North Rail Connector Project

Environmental Assessment

53 | Page

Appendix B – MDEQ Air Quality Data Summary
Mississippi Department of Environmental 

Quality 

2020 

Air Quality Data Summary
Table of Contents 

Introduction .............................................................................. 3

MDEQ Air Monitoring Network Information .................................. .4-5

NAAQS Table ......................................................................... 6

Ground-Level Ozone ................................................................. 7-8

Particulate Matter ............................................................................ 9 

PM2.5.......................................................................................... 10-11 

PM10 ................................................................................................ 12 

Carbon Monoxide .......................................................................................... 13 

Nitrogen Dioxide ..................................................... ............ 14-15 

Sulfur Dioxide ....................................................................... 16-19 

Appendix 1 - 10 Year Data Trends by County ............................... 20-7 4 

Appendix 2 -Data Completeness by Pollutant. .............................. 75-82 

2 
Introduction 

Under the Clean Air Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes 

primary air quality standards to protect public health, including the health of "sensitive 

populations such as people with asthma, children, and older adults". EPA also sets 

secondary standards to protect public welfare. This includes protecting ecosystems, 

including plants and animals, from harm, as well as protecting against decreased visibility 

and damage to crops, vegetation, and buildings. 

EPA has set national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for six principal air 

pollutants (also called criteria pollutants): Ground-Level Ozone (03), Particulate Matter 

(PM), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), and Lead 

(Pb). The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) monitors all of 

these pollutants with the exception of lead (Pb) as MDEQ ceased lead monitoring, June 

30th 2016 ' . 

This report looks at the reported levels of the criteria pollutants in 2020 at various 

monitoring sites located in Mississippi. It compares these levels to the N AAQS to 

determine how the state is doing in meeting these standards. As it is stated, Mississippi is 

meeting all of the NAAQS. 

In January of 2018, the Cleveland (28.011.0001) 213 N. Bayou Ave site was shut down 

and relocated in February 2018 (28.011.0002) highway 8 west with EPA approval to 

Delta State Campus, located at latitude 33.750833 and longitude -90.734167. 

Starting January of2019 MDEQ incorporated Federally Equivalent Method PM2.5 

instruments which will be to determine NAAQS compliance at several sites including 

Cleveland, Hernando, Hinds CC, NCORE site in Hinds county, Hattiesburg, Waveland, 

Gulfport, and Pascagoula. These continuous monitors replaced our previous filter based 

PM2.5 monitors that were located in Grenada, Hernando, Hinds, Hattiesburg, Waveland, 

Gulfport, and Pascagoula. MDEQ is required to run a filter based PM2.5 at our NCORE 

site along with a co-located PM2.5 at the Hattiesburg site. 

3 
2020 MDEQAir Monitoring Network 

■ Ozone

• Particulate Matter

• Sulfur Dioxide

♦ Nitrogen Oxides

e Multipollutant Site 

4 
Monitoring Network Information 

County City Monitoring Pollutants Latitude Longitude 

Site ID Monitored Deg. Min. Sec. Deg. Min. Sec. 

