hopedale air monitoring report: mid-stream natural gas ... · and utilized conventional monitoring...

Hopedale Air Monitoring Report:

Mid-Stream Natural Gas Processing Facility

July 2020

Hopedale Special Study

Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided funding to Ohio EPA, Division of Air Pollution Control (DAPC) to conduct a Community-Scale Air Toxics Monitoring Project with the goal of characterizing near-source ambient air pollutant concentrations from the oil and gas industry. Ohio EPA used this funding to establish an ambient air monitoring site adjacent to the MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. Fractionation Facility (herein referred to as MarkWest facility), located in Hopedale, Harrison County, Ohio. This document outlines the monitoring results and analysis that has taken place under this special study. The pollutants monitored included the criteria pollutants carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5). Additionally, the special study sampled for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This special study was funded to assist Ohio EPA in assessing the need for potential emission reduction measures from specific sources and help characterize any potential risk for the most highly impacted populations near these sources. Ohio EPA established the short to mid-term ambient air monitoring project site adjacent to the MarkWest facility to provide sufficient representativeness of a mid- to large-scale “Mid-Stream” oil and gas operation. Operation of the monitors was established for an approximate time frame of 2.5 years and utilized conventional monitoring equipment and practices for the collection of environmental data. These monitors, in general, are special study in nature, are not permanently established, and the monitoring can be adjusted to accommodate changing needs and priorities. The monitors follow the network requirements listed in 40 CFR §58.20. This special study’s data met all quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) criteria, siting criteria, and the methodology requirements for State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) monitoring. All data was submitted to U.S. EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) as appropriate. Below is a summary of the data that has been collected at this site along with the corresponding screening risk-assessment of the air pollutants measured during this special study.

Problem Statement/Definition

The oil and gas industry has rapidly expanded in Eastern Ohio. The natural gas that has been found in Ohio in the Utica formation is “wet gas,” that is, it contains natural gas liquids (NGLs) along with the natural gas. The NGLs are higher-chain hydrocarbons that provide additional energy value or British thermal unit (BTU) value to the gas but cannot be transported or shipped in natural gas lines long distances. The NGLs condense in the transmission lines, and this condensation can cause both operational issues and potential safety issues to the end users. In order to “clean up” the raw gas and produce pipeline quality natural gas, “midstream” facilities are constructed between the well and transmission pipeline to “clean up” the gas and recover the NGLs. The NGLs are a high BTU commodity with large economic value. It is, however, a liquid hydrocarbon mixture that has the potential for air pollution emissions from several different operations at the source.

Although these facilities are not categorized as major sources of air pollution emissions, Ohio EPA wanted to study the impact of a midstream Ohio facility on air quality.


In a previous study concluded in 2014, Ohio EPA evaluated air quality impacts of natural gas “upstream” operations in Eastern Ohio. This study consisted of ambient air quality monitoring in 2013 of a natural gas well site in Muskingum County, and the results were documented in a report titled “Hydraulic Fracturing Well Preliminary Air Monitoring Assessment, Muskingum County” (February 2014). Details regarding the previous study may be found at: https://www.epa.state.oh.us/Portals/27/ams/HydraulicFracturingWellAirMonitoringAssessment_%202013DataUpdateFeb2014.pdf

Monitoring Description

The monitoring site for this special study was set up in 2017 at Jewett-Hopedale Road in Jewett, Ohio 43986 (AQS#: 39-067-0004); however, due to numerous equipment issues and site access issues, data of a reportable quality was not collected until beginning in 2018 and at that time only for certain parameters. Ultimately, due to site access issues and the deterioration of the site conditions, it became necessary to select a new site location. The monitoring site was moved to a new location on Giaccobi Road on June 26, 2018 (AQS#: 39-067-0005) and data collection resumed in August of that year. This report covers the reportable data collected at both the initial (only intermittently available for certain parameters) and final site locations through March of 2020, the end of the special study period. Table 1 below includes the monitoring parameters analyzed at both the initial and final site locations along with the dates of data collection for each parameter. Table 1: Parameters Monitored and Reported Data Periods by Location

