# Presentation: 502569

## AQS Ambient Monitoring                  Topics

- AQS Conference
- August 20, 2008
- David Lutz

## Data Certification

- Requirement started with monitoring regulations promulgated in 1979
- a.  Only required certification of SLAMS/NAMS monitors
- b.  Certification was made with no review of air quality data or QA results

## Data Certification (continued)

- AQS came on line in 2002
- EPA urged through guidance the vertification of additional parameters other than SLAMS, NAMS, PAMS
- Started linking QA data with air monitoring data

## Data Certification (continued)

- Part 58 Regulations modified in 2006 that made changes to certification process
- Additional monitoring data for certification required
- a. PAMS data – O3, VOC, NO/NOx/NOy/NO2
- b. NH3, NH03, NMOC (if collected)
- c. SPM if FRM or FEM is used and meets QA requirements

## Data Certification (continued)

- d. Cannot call any required monitor an SPM, even if not an FRM-FEM
- e.  Continuous PM-2.5 monitors
- f. Filter based PM-2.5 speciation monitors
- g. NCore precursor gas monitors for CO, SO2, NO/NOx/NOy

## History of Data Certification 1979

- 1. Part CFR 58.26 Regulations of May 1979 required certification of all monitors designated SLAMS
- a. Data submitted July 1 for previous year
- b. Covered all sites designated as SLAMS
- c. Summary report as specified in Appendix F
- d. Note air pollution episode occurrences
- e. Senior air pollution control officer certifies the annual summary report is correct
- 2. Resulted in certification with essentially no review of air quality data or QA results
- 3.  Report stored but seldom used

## History of Data Certification 2002

-  AQS came on line February 2002
- EPA/OAQPS urged (but not required) through guidance certification of data other than SLAMS
- Started linking P & A data with air quality data
- Generally successful in achieving certification for additional monitoring types

## History of Data Certification 2006

- New amendments to 40 CFR 58 regulations were promulgated that made changes to certification process

## Requirements for 2007

- 1. Before
- a. All FRM/FEM NAAQS data (including O3, NO2, and CO data at PAMS sites)
- 2. After -additional monitoring data for certification
- a. PAMS data – O3, VOC, NO/NOx/NOy/NO2
- b. NH3, HNO3, and NMOC (if collected)
- c. Special Purpose Monitors - must be certified if FRM or FEM is used, and meets QA requirements
- d. Cannot call any required monitor an SPM, even if not an FRM-FEM

## Requirements for 2007 (continued)

- e. Continuous PM-2.5 monitors
- f.  Filter based PM-2.5 speciation samplers
- g. NCore precursor gas monitors for CO, SO2, NO/NOx/NOy
- h.  Any other parameters not SPM

## 3.  Different language for certification statement 

a. Must say that air quality and QA data are completely submitted to AQS

b. Must say that air quality data are accurate to the best of knowledge, with consideration of QA findings 

- a. Must say that air quality and QA data are completely submitted to AQS
- b. Must say that air quality data are accurate to the best of knowledge, with consideration of QA findings

- Requirements for 2007 (continued)

## 4. Summary of data required to be certified

a. Use AMP450 for CO, SO2, O3, NO2, PM-10, PM-2.5, Pb, TSP (select “Criteria”) riteria”)
b. Submit selection criteria 
c. Use AMP450NC for other pollutants (i.e., PM-2.5 continuous & speciation, met,VOC, etc) (select “All”)
d. Run retrievals within 1 week of certification letter

- a. Use AMP450 for CO, SO2, O3, NO2, PM-10, PM-2.5, Pb, TSP (select “Criteria”) riteria”)
- b. Submit selection criteria
- c. Use AMP450NC for other pollutants (i.e., PM-2.5 continuous & speciation, met,VOC, etc) (select “All”)
- d. Run retrievals within 1 week of certification letter

- Requirements for 2007 (continued)

## Requirements for 2007 (continued)

- 5. Summary report for P & A data
- a. Submit AMP255 report (or reports) which are now required
-  6.  Certification not required for:
- a.  Air toxics (other than VOC air toxics from PAMS, and toxics from PM-2.5 speciation samplers)
- b. IMPROVE monitors

## Who Must Certify Data

- 1.  State and local agencies
- 2.  Tribes
- a. If approval for Treatment of State and responsibility for meeting 40 CFR 58
- b. If right to make recommendations to EPA regarding designations based on Tribe collected data
- c. If required under grant conditions from EPA
- 3.  Other agencies (i.e., NPS, TVA, industry,) are optional.
- a. EPA encourages certification of data to aid in interpreting quality of data.

## Current Certification Flags

- 1.  AMP450 currently displays “Y”, “N”, “S”
- “Q”, or “M”
- 2.  AMP450NC does not currently display flag, but hopefully will be added soon

## Flags in 2007 for Certification 

- 1. Blank or no flag
- a. Certification not required
- b. Deadline for certification not yet passed
- c. OAQPS not had time to assign flag
- d. Data has been modified since certification request was made

## Flags in 2007 for Certification 

- 2. “S” flag
- a. Certification info has been submitted to OAQPS and “Q” or “Y” flag has not been assigned
- 3. “Q” flag
- a. Questions not resolved about quality of data or quantity of QA data.  Regional Office will be notified about resolution of problem.

## 4. “N” flag
a. State/local agency has not submitted certification request and summary reports

5. “Y” flag
a. No issues with certification request, quality of data, or amount of P & A data

6. “M” flag
a. Data modified since request was submitted 

- a. State/local agency has not submitted certification request and summary reports
- 5. “Y” flag
- a. No issues with certification request, quality of data, or amount of P & A data
- 6. “M” flag
- a. Data modified since request was submitted

- Flags in 2007 for Certification

## Certification and Data Usage

- 1.  EPA may use certified and uncertified data for designation purposes.
- 2.  In special cases, EPA may request early certification for designation purposes.
- 3.  Reports of some data users not using data on AQS that are not certified.

## Flow of Certification Request

- 1.  State/local agency sends certification request to EPA Regional Administrator
- a. Regional Office reviews for completeness of package for letter and attachments, air quality concentrations, QA completeness.
- b. Regional Office will contact submitting agency regarding any problems.
- c. After completion of review, Regional Office forwards certification to OAQPS

## Flow of Certification Request

- 2.  OAQPS responsibilities
- a. Review package for completeness.
- b. Compare current data to air quality and QA data submitted.
- c. Apply appropriate flag to data on AQS.