Bolivar Cleveland 28-011-0002 Ozone, 33 45 03 -90 44 03 

PM2.s 

Continuous 

DeSoto Hernando 28-033-0002 Ozone, 34 49 14 -89 59 16 

PM2.s 

Continuous 

Forrest Hattiesburg 28-035-0004 

PM2.s 6-Day, 

PM2.s 

Continuous 

31 19 23 -89 17 15 

Hancock Waveland 28-045-0003 

Ozone, 

PM2.s 30 18 3

3 -89 23 45 

Continuous 

Harrison Gulfport 28-047-0008 Ozone, 

PM2.s 

30 23 24 -89 02 59 

Continuous 

Hinds CC Jackson 28-049-0021 Ozone, 32 20 48 -90 13 32 

PM2.s 

Continuous 

Hinds Jackson 28-049-0020 Ozone, PM2.s 32 19 45 -90 10 58 

N-CORE 3-Day, PM2.s 

Continuous, 

Speciated 

PM2.s, PM10-

2.s, CO, NOy, 

SO2 

Jackson Pascagoula 28-059-0006 Ozone, PM2.s 

Continuous, 

30 22 42 -88 32 03 

NO, NO2, 

NOx, SO2 

Lauderdale Meridian 28-075-0003 Ozone 32 21 52 -88 43 53 

Lee Tupelo 28-081-0005 Ozone 34 15 54 -88 45 58 

5 
NAAQS Table

Pollutant Primary/ Averaging [links to historical tables Level Form Secondary Time of NAAQS reviews] DI 

8 hours 9 ppm Not to be exceeded more than once per Carbon Monoxide (CO primary II 

year 1 hour 35 ppm I primaryII 

primary Rolling 3 month 1) Lead (Pb) and 0.15 μg/m3 Not to be exceeded 

average secondary I 

98th percentile of 1-hour daily 

primary 1 hour 100 ppb maximum concentrations, averaged 

over 3 years 

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2

primary 

2) and 1 year 53 ppb Annual Mean 

secondary 

primary Annual fourth-highest daily maximum 

Ozone (O 3) 3 and 8 hours 0.070 ppm 8-hour concentration, averaged over 3 

secondary years I 11=1CJCII 

primary 1 year 12.0 μg/m3 annual mean, averaged over 3 years CJI II I 

secondary 1 year 15.0 μg/m3 annual mean, averaged over 3 years 

PM2.5 CJI II I 

primary Particle Pollution 

and 24 hours 35 μg/m3 98th percentile, averaged over 3 years (PM)

- secondary 

primary Not to be exceeded more than once per PM10 and 24 hours 150 μg/m3

year on average over 3 years secondary 

99th percentile of 1-hour daily 

4) primary 1 hour 75 ppb maximum concentrations, averaged 

over 3 years Sulfur Dioxide (SO2

Not to be exceeded more than once per secondary 3 hours 0.5 ppm year 

6 
Ground-Level Ozone (O3)

Ozone is a gas composed of three atoms of oxygen. Ozone occurs both in the Earth's 

upper atmosphere and at ground level. Ozone can be good or bad, depending on where it 

is found. It occurs naturally in the stratosphere approximately 6 to 30 miles above the 

Earth's surface where it forms a protective layer that shields us from the sun's harmful 

ultraviolet rays. In the Earth's lower atmosphere, near ground level, ozone occurs 

naturally in lower amounts and additional ozone is formed when nitrogen oxides (NOx) 

and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, 

refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. 

Because this reaction takes time to occur, ozone is usually formed downwind of emission 

sources. 

Ozone is Usually Formed 

Downwind of Emission Sources 

0 

7 
Oz one Standard 

There is one primary and secondary ozone standard - the 8-hour average. MDEQ 

monitors ozone continuously from March 1 through October 31 each year at the 

monitoring sites listed below. Ozone is monitored year around at our N-CORE site 

located in the Jackson MSA. 

Primary and Secondary 8-Hour Ozone Standard 

The 8-hour standard is met when the 3-year average of the annual fourth highest daily 

maximum 8-hour average concentration (also known as the design value) is less than or 

equal to 0.070 parts per million (ppm) or 70 parts per billion (ppb). O3NAAQS 

8-Hour Ozone Design Values 

Standard - 70 ppb 

2020 Design 

Values 

County City (ppb) 

Bolivar County Cleveland 63 

II I I 

DeSoto County Hernando 65 

II I I 

Hancock County Waveland 61 

II I I 

HarrisonCounty Gulfport 62 

II I I 

Hinds County Jackson 61 

II I - I 

Hinds County J ackson/N-CORE 58 

II I I 

Jackson County Pascagoula 62 

II I I 

Lauderdale County Meridian 57 II I I 

Lee County Tupelo 57 

II I I 

Yalobusha County Coffeeville EPA Site 56 

II I I 

8 
Particulate Matter 

In general, particulate matter consists of a mixture of! arger materials, called" coarse 

particles", and smaller particles, called "fine particles". Coarse particles have diameters 

ranging from 2.5 micrometers (μm) to more than 40 μm, while fine particles, also known 

as PM2.5, include particles with diameters equal to or smaller than 2.5 μm. MDEQ also 

monitors PM10, which refers to particles less than or equal to 10 μmin diameter. 