Parameter Site Location Dates of Data Collection

Reported to AQS

VOC* AQS#: 39-067-0004

Jewett-Hopedale Road, Jewett, OH 43986 NA

AQS#: 39-067-0005 Giaccobi Road, Jewett, OH 43986 8/24/18 – 3/31/20

CO AQS#: 39-067-0004


AQS#: 39-067-0005 Giaccobi Road, Jewett, OH 43986 8/30/18 - 3/31/20

H2S AQS#: 39-067-0004


AQS#: 39-067-0005 Giaccobi Road, Jewett, OH 43986 8/30/18 – 7/12/19**

PM 2.5 AQS#: 39-067-0004

Jewett-Hopedale Road, Jewett, OH 43986 1/1/18 - 5/8/18


https://www.epa.state.oh.us/Portals/27/ams/HydraulicFracturingWellAirMonitoringAssessment_%202013DataUpdateFeb2014.pdf

https://www.epa.state.oh.us/Portals/27/ams/HydraulicFracturingWellAirMonitoringAssessment_%202013DataUpdateFeb2014.pdf


Parameter Site Location Dates of Data Collection

Reported to AQS

PM 10 AQS#: 39-067-0004

Jewett-Hopedale Road, Jewett, OH 43986 2/1/18 - 5/8/18


* Both canister and GC data was collected with GC data intermittent due to equipment issues. The GC was ultimately discontinued in August 2019. Only canister data has been reported to the AQS system and included in this report.

**no data has been reported since 7/12/19 due to equipment issues.

Real-time data was collected through a data logger and sent electronically into Ohio EPA’s data acquisition system, “AirVision”. Intermittent data was collected by Ohio EPA personnel in accordance with Ohio EPA approved protocols. In addition to the above parameters, wind direction and wind speed data were also reported to AQS. All data went through the appropriate data review and QA/AC procedures prior to submission into AQS (discussed below). Relevant AQS reports for all data reported as a part of this special study are attached to this package for reference1. Figure 1 includes two images: (1) a satellite image of the location of the initial site (Jewett-Hopedale Road AQS#: 39-067-0004), and (2) a view of the initial site showing select monitors with the MarkWest facility seen in the background.

1 Detailed descriptions of report content can be found at: https://aqs.epa.gov/aqsweb/documents/AQS_Reports_Guide.html

https://aqs.epa.gov/aqsweb/documents/AQS_Reports_Guide.html


Figure 1: Location Map (top) and Site Photograph (bottom) of the Initial Community-Scale Monitoring Site (Jewett-Hopedale Road AQS# 39-067-0004).


Figure 2 includes four images: (1) a satellite image of the final (current) location of the sampling trailer immediately adjacent to the MarkWest facility, (2 and 3) the trailer at the current location, with a lower meteorological tower, and (4) the current location after the installation of a 10-meter meteorological tower. The 10-meter meteorological tower was installed at the request of U.S. EPA Region V to collect meteorological data from the recommended 10 meter height. Figure 2: Location Map (top) and Site Photographs (bottom three) of the Current Community-Scale Monitoring Site (Giaccobi Road AQS# 39-067-0005).


Table 2 shows the equipment and the reference/equivalency method being used to monitor each parameter. Table 2: Monitoring Equipment and Methods by Parameter

Parameter Instrumentation Reference/Equivalency

Method (where applicable)

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Teledyne API 300E

U.S. EPA Automated

Reference Method:

RFCA-1093-093

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Teledyne 100E

* Modified for use as H2S monitor system

using SO2 detection equipment.

N/A

* U.S. EPA Automated Equivalent

Method: EQSA-0495-100 (SO2)


Parameter Instrumentation Reference/Equivalency

Method (where applicable)

PM10 BGI PQ100 U.S. EPA Manual Reference

Method:

RFPS-1298-124

PM2.5 BGI PQ200 UEPA Manual Equivalent

Method:

EQPM-0202-142

Wind Speed / Wind Direction RM Young 86004 Ultrasonic

Anemometer

N/A

VOC Canister Sampling Summa Canister Collection

Thermo-Andersen AVOCS

EPA Compendium Toxic

Organic Methods

TO-15A

Gas Chromatography SRI GC – Model 8610-C

N/A

Table 3 lists the intervals at which samples were collected, consistent with the U.S. EPA national sampling schedule. Table 3: Monitor Operation Schedule

