Emissions Inventory Overview-Part 1

1

Emissions Inventory Overview-Part 1

Melinda Ronca-Battista, ITEP/TAMS Center

2

OverviewWhat is an Emissions Inventory

and why do we need one?Part 1

◦Types of EIs◦Pollutants◦Sources

3

What is an Emissions Inventory?Listing of sources and amounts of estimated air pollutant emissions in geographic area during specific time period

4

How are EI data used?Air quality management tool

◦ Collect baseline data◦ Develop & track emissions control and

management strategiesRegulations developmentAir quality modeling and assessmentPermits

◦ Do you have facilities that need permits?◦ Operating conditions (potential to emit)◦ Fees

Emissions tradingRegulatory compliance

5

What are Emissions?Criteria Pollutants

◦ Particulate matter: PM10 and PM2.5◦ Nitrogen oxides: NOx◦ Sulfur dioxide: SO2 ◦ Carbon monoxide: CO◦ Lead: Pb

Ozone precursors◦ Ammonia: NH3◦ Volatile Organic Compounds: VOCs

HAPs (Air Toxics)◦ 187 toxic, carcinogenic compounds without

regulated standards

6

Criteria PollutantsWhat about Ozone?

◦Ozone is not emitted directly by sources

◦EIs inventory ozone precursors VOCs NOx Both react with sunlight to

form ozone◦NOx and VOCs get inventoried, but not ozone itself

7

HAPs (Air Toxics)187 compounds listed in CAA

including◦Mercury (power plants, coal-fired)◦Perchloroethylene (dry cleaning)◦Benzene (gasoline)◦Chloroform (chlorination plants,

paper mills)◦Methyl Isocyanate (pesticide

manufacturing) Release at Bhopal, India, killed 4,000

people◦The list goes on…

8

What are Emission Sources?

Point Sources

On-Road Mobile Sources

Non-Road Mobile Sources

Non-Point Sources (Area Sources)

Based on EPA

Event Sources

9

Level of DetailSimple Summary: Small

reservation with few on-reservation sources◦Compiled from existing data sources◦Includes only large sources

Comprehensive Accounting: Large reservation, many and/or large sources◦Large on-reservation sources -

permitting◦“Problem” Emissions (agricultural

burning, small industries, road dust, traffic emissions)

10

Important NoteIf you include data from

reservation sources and county-level data, conduct your EI in two parts◦Part 1, On-Reservation: Data you

collect for on-reservation sources◦Part 2, Off-Reservation: Data you

compile for sources in the surrounding counties Data obtained from the NEI, state

environmental offices, etc.

11

Levels of EILevel 1

◦Requires highest degree of defensibility ◦Based on site-specific data◦Results can be used directly in

enforcement, compliance or litigation support if sufficient scope

Level 2 ◦Used to directly support decision-

making or standard setting◦CAA-SIP inventory or other national

inventory developed to support numerous EPA regulatory requirements

◦Site- or region-specific information generally required

12

Levels of EILevel 3

◦General assessment or research◦Site-specific data may be gathered◦Do not directly support rulemaking

activitiesLevel 4

◦Usually compiled from previously-published emissions data

◦Not intended to directly support rulemaking or compliance activities

From US EPA’s Emission Inventory Improvement Program (EIIP)

Vol. 6, page 2.1-5

13

Levels of EI Level 4 EI – Gather Existing

Data◦ Everyone should start by doing a

Level 4 EI◦ Compile existing data from the

National Emission Inventory (NEI) Shows air pollution emitting facilities in

your area (point sources) Identifies non-point sources that create

most emissions in your area◦ If your tribe’s lands are already

adequately covered by NEI/state inventory, level 4 is all you need to do!

14

Inventory StepsSource identification

◦Internet mapping and satellite imagery

◦Phonebook/windshield survey◦National Emission Inventory (NEI)

data, previous EIsPlanning!

◦Inventory Preparation Plan (IPP)◦Quality Assurance Project Plan

(QAPP)Collect data

◦From sources, permits, questionnaires, etc.

