Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2014

C-1 APPENDIX C



## PM2.5 Continuous Monitor Comp arability Assessment and Request

for Waiver

Introduction

The SCAQMD monitoring program ha s historically operated PM2.5 continuous monitors

primarily to support forecasting and reporting of the Air Quality Index (AQI). These monitors

supply data every hour to update the AQI on our web site as well as national web sites such as

AIRNow (www.airnow.gov). SCAQMD has been using these monitors since th e early part of the

last decade as we implemented the PM2.5 mon itoring program. Over the last few years, a

number of PM2.5 continuous monitors have been appr oved as Federal Equivalent Methods

(FEMs). By utilizing an approved FEM, any subs equent data produced from the method may be

eligible for comparison to EPA’s health base d standard known as the NAAQS. The primary

advantage of operating a PM2.5 continuous FEM is that it can support the AQI, while also

supplying data that are eligible for comparis on to the NAAQS. Thus, a network utilizing PM2.5

continuous FEMs can potentially lower the nu mber of filter-based FRMs operated in the

network, which are primarily used for comparis on to the NAAQS. These filter-based FRMs are

resource intensive in that they require field operati ons as well as pre- and post-sampling

laboratory analysis which results in data not be ing available for approx imately 2-4 weeks after

sample collection.

The SCAQMD monitoring program has been evaluating PM2.5 continuous FEMs over the past

several years. Although the PM2.5 continuous FEMs are automated methods, these methods still

require careful attention in th eir set-up, operation, and validation of data. Once enough data was

collected, we began to evaluate the performance of these methods compared to collocated FRMs.

That evaluation is explained furt her below and includes our request regarding the us e of the data

from these methods.

Request for Exclusion of PM2.5 Continuous FEM data from Comparison to the NAAQS

The network technical requirements for requestin g exclusion of data from comparison to the

NAAQS are identified in 40 CFR §58.11(e). These requirements refer to th e performance criteriaAir Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2014

C-2 described in Table C-4 to subpart C of part 53. To accommodate the differences in how routine

monitoring agencies operate their networks, seve ral additional provisio ns are described in

§58.11(e). When a topic is not addre ssed in §58.11(e), then the test specifications from table C-4

applies.

As shown in the Table below, the slope of th e regression between co llocated FRM and FEM

measurements at the Anaheim, Central Los A ngeles, North Long Beach, South Long Beach, and

Rubidoux stations is higher than 1.1, which is out side the test specifi cation indicated in §53

Table C-4 (i.e. slope = 1 ± 0.1). Although the slope criteria was met, the intercept of the

regression relationship between FR M and FEM data at the Burba nk and Mira Loma monitoring

sites does not meet the test sp ecifications of between 15.05 - (17.32 × slope), but not less than -

2.0; and 15.05 - (13.20 × slope), but not more th an +2.0 (also indicated in §53 Table C-4).

Thus, in accordance with the PM NAAQS rule published on January 15 th , 2013 (78 FR 3086) anAir Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2014

C-3 d specific to the provisions detailed in §58.10 (b)(13) and §58.11 (e), SCAQMD is requesting

that data from the all of the SCAQMD FEM PM2.5 monitors be set aside for comparison to the

NAAQS. While SCAQMD is working to optimize the monitoring instrumentation to meet all of

our monitoring objectives, the performance is not yet at a point where the comparability of the

PM2.5 continuous FEMs operated in our network compared to collocated FRMs is acceptable.