Parameter Annual Operational Schedule

CO* H2S Wind Speed, Wind Direction

Continuous Operation (year-round) / 24 hrs. per day

PM2.5*, PM10 *

Intermittent Operation (year-round) / 24 hr. composite U.S. EPA – 1 in 6-day Schedule

VOC Summa Canister Samples

Intermittent Operation (year-round) / 24 hr. composite U.S. EPA - 1 in 6-day Schedule

Gas Chromatography (GC) Continuous Operation (year-round) / 24 hrs. per day

*Source: 40 CFR § 58.12. Reference is subject to NAAQS pollutants only.

Data Evaluation

Ohio EPA monitoring organization management and site operators were responsible for the primary review of monitoring data. Primary review determines proper identification and application of null or qualifier codes. A structured AQS coding system of related data and/or measurement quality objectives was utilized to validate or nullify monitoring data due to failure to meet these requirements. A secondary review of data was conducted by Ohio EPA, Central Office data review staff prior to final submission of monitoring data to


AQS by Central Office. Data reviews are conducted on a monthly basis. At a minimum, two individuals reviewed the QA/QC data for data quality objectives.

Data completeness was assessed during the monthly and quarterly review of monitoring data by the Ohio EPA, Central Office data review staff. Completeness was tabulated upon final verification and application of null data codes and qualifier flags. Continuous monitoring data capture is monitored by the Ohio EPA monitoring organization and Ohio EPA AirVision coordinator in Ohio EPA’s Central Office. The quarterly data completeness reports were submitted to U.S. EPA Region 5 as required throughout this entire special study.

Human Health Risk Assessment

Ohio EPA has analyzed the data collected from 2018 to 2020 in order to determine any potential health risks associated with the levels of pollutants measured in this special study.

The monthly mean of the measured levels of criteria pollutants (CO and the two types of particulate matter, PM10 and PM2.5) are directly compared to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for those pollutants. The Clean Air Act requires U.S. EPA to set these standards (40 CFR Part 50) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. The NAAQS have specific thresholds and averaging times (hourly, 8-hour, annual, etc.). The standards provide public health protection, including protecting the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Air pollution concentrations below the specified levels are considered safe for all populations exposed. Although comparing the monthly mean is not a true comparison for determining compliance with the NAAQS it does provide a comparable representation of how concentrations may be harmful to public health and the environment.

Because H2S is not a criteria/NAAQS pollutant, the concentration was compared to the Minimal Risk Level (MRL) list published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). This is the exposure level (concentration) below which no adverse health effects are expected. Specifically, the MRL value for “intermediate” duration was used, which assumes an exposure of between 15 and 364 days. No longer-term MRL is available for H2S.

A risk-based screening assessment is used to evaluate potential risk from exposure to VOCs. The risk-based screening process for VOCs focuses on the direct inhalation of contaminants measured in ambient (outdoor) air for a given sampling period. U.S. EPA methods are used to estimate both the cancer and non-cancer health effects that may be experienced as a result of long-term exposure the toxic compounds. The total non-carcinogenic risk of the volatile organic compounds measured is called the Hazard Index (HI). The total carcinogenic risk of the VOCs measured at the site is called the “total” risk (represented as RISK in Table 5 and Table 6 below).

In terms of interpretation of the risk associated with these compounds, there is a range of “acceptable” health risk values for carcinogens and non-carcinogens. For carcinogens, acceptability ranges from one in one million (1 x 10-6) to one in ten thousand (1 x 10-4)


individual lifetime risk of developing cancer from exposure to the compounds. For non-carcinogens, a HI below 1.0 (100 percent) is generally regarded as a “safe” level of exposure. If any pollutants exceed the 1 x 10-4 risk level for carcinogenic pollutants or the 1.0 HI for non-carcinogenic pollutants, it merits further investigation by the Ohio EPA.

Criteria Pollutant and Hydrogen Sulfide Results

The results of the criteria/NAAQS pollutants (CO, PM10 and PM2.5) and H2S are shown in

Table 4. The monthly mean concentrations of the criteria/NAAQS pollutants are below

the NAAQS for each pollutant. The monthly mean concentrations are below the ASTDR

MRL for H2S.


