Source: http://www.arb.ca.gov/aaqm/qa/qa.htm
Timestamp: 2016-02-12 07:48:58
Document Index: 282752996

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 50', 'art 50', 'art 53', 'art 58', 'art 58', 'art 58', 'art 58']

The Air Resources Board (ARB) is the governmental agency delegated the authority and responsibility for collecting ambient air quality data as directed by the Clean Air Act. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) designated ARB as one of the four Primary Quality Assurance Organizations (PQAO) responsible for air monitoring in California. The Quality Management Plan (QMP) describes the quality management system used by ARB and participating local air monitoring organizations that comprise ARB's PQAO. Click on the tabs below for more quality assurance information and references associated with ambient air monitoring.
See QA Bulletin tab below for the latest information regarding temporary closure of monitors in AQS. Module 2 videos are now available in addition to past PQAO Training Modules. These and other training links are always accessible in the Training Resources tab below. Primary Quality Assurance Organization
ARB is required by federal regulations to provide quality assurance oversight to local air monitoring organizations within ARB's PQAO to ensure that consistent procedures are followed to produce data of similar quality. What is a PQAO?
A PQAO is a monitoring organization or a coordinated aggregation of such organizations that is responsible for a set of air monitoring stations that monitor the same pollutants and for which data precision and accuracy assessments can logically be pooled. Each criteria pollutant sampler/monitor at a monitoring station in the State and Local Air Monitoring Station Network must be associated with a single PQAO. Measurement precision and accuracy among all air monitoring stations in a PQAO is expected to be reasonably homogeneous based on five common operation, oversight and support factors.
To address the five common factors and ensure compliance with State and Federal air monitoring requirements, ARB collaborates with each monitoring organization in its PQAO to define respective Roles and Responsibilities with regard to the operation of the State's ambient air monitoring network. ARB PQAO Contacts
Michael Miguel, Chief, Quality Management Branch (916) 322-0960.
Patrick Rainey, Manager, Quality Management Section (916) 327-4756.
The ARB PQAO Contact List contains the primary contact designated by each monitoring organization and who is responsible for sharing information within the respective organization. District Liaisons: Carissa Ganapathy
(916) 322-7105
(916) 445-9391
(916) 324-9656
Mojave/Antelope
(916) 322-3267
Monitoring Organizations in ARB's PQAO
ARB's PQAO consists of ARB and 32 local air monitoring organizations throughout California. Monitoring organizations in ARB's PQAO are expected to follow, to the extent practical, the five common factors listed above. The 21 monitoring organizations listed below operate ambient air monitoring networks in ARB's PQAO. Antelope Valley
Other PQAOs in California
The U.S. EPA designated ARB as the PQAO for all of California with the exception of the following:
Quality Assurance Bulletins (Guidance for monitoring organizations in California)
The following Quality Assurance Bulletins provide guidance and clarification for specified quality assurance and quality control procedures:
001: PM10 Lo-Vol Validation Criteria
002: Corrective Action Notification
003: AQS Minimum Value Reporting Limits
004: Temporary Closure of Monitors in AQS
ARB Document Repository (QA documents used by monitoring organizations in California)
All monitoring organizations within ARB's PQAO are required to utilize and follow ARB's quality management documents (QMP, QAPPs, SOPs, etc.) for each primary area of operation or submit alternative documents to ARB and/or U.S. EPA for review and approval. The Quality Management Document Repository identifies specific documents utilized by ARB, monitoring organizations within ARB's PQAO, and other participating PQAOs. ARB Quality Assurance Manual (QMP, QAPPs, SOPs)
The Quality Assurance Manual is comprised of six volumes that describes ARB's Quality Assurance Program:
Volume I - Quality Management Plan Volume II - Operating Procedures for Air Quality Monitoring Volume III - Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures Volume IV - Monitoring Methods for the State Ambient Air Quality Standards Volume V - Audit Procedures for Air Quality Monitoring Volume VI - Standard Operating Procedures for Stationary Sources Emission Monitoring and Testing
Quality Assurance Project Plan for
the PM2.5 Ambient Air Monitoring Program (PM2.5 QAPP)
Air Monitoring Web Manual - standard operating procedures, acceptance testing, maintenance, technical bulletins and calibration for specific analyzers or support equipment.
