UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 


REGION 10 


1200 Sixth Avenue 

Seattle. WA 98101 

Reply to 

Attn Of: OAWT-l07 

Mr. Bruce Louks, Air Quality Monitoring Coordinator 

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality 

1410 North Hilton 

Boise, ID 83706-1255 

Re: 2007 Idaho Ambient Air Monitoring Network Assessment 

Dear Mr. Louks: 

We have evaluated the 2007 Idaho Ambient Air Monitoring Network Assessment and 

IDEQ's proposed monitoring network for 2008. This network assessment proposes several 

changes to Idaho air monitoring network since the 2006 network assessment. The proposed 

changes to the network include the following: 

1. 	 DEQ proposes termination ofthe Boise Mountain View School PMIO Hi-vol (16-001­

0011). Monitoring data from 2004 through 2006 shows a three-year 99th percentile equal 

to 62 ug/m3 or 41 % ofthe NAAQS. At the same time, the PMIO TEOM at 16th and Grove 

in Boise (16-001-0009) shows a three-year 99th percentile of60 uglm3 or 40% ofthe 

NAAQS. Termination of this PMIO Hi-vol would provide a cost savings while the PMIO 

TEOM will continue to demonstrate maintenance ofthe PMIO NAAQS. 

2. 	 DEQ proposed the addition of continuous monitoring for trace levels of carbon 

monoxide, sulfur dioxide and for reactive oxides ofnitrogen (NOy) at the St. Luke's 

monitoring location in Meridian. The St. Luke's site has been approved as the Idaho 

NCore site, part of a network ofnational multi-pollutant monitoring stations. The NCore 

network will add compounds ofinterest in addition to the criteria pollutants, particularly 

those compounds which contribute to the secondary formation of criteria pollutants. 

These changes are consistent with the network design criteria identified in 40 CFR 

Part 58, Appendix D. I therefore approve these changes. 

The following monitors are designated "core" monitors because they are either: 1) 

required by 40 CFR Part 58, Appendix D, 2) have a design value near or above the new PM2.5 

24-hour standard of35 uglm3, or 3) they are essential monitoring par8.meters at NCore sites: 

1. 	 PM2.5 FRMs (or Approved Regional Method): 

a) Nampa (primary and co-located) 

b). MeridianiSt. Luke's Hospital 

_ _ cLj1i~h1lf~t 

d) Salmon 

e) Franklin 

f) St Maries 
2 


2. 	 PM2.5 speciation monitors and pre-cursor gas monitors at the MeridianiSt. Luke's 

Hospital NCore site. 

"Core" monitors are those monitors in the network that must be operated with 

available PM2.5 monitoring funds. The ''non-core'' PM2.5 monitors in the State's network· 

can be operated at IDEQ's discretion with any remaining federal or State funds. 

If you have any questions about our approval ofthe Idaho monitoring network, please 

contact Keith Rose at (206) 553-1949. 

Sincerely, 

J'i\gJJ~vJ Mahbubul Islam, Manager ~ 

State and Tribal Program Unit 

cc: Doug Cole, 100 

Chris Hall, OEA 

Keith Rose, OA WT 
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 


REGION 10 


1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 

Seattle, WA 98101-3140 

OFFICE OF 

AIR, WASTE AND TOXles 

NOV 092009 

Mr. Brad Broker 

Air Quality Monitoring Coordinator 

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality 

1410 North Hilton 

Boise, Idaho 83706-1255 

Dear Mr. Broker: 

We have evaluated the 2009 Idaho Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan, which 

describes the Idaho monitoring network for 2009-2010. The following proposed changes to the 

monitoring network, which are consistent with 40 CPR Part 58.14, are approved. 

1. 	 St. Luke's (16-001-0010) meteorological tower will be moved approximately 30 feet adjacent to 

gas monitoring enclosure to support proper NOy reactor height installation. 

2. 	 Lakes Middle School continuous PM2.5 TEOM (16-055-0006), with a design value of 26~g/m3 

(2006-2008), has been decommissioned because of construction activity at the school and 

permanent loss of the monitoring site. ODEQ will continue to monitor PM2.5 at the Lancaster 

PM2.5 TEOM site (16-055-0003), which ODEQ believes is representative of the Lakes Middle 

School site area. 

