3SAQS Network Assessment

Till Stoeckenius, ENVIRON

Three-State Air Quality Working GroupConference Call17 January 2014

2

Today’s Agenda

• Review discussion from 1/10 call• Provide summary of information received

since the 1/10 call• Gather additional information, comments and

suggestions• Discuss potential recommendations• Get ready for 24 January call

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Highlights from Last Call

• Site classification method– Step 1: List of

“permanent” and “non-permanent” sites

– Step 2: Non-Permanent Class A vs Class B sites

• Review Class B sites and potentially underserved areas (UAs)

No

Yes

Yes

No

Permanent Sites

Retain (Class A

Site)

Potential 3SAQS Sites

Monitoring Site Classification

Step 1:Permanent Site?

Step 2 :High value

location?

Non-Permanent

Sites

Consider Moving

(Class B Site)

Monitoring Network

Objectives

Starting Network

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Input Received Past Week(see new map, revised site spreadsheet and revised UA table)

• USFS (J. Korfmacher and D. Miller)– Changes to “permanent” vs. “non-permanent” site list– Comments on Class A vs. Class B non-permanent sites– Comments on UAs

• UDAQ (P. Barickman)– Comments on Class A vs. Class B non-permanent sites– Comments on UAs

• WY DEQ (C. Keslar)– Potential funding problems for Hiawatha and Campbell Co. sites; move to “non-permanent”– A temporary monitor is currently located in East-Central WY (UA2) for 2013 - 2014– Comments on UAs

• CDPHE (G. Pierce)– Move Pawnee Buttes to “non-permanent” – Palisade and Aspen considered “permanent” – Lay Peak to stay put through 2014; possible move in 2015?– Walden will operate through at least 2014– Recommended high priority UAs (in order):

a. UA5 East of Dinosaur NMb. UA13 Roan Plateauc. UA12 Kremmling as this area had some issues with air quality when the LP waferboard plant was in operation. It is unknown what impact the current pellet facility might have, but the area is subject to deep inversions.d. UA9 Dove Creek

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Updated 16 January“Permanent” Sites

Rifle Dinosaur Casper

Gothic Vernal Boulder

Shamrock Redwash Daniel

Ignacio Ouray Pinedale

Bondad Rabbit Mountain Big Piney

Rocky Mountain Whiterocks Juel Spring

Cortez Hurricane Pinedale-CASTNET

Mesa Verde Zion

Meeker Centennial Wamsutter

Rangely Basin Moxa

Palisade Thunder Basin Grand Teton

Roosevelt Yellowstone

Myton Devil's Tower Newcastle

Sheridan South Pass Pawnee Buttes

Canyonlands N. Cheyenne Horsepool

Aspen

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Updated 15 January “Non-Permanent” Sites

Trout Creek Pass Briggsdale

Goliath Peak Price [Official 3SAQS site]

Flattops Fruitland [Official 3SAQS site]

Ripple Creek Little Mountain

Sunlight Mountain Sinclair Casper

McClure Pass

Walden [Official 3SAQS site] Wyoming Range

Dutch John

Grand Mesa Escalante [Official 3SAQS site]

Silt-Collbran Murphy Ridge

Colorado NM South Campbell Co.

Lay Peak [Official 3SAQS site] Hiawatha Green

Kenosha Pass

Norwood

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Updated 16 January “Non-Permanent” Sites: Recommended Classifications

(draft)Class A: Keep in Current Location Not Sure

Class B: Would be willing to move if appropriate

Briggsdale Escalante [Official 3SAQS site] Trout Creek Pass

Goliath PeakColorado NM Walden [Official 3SAQS site]: (not

before Oct. 2014)

FlattopsSinclair Casper

Dutch John

Ripple Creek Murphy Ridge Grand Mesa

Sunlight Mountain South Campbell Co. Silt-Collbran

McClure Pass Hiawatha GreenLay Peak [Official 3SAQS site] (not before 2015)

Price [Official 3SAQS site] Norwood

Fruitland [Official 3SAQS site]

Little Mountain

Kenosha Pass

“Permanent” Site

“Non-Permanent”

Site

Industry Site

Old Great Sand Dunes O3 Monitor (1988-1991)

USFS Holy Cross (potential replacement

for Wilson)

New Snowbird O3 Monitor

Wyoming Range (Closed)

New Deadman Pass SiteNew

Storm Peak (DRI)

17 January Update

Site Type

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Existing “Potential 3SAQS” Ozone Monitoring Sites

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Evaluation of Potentially Underserved Areas