After assessing the comparability of the PM2.5 FEMs to the collocated FRMs for our network,

the sites listed below do not meet the comparability requirements. Detailed one-page assessments

from which the information described below was obtai ned are included at the end of this section.Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan – July 2014C-4Table – Request for Exclusion of PM2.5Continuous FEM DataSite Name City Site IDContPOCContMethod DescriptionPM2.5ContBeginDatePM2.5ContEndDateContinuous/FRMSamplerPairs PerSeasonSlope(m)Intercept(y)Meets BiasRequirementCorrelation(r)Sites with PM2.5continuous FEMs that are collocated with FRMsAnaheim Anaheim06-059-00073Met-One BAM1020 w/VSCC01/01/201112/31/2013Winter = 247Spring = 254Summer = 227Fall = 260Total = 9881.16 2.62 No 0.94Burbank Burbank06-037-10023Met-One BAM1020 w/VSCC01/01/201112/31/2013Winter = 259Spring = 217Summer = 262Fall = 250Total = 9881.10 4.47 No 0.89Central LosAngelesLosAngeles06-037-11033Met-One BAM1020 w/VSCC01/01/200909/29/2011Winter = 226Spring = 161Summer = 170Fall = 182Total = 7391.21 1.77 No 0.939Met-One BAM1020 w/VSCC10/01/201112/31/2013Winter = 176Spring = 160Summer = 156Fall = 228Total = 7201.15 4.86 No 0.83North LongBeachLongBeach06-037-40023Met-One BAM1020 w/VSCC01/01/201112/31/2013Winter = 214Spring = 228Summer = 255Fall = 175Total = 8721.16 2.23 No 0.94South LongBeachLongBeach06-037-40043Met-One BAM1020 w/VSCC01/01/2012*12/31/2013Winter = 128Spring = 169Summer = 134Fall = 121Total = 5521.27 0.35 No 0.93Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan – July 2014C-5Riverside/RubidouxRubidoux06-065-80013Met-One BAM1020 w/PM2.5 SCC01/01/201001/31/2013Winter = 177Spring = 139Summer = 231Fall = 265Total = 8121.15 0.48 No 0.899Met-One BAM1020 w/VSCC08/02/201112/31/2013Winter = 170Spring = 152Summer = 212Fall = 265Total = 7991.12 2.26 No 0.89Mira Loma Mira Loma06-065-80053Met-One BAM1020 w/VSCC01/01/201012/31/2013Winter = 255Spring = 244Summer = 257Fall = 265Total = 10211.10 4.12 No 0.90*2011 data have not been submitted to AQSAir Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2013

C-6 Period of Exclusion of Data from the PM2.5 Continuous FEMs

The above table details th e period of available data by monito r on which the re quest to exclude

PM2.5 continuous FEM data is based. Per EPA Regi onal Office approval, these data will be

entered into EPA’s AQS database in a manner wh ere the data are only used for the appropriate

monitoring objective(s) (i.e., use data for just the AQI). Additionally, SCAQMD will continue to

load any new data generated for the next 18 months (intended to re present the period until

December 31 of 2015) in the same manner or un til such time we request and receive approval

from the EPA Regional Office to change the status of these monitors.

PM2.5 Continuous FEM data for Reporting the AQI

While the analysis supports the request for the m onitors above not be used for comparison to the

NAAQS, the data are of sufficient comparability to collocated FRMs that they be used for public

AQI reporting. Therefore, with EPA Regional O ffice approval we will report these data on our

web site and to AIRNow (www.airnow.gov). As such, data submitted to EPA’s AQS database

will be under “acceptable AQI” reporting (i.e., para meter code 88101) so that data users will

know that these data are appropriate for use in AQI calculations, but not NAAQS comparison.

Assessments

The following one-page assessments are locations where our agency has collocated PM2.5 FRM

and continuous FEM monitors . Each of these assessments is represented in the “ Table –

Request for Exclusion of PM2.5 Continuous FEM Data” above.Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2014

C-7 

## Anaheim

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 3)Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2014

C-8 

## Burbank

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 3)Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2014

C-9 

## Central Los Angeles

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 3)Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2013

C-10 

## Central Los Angeles

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 9)Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2014

C-11 

## North Long Beach

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 3)Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2013

C-12 

## South Long Beach

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 3)Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2013

C-13 

## Rubidoux

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 3)Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2013

C-14 

## Rubidoux

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 9)Air Quality Monitoring Ne twork Plan – July 2014

C-15 

## Mira Loma

(FRM POC: 1; FEM POC: 3)