring specific target pollutants.

NACAA Positions

• NACAA Comments on EPA's Proposal to Revise the Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (February 4, 2010)
  
• NO2 NAAQS: Final NACAA Comments on EPA's NO2 NAAQS and Monitoring Proposal (September 14, 2009)
  
• NACAA Comment Letter for EPA Public Hearings on Proposed Revisions to Lead NAAQS (June 12, 2008)
  
• NACAA Submits Comments on EPA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on Revisions to the Lead NAAQS (January 16, 2008)
  
• NACAA’s Comments on EPA’s Proposal to Revise the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards—Attachment (October 9, 2007)
  
• NACAA’s Comments on EPA’s Proposal to Revise the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards—Letter (October 9, 2007)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Letter to EPA on Air Toxic Monitoring Cooperative Agreement Application (September 14, 2005)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Memo to EPA on Air Toxics Monitoring Grant Fund (January 24, 2005)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Memo to EPA on Air Toxics Monitoring Grant Fund (January 24, 2005)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Letter to EPA on Air Toxics Monitoring Fund Distribution ( October 4, 2004)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO letter to EPA on the Distribution of Section 103 Air Toxics Monitoring Funds (October 2, 2003)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Letter to EPA on PM2.5 Monitoring Grants (July 24, 2003)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Comments on EPA's AIRS Data Storage Proposal (April 13, 2001)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO's Comments on EPA's SO2 NAAQS Federal Register Notice (March 12, 2001)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Comments on EPA's Draft
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Clean Air Science Advisory Committee (CASAC) Recommendations (January 22, 2001)
  

Related Documents

• Materials from Monitoring Steering Committee Meeting in Vermont – Presentation by Dirk Felton, et al. on Sensible Lead Monitoring Alternatives to EPA’s Proposed Rule (June 19, 2008)
  
• Materials from Monitoring Steering Committee Meeting in Vermont – Presentation by Dirk Felton, et al. on Sensible Lead Monitoring Alternatives to EPA’s Proposed Rule (June 19, 2008)
  
• EPA Rule On Treating Air Quality Monitoring Data Affected by Exceptional Events (March 14, 2007)
  
• Materials from the Monitoring Steering Committee meetings in Chicago - The PAMS Presentation given by Charlie Pietarinen of New Jersey (November 15, 2005)
  
• Presentation on STN Monitoring Network Modification (August 2, 2005)
  
• EPA Needs to Fulfill Its Designated Responsibilities to Ensure Effective BioWatch Program (March 25, 2005 )
  
• EPA Inspector General's Report on Air Toxics Monitoring Progress (March 2, 2005)
  
• EPA's Inspector General Report on EPA' s PM2.5 Monitoring (February 11, 2005)
  
• Advances in Air Quality Monitoring: Improving Environmental Protection (June 2004)
  
• Summary of the St. Louis Community Air Project (April 23, 2004)
  
• Highlights from Supersites PI Meeting in Las Vegas, NV, February 25, 26, 2004 (April 23, 2004)
  
• Correlating Federal Reference Method and Continuous PM2.5 Monitors in the MARAMA Region (March 4, 2004
  
• Result of survey on Data Transfer and Management for Ambient Air Monitoring Programs (February 3, 2004)
  
• Summary of Survey on Data Transfer and Management for Ambient Air Monitoring Programs (February 3, 2004)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter (January 22, 2004)
  
• Draft Air Toxics Monitoring Strategy (January 16, 2004)
  
• Presentations from the Air Monitoring and Quality Assurance Workshop (January 16, 2004)
  
• EPA’s response to STAPPA and ALAPCO's October 2, 2003 Comments on the allocation of $10,000,000 to State and Tribal Assistance Grant funds for air toxics monitoring efforts (January 16, 2004)
  
• Draft Air Toxics Monitoring Strategy (January 16, 2004)
  
• EPA'S Ozone Fast-Track Report for 1-hour Ozone Standards from January to September 2003 (December 22, 2003)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter (November 7, 2003)
  
• National Air Toxics Monitoring Program -- Notice of Solicitation (September 4, 2003)
  
• Preliminary 8-hour 2003 Ozone Concentration Comparison to 2001 and 2002 (August 6, 2003)
  
• 'Particulate Matter Science for Policy Makers' (May 28, 2003)
  
• EPA Analysis for Clear Skies Legislation and Transport Rule, presented at the joint SAEWG/SAMWG meeting in Baltimore, MD (May 2, 2003)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter (April 21, 2003)
  
• Revised Draft Presentation on Revisions to the National Monitoring Strategy (November 5, 2002)
  
• EPA's Ozone Fast-Track Report for 8-hour Ozone Standards from January to September 2002 (October 10, 2002)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter (October 10, 2002)
  
• EPA's Ozone Fast-Track Report for 1-hour Ozone Standards from January to September 2002 (October 10, 2002)
  
• EPA’s National Ambient Air Monitoring Strategy (September 30, 2002)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter (June 11, 2002)
  
• EPA Memorandum on 'Fast Track' Data (June 11, 2002)
  
• EPA's Current Data Completeness Statistics for PM2.5 (May 9, 2002)
  
• EPA Memorandum in Support of the National Monitoring Strategy Goals (April 30, 2002)
  
• Updated Air Toxics Survey Information (April 30, 2002)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter (April 17, 2002)
  
• Batelle's Trends Straw Plan: Conceptual Framework for Network Design and Trends Estimation (April 2, 2002)
  
• EPA FY2002 State and Local Agency Grant Guidance and Allocation for the National Air Toxics Monitoring Pilot Program (March 1, 2002)
  
• EPA's Status of Speciated Sites Within the PM2.5 Monitoring Network as of January 2002 (January 15, 2002)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter (January 15, 2002)
  
• EPA Memorandum on Status of Speciated PM2.5 Monitoring Network (January 15, 2002)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO's Revised Air Toxics Monitoring Survey (December 21, 2001)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter - Special Edition (December 3, 2001)
  
• EPA's Draft National Monitoring Strategy Document (October 24, 2001)
  
• Air Toxics Monitoring Newsletter (October 11, 2001)
  
• STAPPA/ALAPCO Andersen Sampler Survey (April 26, 2001)
  
• Andersen Sampler Resource Guide (April 9, 2001)
  
• National Monitoring Steering Committee's Revised Protocol for National Network Assessments (April 4, 2001)
  
• Criteria Pollutants Work Group AIRS Survey (March 26, 2001)
  

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