These tiny particles come in many shapes and sizes and can be made up of hundreds of 

different chemicals. Some particles are emitted directly from a source, while others form 

in complicated chemical reactions in the atmosphere. 

Human Hair

~70 μma verage diameter

90 μm In diameter

Fine Beach Sand

C PM2.5

<2.5 μm in diameter

PM10

<10O μm in diameter 

9 
PM2.s Standards 

There are two primary and secondary PM2 5standards: (1) Annual Average and (2) 24-

Hour Average. MDEQ monitors PM2.5every 3rd day at the monitoring sites listed below. 

Primary and Secondary Annual Average Standard -

12.0 μg/m3 and 15.0 μg/m3 

The annual average primary standard is met when the three-year average of the annual 

averages does not exceed 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3

). The annual average 

secondary standard is met when the three-year average of the annual averages does not 

exceed 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). PM NAAOS 

F arrest Count 

Hinds Count 

Jackson Count 

2020 

Annual 

Average 

Design 

Value 

*Incomplete Data 
Primary and Secondary 24-Hour Average 

Standard (98th Percentile)- 35 μg/m3 

The 24-hour average standard is met when the three-year average of the annual 98th 

percentiles of the 24-hour averages does not exceed 35 micrograms per cubic meter 

(μg/m3).

Cit 

Forrest Count 

Hancock Count 

Harrison Count 

Hinds Count Jackson 

Jackson!N-CORE 

Jackson Count 

2020 

24-Hour 

Average 

Design 

Value 

18 

19 

23 

19 

*Incomplete Data 

18 

11 
PM1 o Standards 

Primary and Secondary 24-Hour A verage

Standard - 3 Year Average of the Annual 2nd Max - 150 μg/ m3 

The 24-hour average standard is met when the annual second max does not exceed 150 

micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3

) over the average of three years. MDEQ monitors 

PM 10 every 6th day at the monitoring sites listed below. 

2020 

24-Hour Average 

Design Value 

Im 

72 

12 
Carbon Monoxide 

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas that is formed when carbon in fuel is 

not burned completely. It is a component of motor vehicle exhaust, which contributes 

about 56% of all CO emissions nationwide. Other non-road engines and vehicles (such as 

construction equipment and boats) contribute about 22% of all CO emissions nationwide. 

Other sources of CO emissions include industrial processes, residential wood burning, 

and natural sources such as forest fires. 

Carbon Monoxide Standards 

There are two carbon monoxide standards: (1) 8-Hour Average and (2) I-Hour Standard. 

MDEQ monitors carbon monoxide continuously year-round at the monitoring site listed 

below. CO NAAOS 

Primary CO Standard - 8-Hour 9 ppm 

1-Hour 35 ppm 

The 8-hour average standard is met if the 8-hour average of 9 parts per million (ppm) is 

not exceeded more than once per year. The I-hour average standard is met if the I-hour 

average of 35 parts per million (ppm) is not exceeded more than once per year. 

2020 Annual 

Count Ci 2nd Max m 

Hinds Count Jackson 8 - Hour: 1.1 

NCORE 1 - Hour: 1.4 

8-Hour Carbon 

Monoxide 

1-Hour Carbon 

Monoxide 

13 
Nitrogen Dioxide 

Nitrogen dioxide (N02) can often be seen as a reddish-brown layer. Nitrogen dioxide 

forms when fuel is burned at high temperatures, as in a combustion process. The primary 

manrnade sources of nitrogen dioxide are motor vehicles, electric utilities, and other 

industrial, commercial, and residential sources that burn fuels. It can also be formed 

naturally. 

