ATTACHMENT C 

Chemical Analyses 
Chemical Analyses 

Photochemical assessment monitoring station (PAMS) sites monitor ozone, chemicals associated with 

ozone formation, and meteorological data. The data from sites in Maine and Massachusetts have been 

analyzed by NHDES staff. Sites in these states were included because they are downwind and upwind 

of New Hampshire, respectively. The meteorological portion of the analysis is presented in Attachment D. 

Background Information 

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 required EPA to promulgate regulations for the "enhanced" 

monitoring of ozone and its precursors for ozone nonattainment areas classified as serious, severe or 

extreme . Both Congress and EPA recognized the need for an improved understanding of the ozone 

problem, and better feedback mechanisms for evaluating the effectiveness of ozone control strategies. 

In 1993, EPA published the final rule detailing the minimum requirements for PAMS, which includes 

measurements of nitrogen oxides (NOx), speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and 

meteorological parameters. These monitoring regulations provide for the collection of an "enhanced" 

ambient air quality database which can be used to better characterize the nature and extent of the ozone 

problem, aid in tracking NOx and VOC emission inventory reductions, assess air quality trends, make 

attainment/nonattainment decisions, and evaluate photochemical grid-model performance . 

There are four different types of PAMS sites, each serving a specific monitoring purpose : a Type 1 is 

upwind of the urban area and represents background concentrations coming into the area; a Type 2 is on 

the downwind fringe of the urban area and represents maximum precursor concentrations from the area; 

a Type 3 is located in an area with maximum ozone concentrations ; and a Type 4 is at extreme 

downwind location to represent long-range transport from the area. Therefore, PAMS sites required for 

an area will not necessarily all be located within the boundaries of the non-attainment area. 

New Hampshire currently operates two PAMS sites : Nashua (Type 1) and Peterborough (Type 3). The 

Nashua site is located in a populated area near the southern border of the state, and is part of the 

Boston--Worcester--Lawrence Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA). The site in 

Peterborough is in Miller State Park on the summit of Pack Monadnock at an elevation of 2288 feet 

above sea level. Both sites are important for capturing the transport of ozone and its precursors into 

New Hampshire. 

The distinguishing features that make PAMS sites truly "enhanced" ozone monitoring stations is that 

they collect meteorological, ozone and its precursors (oxides of nitrogen and VOCs) data 

simultaneously . Gaining a better understanding of how these variables interact with each other in realworld instances is necessary in order to effectively address ozone levels in New Hampshire and the rest 

of the nation . 

Description of Analyses 

Analysis of PAMS data focused on nitrogen oxides, PAMS target compounds (PAMHC), and total nonmethane organic carbons (TNMOC) in New Hampshire and the surrounding states of Maine and 

Massachusetts . Data were acquired through AQS for 1998 to 2010 . Only hourly data were considered. 

In addition, some data were removed if they did not meet the following criteria: 

" POC# was equal to 1 . 

0 Data capture of at least 60% (1757 hours) occurred during the period June-September . 
To provide a consistent base of comparison in the charts of PAMHC and TNMOC, data for 

these parameters from a given year were available for both parameters. NOx data were treated 

separately. 

Due to a high number of monitoring sites in Massachusetts, a few with long-term datasets were selected 

to illustrate NOx trends . After accounting for the above, data from the following sites were 

incorporated into the charts shown below: 

New Hampshire 

. Nashua, Gilson Road (33-011-1011) 

. Peterborough, Pack Monadnock Summit in Miller State Park (33-011-5001) 

. Portsmouth, Pierce Island (33-015-0014) 

. Brentwood, South Road (33-015-0013) 

Maine 

. Cape Elizabeth, Two Lights State Park (33-005-2003) 

. Portland, Marginal Way (23-005-0027) and State Street (23-005-0029) 

. Kittery, Frisbee School (23-031-3002) - operated by NHDES 

. Bar Harbor, Cadillac Mountain Summit, Acadia National Park (23-009-0102) 

Massachusetts 

. Boston, Kenmore Square (25-025-0002) 

. Springfield, Liberty P-Lot (25-013-0016) 

" Worcester, Central Street (25-027-0020) and Summer Street (25-027-0023) 

" Lynn, Parkland (25-009-2006) 

" Newbury, Sunset Blvd (25-009-4004) 

. Milton, Top of Blue Hill (25-021-3003) 

" Chicopee, Anderson Rd (25-013-0008) 

. Ware, Quabbin Summit (25-015-4002) 
New Hampshire Average NOx (June-September) 

m 

a 

a 

c 

_o 

w 

c d 

c 0 U 

10 

8 

6 

4 

2 

0 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

a Brentwood 

" Portsmouth 

c3 Gilson 

[3 Mller 

Maine Average NOx (June-September) 

35 

30 

a 

a 25 

p 20 

15 ~. 

c 

10 

c 

U 5 

0 

m Portland 

n Kittery 

p Cadillac 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

Massachusetts Average NOx (June-September) 

m 

a 

c 

0 

,. 

c d 

v 

c 

0 

U 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

10 

0 

" Boston 

m Springfield 

[3 Worcester 

© Lynn 

m Newbury 

" Blue Hill 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
Average TNMOC and PAMHC (June-September) 

New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts 

.. 

U 

m 

a 

ov . 

c 0 

R 

c 

m 

c 0 

U 

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

TNMOC and PAMHC Seasonal Averages 

Gilson Road, Nashua 

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 

TNMOC and PAMHC Seasonal Averages 

Pack Monadnock Summit, Peterborough 

v 

m 

a 

a 

c 0 

c 

m 

c 0 

U 

sTNMOC 

m PAMHC 

m TNMOC 

a PAMHC 

" TNMOC 

" PAMHC 

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010