Table 4: Summary of the Criteria/NAAQS Pollutant and H2S Data

Month

Mean CO

Concentration

(ppm)

Mean H2S

Concentration

(ppb)

Mean PM10

Concentration

(µg/m³)

Mean PM2.5

Concentration

(µg/m³)

January, 2018 NA NA NA 8.84

February, 2018 NA NA 11 9.7

March, 2018 NA NA 8.6 4.98

April, 2018 NA NA 18.3 6.4

May, 2018 NA NA 28.5 8

Month

Mean CO

Concentration

(ppm)

Mean H2S

Concentration

(ppb)

Mean PM10

Concentration

(µg/m³)

Mean PM2.5

Concentration

(µg/m³)

August, 2018 0.13 0.02 15 6.9

September, 2018 0.28 0.04 14.8 6.6

October, 2018 0.22 0.06 17.5 5.36

November, 2018 0.11 0.07 10.8 7.2

December, 2018 0.16 0.1 10 6.62

January, 2019 0.31 0.04 10 8.04

February, 2019 0.62 0.08 14.2 7.8

March, 2019 0.31 0.03 14 6.6

April, 2019 0.23 0.01 18 6.88

May, 2019 VOID*** 0.03 19.2 7.3

June, 2019 0.01 0.14 13.3 5.95

July, 2019 0.09 1.07 18.3 9.54

August, 2019 0.14 NA 14 6.9

September, 2019 0.16 NA 18 6.36

October, 2019 0.15 NA 13 7.58

November, 2019 0.07 NA 23 9.18

December, 2019 0.09 NA 18.3 9.27

January, 2020 0.36 NA 9.7 5.5

February, 2020 ** NA 23.6 5.95

March, 2020 ** NA **** ****

AQS#: 39-067-0004-Jewett-Hopedale Road, Jewett, OH 43986

AQS#: 39-067-0005-Giaccobi Road, Jewett, OH 43986

**There is no data for February and March 2020 for CO due to data invalidation resulting from monthly data reviews. *** For CO, the May average was found to be negative and for this


reason it is not included in the table although the negative value is well within criteria allowing for data reporting to AQS. **** The March particulate matter data has not yet been reported.

Figures 2 through Figure 5 show the monthly mean concentrations of the three criteria/NAAQS pollutants and H2S. Below each of the figures is the NAAQS or ASTDR standard for that pollutant. The data demonstrate that all the monthly mean values are below the established standards.

Figure 2 – Carbon Monoxide Monthly Mean Concentrations

*NAAQS for CO is 35 ppm for 1 hour or 9 ppm averaged over 8 hours


Figure 3 – Hydrogen Sulfide Monthly Mean Concentrations

*ATSDR standard for H2S is 20 ppb for intermediate duration (15-364 days)


Figure 4 –Particulate Matter (PM10) Monthly Mean Concentrations

*NAAQS for PM10 is 150 µg/m³ for 24 hours

Figure 5 – Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Monthly Mean Concentrations

*NAAQS for PM2.5 is 35 µg/m³ for 24 hours or 12 µg/m³ annual mean


VOC Results Because there are no regulated standards for the VOC compounds listed in these tables, the Ohio EPA conducted a screening risk assessment to identify the potential risk to human health. Table 5 contains the results for VOCs collected at the current Hopedale site location. The results in each table include the average concentrations, the frequency of detection as well as the minimum and maximum values detected for each compound. Note that the average concentration listed contains values for non-detected compounds as half of the detection limit. The detection limit is the lowest measurement the collection and analysis procedure can accurately quantify as a true measurement of the ambient air concentration. Other options for handling values below the detection limit are available, such as using the detection limit itself, or using zero for the measurement result. In this special study, the mean (average) concentration used for estimation of long-term exposure contains the value of half the detection limit for results below the lower detection limit of the method (non-detects). Using a value of zero, however, will tend to underestimate the true average, as many values could be well below the detection limit, but greater than zero. Ohio EPA uses the value of half the detection limit as reasonable compromise between overestimating or underestimating the true ambient air concentration of these compounds (generally following U.S. EPA guidelines). No values are included in this table for compounds that were measured below the detection limit for an entire year.