Nitrogen Dioxide Standards 

There are two N02 standards: (1) Annual Average (Primary and Secondary) and (2) 1-

Hour Average (Primary). MDEQ monitors nitrogen dioxide continuously year-round at 

the monitoring site listed below. N0 2 NAAQS 

Primary and Secondary Annual Average Standard -

53 ppb 

The annual average N02 standard is met when the annual average does not exceed 53 

parts per billion (ppb). 

Coun 

Jackson Count 

2020 

Annual 

14 
Primary 1-Hour Average Standard -

l00ppb 

The 1-hour average NO2standard is met when the three-year average of the annual 98th 

percentiles of the 24-hour averages does not exceed 100 parts per billion (ppb). 

oula 

2020 

1-Hour 

Average 

Design 

Value 

b 

28 

15 
Sulfur Dioxide 

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) belongs to the family of sulfur oxide gases (SOx). These gases 

dissolve easily in water. Sulfur is prevalent in all raw materials, including crude oil, coal, 

and ore that contains common metals like aluminum, copper, zinc, lead, and iron. SOx 

gases are formed when fuel containing sulfur, such as coal and oil is burned, and when 

gasoline is extracted from oil and metals are extracted from ore. SO2 dissolves in water 

vapor to form acid, and interacts with other gases and particles in the air to form sulfates 

and other products that can be harmful to people and their environment. 

Over 65% of SO2released to the air comes from electric utilities, especially those that 

bum coal. Other sources of SO2are industrial facilities that derive their products from 

raw materials like metallic ore, coal, and crude oil, or that bum coal or oil to produce 

process heat. Examples are petroleum refineries, cement manufacturing, and metal 

processing facilities. 

Sulfur Dioxide Standards 

There are three primary sulfur dioxide standards-the I-Hour average, the annual, and 

the 24-hour average. There is one secondary sulfur dioxide standard-the 3-Hour 

average. MDEQ monitors sulfur dioxide continuously year-round at the monitoring site 

listed below. SO2NAAOS 

Primary I-Hour Average Standard -

75ppb 

The I-hour average SO2 standard is met when the three-year average of the annual 99th 

percentiles of the I-hour averages does not exceed 75 parts per billion (ppb). 

2020 

I-Hour 

Countv City

Average 

Design Value 

(ppb)

Hinds County Jackson/N-CORE 3 

I 

Jackson County Pascagoula 5 

16 
Primary Annual Standard -

0.03 ppm 

Annual SO2standard is met when the maximum annual average does not exceed 0.030 

parts per million (ppm). 

2020 

Annua l 2020 

Average Number of

m Exceedances

0 

0.00 

17 
Primary 24-Hour Standard0.14 ppm 

24-Hour SO2 standard is met when them aximum annual average concentration of 0. 14 

parts per million (ppm) is not exceeded more than once per calendar year. 

2020 2nd

Maximum 

24-Hour 2020 Number 

County ofExceedances 

Hinds Count 0 

0.00 0 

18 
Secondary 3-Hour Average Standard0.5pp1n 

The 3-hour average S02 standard is met when the maximum 3-hour average 

concentration of O .5 parts per million (ppm) is not exceeded more than once per calendar 

year. 

2020 2nd

Maximu 

m 3- 2020 

Hour Number of

Average Exceedances

County Citv (ppm)

Hinds C ountv Jackson/N-CORE 0.0 0 

Jackson Countv Pascagoula 0.0 0 

0.0 

19 
Appendix 1 

IO-Year Data Trends 

By County

20 
Jackson County 

59 
Jackson County 

Monitoring Site No. 28-059-0006 

Location

60 
Jackson Countv 

8-Hour Ozone (ppb) 

3 Year Design Value 8 Hour Ozone Average for 

76 Jackson County 

74 

• 

72 

(ppb) b -• 70 

s

68 .. 66 

z 

!.!:I 64 esi

e

d 62 

60 

2009-2011 2010-2012 2011-2013 2012-2014 2013-2015 2014-2016 2015-2017 2016-2018 2017-2019 2018-2020 