Requirements, Guidance, and Review Checklists (QMP, QAPP, and SOPs)
The following ARB checklists and U.S. EPA documents are helpful for developing and reviewing QA documents. QMP - checklist, guidance (QA/G-1), and requirements (QA/R-2)
QAPP - checklist, guidance (QA/G-5), and requirements (QA/R-5)
SOP - checklist and guidance (QA/G-6)
Visit U.S. EPA's Agency-wide Quality System Documents
webpage for additional QA document guidance. Quality Assurance Reports (Precision and Accuracy Results [PANDA], Data Quality Reports) Precision and accuracy results for individual air monitoring organizations. Data Quality Reports summarize quality of ambient air data in quantifiable terms and provide an overview of various quality assurance and quality control activities.
EPA Quality Assurance Handbook
The U.S. EPA Quality Assurance Handbook for Air Pollution Measurement Systems is comprised of five volumes. Volumes II and IV focus on ambient air monitoring and associated data collection activities. Volume II - Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring Program Volume II - Unofficial indexed version
Volume IV - Meteorological Measurements
Volume IV - Unofficial indexed version
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40, Parts 50, 53 and 58 - regulations for air monitoring and related quality assurance. Part 50 - National Primary and Secondary Ambient Air Quality Standards
Part 53 - Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods (FRM and FEM)
Part 58 - Ambient Air Quality Surveillance -- Includes QA, operations, siting, network requirements
Part 58 indexed - Unofficial version with indexed appendices
Annually, ARB conducts performance audits of gaseous, particulate matter, and meteorological equipment operated at air monitoring sites throughout ARB's PQAO to determine the accuracy of measurements in accordance with all applicable requirements, including 40 CFR, Part 58, Appendix A. Technical System Audits
A Technical System Audit (TSA) is an on-site inspection and review of an organization's ambient air monitoring program. The audit includes a review of sample collection, sample analysis, data management procedures, facilities, documentation, staff duties, and training to assure compliance with all applicable air monitoring requirements. ARB is responsible for conducting TSAs of ambient air monitoring organizations within its PQAO on a schedule of every three to five years. See the link above for additional information related to TSAs. The TSA Questionnaire can be utilized to facilitate the TSA process.
Corrective Action Notification (CAN)
The Corrective Action Notification (CAN) process was developed for ARB's PQAO to document, investigate, correct, and reduce the recurrence of air monitoring issues that may impact or potentially impact data quality, completeness, storage, or reporting. The objective of the CAN process is to improve the quality of air monitoring data and to ensure compliance with State, federal, and local requirements. The link above provides additional information related to the CAN process, including the CAN SOP and CAN Form. District staff can view CANs issued to their District in PANDA.
Air Quality Data Action (AQDA)
An Air Quality Data Action (AQDA) is a request for an investigation of the validity of ambient air quality data for a certain period of time. AQDAs are generally issued by QMB staff based upon review of field calibrations or audit results that show air monitoring equipment operating outside ARB's control limits or not meeting appropriate siting conditions. AQDAs are issued to the person responsible for data collection and submittal for the monitoring organization. A copy of it is also sent to AQPSD's Air Quality Planning Branch (AQPB), which withholds potentially impacted data from processing and publication until appropriate actions are taken. More information is available in the QMP, Section 9.15. Standards Laboratory
As defined in 40 CFR, Part 58, Appendix A, Section 3.1.1, one of the factors considered in defining a PQAO is the utilization of common calibration facilities and standards. The use of common calibration facilities and standards helps ensure the data produced are of similar quality.
Standards Laboratory Standards Laboratory Clients List
ARB, U.S. EPA, and local air districts are collaboratively developing PQAO
Training Modules for air monitoring staff and management at all levels. The modules are designed to emphasize the fundamentals in key areas of ambient air monitoring. Online Training
Air Quality Systems (AQS) Training on U.S. EPA's Technology Transfer Network (TTN)
ARB's "Air Academy Online Training" ARB's "Air Quality Training Program"
ARB's "How to Survive a Technical System Audit Presentation"
Heat Illness Prevention Program - training video
PQAO Training presentations and videos
Infographic - Data's Journey to AQS and Beyond: The Data Management Process
(12-foot long)
Training and conferences on U.S. EPA's Ambient Monitoring Technology Information Center (AMTIC)
PQAO Reference Guide
Summaries of Laws, Regulations and Key QA Documents
QA Mobile Webpage for Station Operators
ARB's iADAM -- Air Quality Data Statistics
U.S. EPA's AMTIC site
U.S. EPA's AQS
Data Certification Process for AQS
NASA's Air Quality from space with links for state and local Air Quality Managers
PQAO List Serve
The PQAO Contact List Serve is open to the public. ARB uses the List Serve to share pertinent air monitoring information with the local air monitoring organizations and other interested parties. Back to Top | All ARB Contacts | A-Z Index	Decisions Pending and Opportunities for Public Participation