Table 5: VOC Data from the Final (Current) Hopedale Site (AQS#: 39-067-0005)

Compound Name

Average (µg/m³) with half

detections HI RISK

Min Max

Frequency

detected

out of 92

samples

1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-Trifluoroethane 0.64 0.77 1.00 55

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 0.39 0.49 5.31 13

1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene 0.26 1.38 1.38 1

1,3-Butadiene 0.15 0.07 4.37E-06 0.22 1.13 9

2-Butanone 1.04 0.00 1.47 5.28 20

2-Hexanone 0.25 0.01 0.41 0.94 10

2-Methyl-2-propanol 0.80 1.82 3.21 2

4-Methyl-2-pentanone 0.21 1.33 1.33 1

4-Ethyltoluene 0.26 0.41 0.45 3

Acetone 8.76 0.00 4.87 25.18 77

Acrolein* 1.10 1.15 3.07 39

Benzene 0.67 0.02 5.22E-06 0.35 2.01 91

Benzyl chloride 0.44 2.17E-05 1.22 1.22 1

Carbon disulfide 0.90 0.00 11.55 11.55 1

Chloromethane 1.26 0.93 1.80 91

Carbon tetrachloride 0.42 0.00 2.54E-06 0.63 0.76 31

Cyclohexane 0.18 0.00 0.34 0.52 3

Dichlorodifluoromethane 2.67 1.48 3.91 91

Ethanol 9.54 3.52 42.21 91

Hexane 0.77 0.00 0.35 5.96 77

n-Butane 10.44 1.07 270.99 92

n-Heptane 0.24 0.41 0.61 13

n-Pentane 3.62 0.41 84.99 92

n-Propylbenzene 0.25 0.74 0.74 1

Propylene 4.50 0.71 111.18 92

Toluene 0.88 0.00 0.38 3.84 83

Total m&p-xylenes 0.44 0.00 0.91 0.91 1

Trichlorofluoromethane 1.39 1.18 1.85 90

Vinyl acetate 0.74 0.00 0.74 3.27 40

Total 0.12 3.38E-05

*Acrolein concentrations unverified for 2018-2019, non-cancer risk results not included in table as discussed in the conclusion section of this report.


Conclusions

This report summarizes the special study air monitoring results for samples collected adjacent to the MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. Fractionation Facility, located in Hopedale, Harrison County, OH. The resultant measurements are either compared to the NAAQS that applies or compared to U.S. EPA and ATSDR human health risk-based guidance.

The NAAQS pollutants, CO and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), monthly mean values measured significantly below their corresponding standard(s). This can be seen in Table 4 as well as in Figures 2, 4 and 5 showing the mean concentrations of each of these pollutants.

VOCs (as can be seen in Table 5) and H2S (as can be seen in Table 4 and Figure 3) also exhibited air concentrations predominately below the risk-based screening levels. Acrolein (a VOC) is the exception as it is the only compound that has measured concentrations over the 1.0 HI for non-carcinogenic effects. All other VOC compounds are below the “acceptable” values. Acrolein was removed from the final HI value (as can be seen in Table 5) because it is an unverified compound and difficult chemical to measure. There is significant concern about the reliability and consistency of these acrolein measured values. As stated in U.S. EPA’s 2012 School Monitoring Initiative Fact Sheet, “Acrolein is a highly reactive chemical compound. Depending on what other chemicals are present, acrolein can react with those chemicals and form other compounds that complicate analysis. Also, other chemical compounds can react to form acrolein, potentially even within canisters used for collecting air quality samples.” For that reason, U.S. EPA did not use acrolein in their evaluation of potential health concerns related to air toxics. Similarly, the Ohio EPA has removed acrolein from the HI in this report. Once removed, the HI and total risk for this special study site are well within the “safe” levels of exposure.

As of the conclusion of this special study (March 2020), the air pollutant concentrations measured adjacent to the MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. Fractionation Facility are low; however, Ohio EPA plans to continue sampling at the current Hopedale site for the immediate future.

For questions please contact the Division of Air Pollution Control, Air Monitoring Section of the Ohio EPA Central Office, Columbus Ohio.

hopedale air monitoring report: mid-stream natural gas ... · and utilized conventional monitoring...

Documents