• 3 Year Design Value (ppb) 

YEAR EPA Ozone Standard 

4th Daily Max 8 Hour Ozone Average for Jackson 

78 County 

b) 76 

ppb74 

E 72 . , 

era 70 

68 

our

R

66 

! 64 

62 

60 

-. 

ci: 58 D

::c: 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 4th • 4th Daily Max 8 Hour Average (ppb) 

YEAR EPA Ozone Standard 

61 
Jackson Countv 

PM2.5

Annual Mean (μg/m3

)

Annual Design Value PM2.S Jackson County 13 

12 

3) 11 

< /

G 10 

(U

E

. G 9 

A

R

E

> 8 

A

R

A 7 e

>-

3 6 

2009-11 2010-12 2011-13 2012-14 2013-15 2014-16 2015-17 2016-18 2017-19 2018-2020 

• 3 Year Design Value 

YEAR Standard (12 ug/m"3} 

62 
Jackson Countv 

PM2.5

24-Hour Average (μg/m3

) 

3-Year 

3-Year Average 21 20 20 20 19 17 18 17 19 18 

of the Annual 

98th Percentile 

Percentile 

Annual 98th Percentile PM2.5 Jackson County 

40 

35 

3)

< 

30 U

25 

TI NT

e:l 20 • R

E

::c: 15 

98th 9

10 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 • 98th Percentile 

YEAR Standard (35 ug/m"3} 

63 
Jackson County 

Nitrogen Dioxide 

Annual Average (ppb) 

N02 Annual Mean 

60 

50 

40 

30 B

P

P

20 

10 

• . • • • • 

0 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

• Annual Mean 

YEAR Standard 53ppb 

*Incomplete Data 

64 
Jackson Countv 

Nitrogen Dioxide 

1-Hour Average (ppb) 

3-Year 

3-Year Average 32 34 33 32 31 29* 29* 28* 28 28 

of the Annual 

98th Percentile 

N02 98th Percentile Design Value 

120 

100 

80 

60 B

P

P

40 

• 

20 

0 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

• 98th Percentile DV 

YEAR Standard lO0ppb 

Percentile 

N02 Annual 98th Percentile 

120 

100 

80 

B 60 P

P

40 • 

20 

0 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

• Annua I 98th Percentile 

YEAR Standard lO0ppb 

*Incomplete Data 

65 
Jackson County 

Sulfur Dioxide 

1-Hour ._i\.verage (ppb) 

3-Year 

3-Year Average 28 26 23 26 27 20 11 5 5 5 

of the Annual 

99th Percentile 

Percentile 

S02 Annual 1-Hour 99th Percentile 

80 

B) 70 

P

P

60 

LEE

TI 50 

NTE

u 40 R

E

P 30 ::c: . T

9T 20 • 

9

R

OUR 10 

0 • • • • • ::c: 0 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

• Annual 99th Percentile 

YEAR Standard 75ppb 

66 
Jackson Countv 

Sulfur Dioxide 

3-Hour Annual 2nd Max (ppm) 

502 3-Hour 2nd Max Values 

0.6 

0.5 

D 0.4 N2

AL - 0.3 

U

NNNUP 0.2 

<C 

R 0.1 U

0 0 . . • • • :::c: . . • . . 3 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 . 

2018 2019 2020 

3-Hour Values ppm 

YEAR Standard 0.5 ppm 

Jackson Countv 

Sulfur Dioxide 

Annual Mean (ppm) 

67 
Jackson County 

Sulfur Dioxide 

24-Hour 2nd Max (ppm) 

S02 24-Hour 2nd Max Values 

0.16 

0.14 

0.12 

0.1 P

X 0.08 MA

D

ND0.06 2

R

H 0.04 4

2

0.02 

• • • • 0 • • • • • • 

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 

• · 24-Hour 2nd Max 

YEAR 

Standard 0.14 ppm 

68