15

Inventory Steps (cont.)Evaluate and select methods for

estimating emissionsPreliminary calculations (unit

conversions)Calculate and analyze data (TEISS,

Excel, GIS, etc.)Apply Quality Assurance/Quality Control

(QA/QC)Report data and present results

◦ Internal: tribal council, community◦ External: EPA project officer, NEI

16

Types of SourcesPoint sources = Stationary sources

Area sources = Non-Point sources

Event SourcesMobile sources

◦On-Road (cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses)

◦Non-Road (off-road equipment)

Biogenic sources

17

What is a Point Source?Individual, stationary sourceEmitting quantities above the

emission threshold Emission thresholds vary

according to type of pollutant and that location’s non-attainment area classification

See EPA’s Air Emission Reporting Requirement (AERR) for federal thresholds

18

What is a Point Source? AERR reporting thresholds are

quite highMany states have lower

thresholdsConsider using state thresholds

to define your reservation’s point sources◦Makes EI compatible with others in

your area◦Get a more detailed listing of point

sources Example: Busy gas station can be point

source under state thresholds, but not EPA’s

If not a point source, classify as a nonpoint source

19

Example: Point Source Thresholds in Tons per Year (tpy)

Pollutant EPA’s AERR Reporting Thresholds

New Mexico Reporting Thresholds

Lead (Pb) ≥0.5 >1PM10 ≥100 >10

PM2.5 ≥100 >10Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

≥100 >10

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

≥1000 >10

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

≥100 >10

20

Point Source CharacteristicsLarge, stationary sources

◦Manufacturing or production plants

◦Power plants, refineries◦Large, industrial facilities

A single point source facility can have emissions from ◦Smoke stacks◦Units within directed to stacks

◦Fugitive sources within plant

21

Area (Non-Point) Sources Stationary sources that

emit◦ Less than point source

threshold◦ Smaller emitters, but

numerous◦ Often have fugitive

(uncontrollable) emissions

Tend to be sources likeGasoline stationsDry cleanersAuto body/paint shopsUnpaved roads

22

Other Nonpoint Sources

Other nonpoint source examples◦Agricultural field burning◦Residential wood combustion◦Residential combustion of household waste (backyard burning)

23

Event SourcesWildfires and prescribed burning◦Now inventoried as EVENTS

24

On-Road Mobile SourcesVehicles found on roads and

highways (e.g., cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles)◦ 20 volatile organic compounds

(VOCs) and metals quantified (Urban Air Toxics)

◦ Diesel particulate matter and diesel exhaust organic gases also quantified

25

Non-Road Mobile Sources Mobile sources not found on roads

and highwaysLawn mowersConstruction VehiclesFarm machinery

Exceptions◦ Commercial marine vessels and

locomotives usually reported as a nonpoint source

◦ Aircraft usually reported as point sources at an airport

26

AircraftNote about aircraft

◦ALL airports are now considered point sources in the NEI

◦If you have airports on your reservation, check the most recent NEI data. Use it in your EI.

◦UNLESS you have more accurate data

27

Biogenic SourcesNaturally occurring emissions

◦Vegetation: Trees, shrubs, grasses◦Microbial: Soil bacteria, termites

EPA estimates these emissions on a county level for entire country…

…so you don’t have to

28

Point, Nonpoint, Non-road Mobile, On-Road Mobile or Event?

29

Point, Nonpoint, Non-road Mobile, On-Road Mobile or Event?

30

Point, Nonpoint, Non-road Mobile, On-Road Mobile or Event?

31

Point, Nonpoint, Non-road Mobile, On-Road Mobile or Event?

32

Point, Nonpoint, Non-road Mobile, On-Road Mobile or Event?

33

Point, Nonpoint, Non-road Mobile, On-Road Mobile or Event?

34

Point, Nonpoint, Non-road Mobile, On-Road Mobile or Event?

35

Point, Nonpoint, Non-road Mobile, On-Road Mobile or Event?

36

Homework due in 5 days:Think about what level your EI is

going to be and email the answer to the instructors, using the questions below. If, as you go through the modules, you decide to change the level of your EI, that is fine, and please let your instructors know. 1. What level of EI will you be

completing?2. Based on information you already

know about your land, what sources are there?