janice K. Brewer 

Governor 

May 30,2014 

Meredith Kurpius 

Air Division 

U.S. EPA Region 9 

7 5 Hawthorne Street 

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT 

OF 

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 

1110 West Washington Street • Phoenix, Arizona 85007 

(602) 771-2300 • www.azdeq.gov 

San Francisco, CA 94105 

Henry R. Darwin 

Director 

Re: Certification of2013 Ambient Air Data in AQS Database Reported by ADEQ 

Dear Ms. Kurpius: 

The purpose of this letter is to certify the ambient air quality monitoring data collected and I or 

reported by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to the EPA Air Quality 

System (AQS) database for calendar year 2013. Attached are the required AQS reports which 

include the Data Certification Report (AMP600) and the Non-Criteria Quiqklook Report 

(AMP450NC). 

The precision data for Nogales Post Office (04-023-0004) for PM2.s BAM was changed for 

fourth quarter 2012. The parameter code 88101 that was used was incorrect and was updated to 

be 88501, due to the zero test not being completed until2013. 

ADEQ operates a trace level carbon monoxide (CO) monitor at the JLG Phoenix Supersite (04-

013-9997) as part ofthe NCore requirements. The COTL analyzer, as well as the gas calibration 

system, experienced some difficulties throughout 2011 an4 2012. This was observed with the 

COTL not always meeting the 30 ppb acceptance criteria during zero drift verification checks. 

Nearly 50 percent of these zero drift checks were between 30-100 ppb. Additionally, there were 

moisture issues with the zero air scrubbers for the gas calibration system used to perform checks. 

These issues were corrected and dealt with into mid-April2013 until the COTL analyzer, as well 

as the gas calibration system, were replaced in April2013. ADEQ's Air Monitoring Unit (AMU) 

experienced temperature stabilization issues with the new instrument during the hot summer 

months, which caused challenges in meeting the zero drift checks. These issues were resolved by 

the end of third quarter on 9/19/13. For the entire year of2013, a majority of these zero drift 

checks were within the required 30 ppb limit. In summary, there is approximately 11 months of 

valid and certifiable data for 2013. The data were invalidated from 111113 to 1/25/13; qualified 

(but validated) from 1/25/13 to 9/19/13; and validated from 9/19/13 to 12/31/13. 

Southern Regional Office 

400 West Congress Street • Suite 433 • Tucson, AZ 8S701 

(S20) 628-6733 

Printed on recycled paper 
Page 2 of3 

The S02 instrument at JLG Supersite (04-013-9997) had an issue during2013. An audit 

performed on 11/21113 failed. A previous audit on 8/13/13 also failed. These two failed audits 

were due to an error in the calibrator used by the AMU to calibrate the Ecotech EC 9850T S02 

Analyzer. The next passing audit was performed on 2/27114. In summary, the calibrator was set 

up to correct for a balance gas other than the normal nitrogen. This caused the calibrator to 

output test gas at a lower concentration than indicated on the calibrator. As a result, the output 

concentration was offby a factor of0.687. This caused all readings from 6/13/13.to 3/6/14 to be 

low by the same factor of 0.687. The calibrator issue is now fixed, but the data had to be 

adjusted. The parameters S02TL and S02TL.MAX5MIN that were alr~ady in AQS were 

updated by a factor of 1/0.687 for the dates of 06/13/13 to 09/30/13. The fourth quarter data 

(10/01/13 to 12/31/13) were corrected prior to loading into AQS. 

The Xontec 924 Toxic Air Sampler used to measure Hexavalent Chromium at JLG Supersite 

(04-013-9997) was discontinued at the end of third quarter 2013. This pollutant is no longer 

required for the NATTS program and is no longer monitored by ADEQ. 

The AMP600 report recommends a "No" for the monitors 04-013-9997-42101 (for CO) and 04-

013-9997-42602 (for N02) based on "Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) not approved in 

10 years." ADEQ received conditional approval of the N02 QAPP on May 291

h, 2014. Also, 

ADEQ is in the process of completing the CO QAPP and plans to have it submitted by the end of 

June 2014. We have submitted that both of these monitors' data should be considered for 

regulatory purposes as all the QA/QC requirements, other than having a current QAPP, are being 

met. 

Nogales Post Office (04-023-0004) PM2.s BAM and Miami Golf Course (04-007-8000) TEOM 

showed issues related to flow rate audit completeness in the AMP600. These issues have been 

addressed in the comments added to the Certification area of AQS and on the AMP 600 report. 

Taking into consideration the exceptions mentioned above, I certify that for the ambient 

concentration data and the required quality assurance data are completely submitted to AQS and 

that the ambient data are accurate to the best of my knowledge, taking into consideration the 

quality assurance findings. 

Please contact Heather Colson, Unit Manager for Data Management & Quality Assurance Unit, 

at 602-771-4488 if you have questions about any about the information in AQS. 

assey, Director 

ality Division 
Page 3 of3 

Enclosures 

cc: Jennifer Williams, USEPA Region 9 

Fletcher Clover, USEP A Region 9 

Theresa Rigney, ADEQ 

Heather Colson, ADEQ