UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

REGION 10 

Ms. Barbara Trost 

Air and Water Quality Division 

1200 Sixth Avenue, Suite 900 

Seattle, WA 98101-3140 

OCT 2 5 2012 

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation 

555 Cordova Street 

Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2617 

Dear Ms. Trost: 

OFFICE OF 

AIR, WASTE AND TOXICS 

We have evaluated the 2012 Alaska Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan, which describes the Alaska 

monitoring network for 20I2-I3. EPA has the following comments on the proposed changes in the 

network plan: 

I. Discontinued operation of the FRM PM I 0 monitor at the Parkgate site (02-020-1 004) in 

Eagle River. MOA continues to operate a FEM PM I 0 monitor at this site. EPA approves this 

change. 

2. The particulate monitoring system at the Butte site in the Mat-Su Valley was modified in late 

201 I by installing a new Coarse-BAM pair of MetOne BAM I 020X monitors to measure 

PM I 0 and PM2.5. As of January I, 20 I 2, the new BAM PM2.5 monitor now serves as the 

primary monitors for EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database for this SLAMS site. EPA 

approves this change. 

3. The Fairbanks North Star Borough will discontinue PM2.5 monitoring activities at the TAC 

(Peger Road) site for the winter of 20 I 2-20 I 3. Moving the monitoring equipment to another 

location is under consideration. This is not a required monitoring site. EPA approves this change. 

4. The city of Seward conducted PM J 0 monitoring at three sites to determine the PM I 0 

concentrations being emitted from the Seward Coal Loading facility. None of the sites in this 

study showed PM J 0 concentrations close to the NAAQS. The city of Seward terminated this 

monitoring program in May 20 I 2. EPA approves the termination of this monitoring program. 

5. The Municipality of Anchorage anticipates concluding the year of monitoring for TSP-Lead at 

the Merrill Field Airport in October 20 I 2. The data will be finalized and a report issued by April 

2013. EPA funded this project for one year of operation. Depending on the Pb concentrations 

found at this site, it will be either shut down, or continue operation if Pb levels are> 50% of the 

Ph NAAQS. EPA concurs with this process. 

6. MOA is considering discontinuing ozone monitoring at the Garden Site after the 2012 ozone 

sampling season and will prepare a waiver request document in cooperation with the DEC. The 

20 I 0-20 II 41h highest average for this site is 0.045 ppm, which is substantially below the ozone 

standard of0.075 ppm. EPA will take action on the waiver request after we receive it. 

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The following monitors arc designated "core" monitors because they arc either: (I) required hy 40 CFR 

Part 58, Appendix D, (2) have a design value ncar or above the new PM2.5 24-hour standard of 

35ug/m3, or (3) they arc essential monitoring parameters at NCorc sites: 

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

a) Fairbanks (primary and secondary) 

b) Juneau 

c) Butte 

2. PM2.5 speciation and precursor gas monitoring at the Fairbanks NCorc site. 

Core" monitors arc those monitors in the network that must be operated with available PM2.5 

monitoring funds. The "nun-core'' PM2.5 monitors in the State's network can he operated at 

ADEC's discretion with any remaining federal funds or State funds. 

On September 13, 2012, ADEC submitted a request for waiver of the lead SLAMS air monitoring 

requirement for the Red Dog Mine. In an email response sent from EPA to ADEC on September 20, 

2012, we identified several outstanding technical issues related to the lead emission factors from the 

Red Dog Mine that need to be resolved before we can evaluate the modeling results that support 

your request for a waiver. As soon we receive the additional information requested in this response, 

we will proceed with our review of your waiver request. 

If you have any questions about our approval of the Alaska monitoring network, please contact Keith 

Rose at (206) 553-1949. 

cc: Chris Hall, OEA 

Keith Rose, OAWT 

Claudia Vaupel, OAWT 

Sincerely, 

~b{Jc ill~k; Debra M. Suzuki, Manager J 

State and Tribal Program Unit 

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