3. 	 The Boise Mountain View Elementary PM2.5 FRM site (16-001-0011), with a design value of 

26~g/m3 (2006-2008), is a redundant monitor and therefore unnecessary for the Boise MSA. 

This monitor can be shut down. St. Luke's (16-001-0010) and NFS PM2.5 (16-027-0002) PRM 

monitors will continue to operate for comparison to the NAAQS. 

4. 	 The Boise Mountain View Elementary PM2.5 TEOM (16-001-0011) has a design value of 

27~g/m3 (2006-2008) and is not needed for AQI forecasting and will be shut down. St. Luke's 

continuous PM2.5 TEOM (16-001-0010) and NFS continuous PM2.5 TEOM (16-027-0002) 

monitors will continue to operate for AQI forecasting. 

5. 	 A new continuous PM2.5 TEOM special purpose monitor (SPM) will be added to the network in 

Ketchum, Idaho (AIRS ID TBD), 

6. 	 Franklin PM2.5 continuous BAM1 020 special purpose monitor will be added to the network and 

collocated with the Franklin PM2.5 PRM (16-041-0001). 

7. 	 Salmon PM2.5 (16-059-0004) continuous TEOM PM2.5 special purpose monitor will be 

replaced with a continuous BAM1020 PM2.5 FEM monitor. 

8. - St.l:uKe' s PM2S(l6=00t=00 1 O)C@tihUbus TEOM-PM2's-spedalpurposemb1lifor wiJI be 

replaced with a continuous BAM 1020 PM2.5 FEM monitor. 

9. 	 NFS PM2.5 (16-027-0002) continuous TEOM PM2.5 special purpose monitor will be replaced 

With a continuous BAM 1020 PM2.5 FEM monitor. 

o PrlnttKJ on R.cycltKJ PaDS' 
10. Pinehurst PM2.5 (16-079-0017) continuous TEaM PM2.5 special purpose monitor will be 

replaced with a continuous BAM 1020 PM2.5 FEM monitor. 

t t. St. Maries PM2.5 (16-009-0010) continuous TEaM PM2.5 special purpose monitor will be 

replaced with a continuous BAMI020 PM2.5 FEM monitor. 

12. The Whitney ozone monitoring site (16-001-0030) was discontinued at the beginning of the 2009 

monitoring season due to construction activity at the school. Ozone monitoring began at White 

Pine Elementary School (16-001-0017) on May 1, 2009 to satisfy the highest census tract 

population density ozone monitoring requirements. An ozone study conducted in the Treasure 

Valley in 2007 indicated that the White Pine Elementary school site is located in an area that 

would experience ozone concentrations equal to, or higher than, concentrations measured at the 

Whitney School site. 

The following monitors are designated "core" monitors because they are either: 1) required 

by 40 CPR Part 58, Appendix D, 2) have a design value near or above the new PM2.5 24-hour 

standard of 35uglm3, or 3) they are essential monitoring parameters at Neore sites: 

1. 	 PM2.5 FRMs (or Approved Regional Method): 

a) Nampa (primary and co-located) 

b) MeridianlSt. L~ke's Hospital 

c) Pinehurst 

d) Salmon 

e) Franklin 

t) St Maries 

2. 	 PM2.5 speciation monitors and pre-cursor gas monitors at the MeridianlSt. Luke's Hospital 

NCore site. 

"Core" monitors are those monitors in the network that must be operated with available 

PM2.5 monitoring funds. The "non-core" PM2.5 monitors in the State's network can be operated 

at IDEQ's discretion with any remaining federal funds or State funds. If you have any questions 

about our approval of the Idaho monitoring network, please contact Keith Rose at (206) 553­

1949. 

Sincerely, 

~~JL~ 

Mahbubul Islam, Manager 

State and Tribal Air Program Unit 

cc: Mike McGown, 100 

Keith Rose, OA WT 

Chris Hall, OEA 

O.Prlnl9CI.~!JecYC/fld.paper