• See updated table in: UA_ProsCons_17Jan2014.docx

• Need to rank UAs (H, M, L or 1,2,3…13)Potentially Underserved Area

Pros Cons Add’l Comments Rank*

UA1:

Saguache-Monte Vista-Alamosa

Great Sand Dunes NM on eastern boundary (but at higher elevation)

Far from any existing monitoring sites

Some areas of elevated non-fire O3 impacts predicted, including areas below 8,000’ (WestJump modeling)

Isolated; No significant existing sources or major population centers in immediate vicinity

Far from any emissions sources Generally low O3 contribution from

anthropogenic sources predicted (WestJump modeling)

J. Korfmacher (1/13/14): Not a priority for a number of reasons, but a very interesting area topographically: big, broad valley that may be subject to the inversions and snow cover in the winter that characterize Pinedale and Vernal. A valley-floor monitor for a season or two might be very useful.

L

UA2: East-Central WY

Downwind of major point sources (Dave Johnston and Laramie River Station)

Minimal O&G development Low NOx emissions density Low non-biogenic O3 impacts

predicted (WestJump modeling)

J. Korfmacher (1/13/14): On and around Thunder Basin NG. Probably not much happening out there--very few sources upwind and very well-mixed. Maybe MedBow or R2 have an interest in monitoring around the Thunder Basin.

L

UA3: Medicine Bow – Saratoga

Downwind of CDC development area

Not well represented by higher elevation Centennial monitor

Minimal O&G development No major sources Generally low anthropogenic O3

impacts predicted (WestJump modeling)

USFS (D. Miller) has expressed interest.

J. Korfmacher (1/13/14): Not too far from my Snowy Range field site, so it wouldn't be too big of a deal to manage/maintain. Some potential O&G upwind precursor sources.

M

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Reminder:3SAQS Monitoring Network Objectives

• Provide adequate spatial coverage of study area• Monitor locations with O3 close to or above

NAAQS• Monitor locations downwind of existing or

planned future development areas• Monitor Class I and sensitive Class II AQRV impacts• Characterize background O3

• Provide data for model performance evaluation (O3, PM and precursors)

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Area Informal Summary Assessment Recommended Rank [DRAFT]

UA13: Roan Plateau Downwind of O&G developments and far from Rangely; USFS suggests Douglas Pass site

3

UA5: Dinosaur East Side Of interest for several reasons and commentators have suggested high priority but USFS may have difficulty servicing this remote location

3

UA12: Kremmling Area Mostly high elevation; downwind of White River O&G development; low elevation areas not well represented by current network; potential USFS Holy Cross site in southern end and DRI Storm Peak in northern end

2-3

UA2: East-Central WY Considered high priority by WY DEQ due to future development plans; considered low priority by other agencies; mobile monitor in place 2013 - 2014

3 (based on WY DEQ analysis)

UA3: Medicine Bow – Saratoga

Potentially downwind of large O&G development but WestJump predicts low anthropogenic impact; may be manageable by USFS

2

UA9: Dove Creek North Side May be reasonably well represented by existing sites but there is potential for future development in the area (Mancos and Paradox)

2

UA4: Central West WY Some on-going development to the south but otherwise of lower interest; considered medium priority by WY DEQ

1-2

UA6(Caineville-Hanksville), UA7(Green River-Westwater), UA8(Blanding Area)

Long way from any existing assets; UDAQ suggests existing sites are reasonably representative of UA6, UA7 and UA8

1

UA10(Delta-Montrose), UA11(Black Canyon of the Gunnison)

Minimal evidence of ozone greater than background; Near otherwise unmonitored Class I areas (Black Canyon of the Gunnison and West Elk); Easy access via US-50

1

UA1: Saguache-Monte Vista-Alamosa

Low priority based on ENVIRON analysis and other comments received; 1

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Next Steps – Jan. 10th through mid-Feb.Step Deadline

Obtain additional input :

• Assessment WG review of site status / rankings TODAY!!

• ENVIRON provides revised network map and first draft of recommendations

By 23 January

• Call for Assessment WG to reach consensus on draft recommendations

Target of 24 January at 2:00 PM MST

• Additional calls as needed for Assessment WG to reach consensus

Possible calls on 28 and/or 29 January, or morning of 31 January

Complete recommendations memo for distribution to Steering Committee

before or on 6 February

Review of recommendations memo by Steering Committee, including input on site operations commitments by each funding agency

by 14 February

Finalize memo including data files, map layers, data sources and processing procedures

21 February