Houston Regional Monitoring HRM Houston Regional Monitoring Network Overview.

Houston Regional Monitoring HRM

Houston Regional Monitoring Network Overview

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Our Commitment to Air Quality

The safety and welfare of our neighbors and our employees is our highest priority – we all work and live here; improving air quality is a long term effort

Our commitment is evident in our results: air quality continues to improve investments to improve both monitoring and control

equipment continue

We take responsibility to improve the quality of life in our community very seriously

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The Houston Regional Monitoring Network (HRM)

HRM is committed to the scientific understanding of air quality in the Houston area

Houston’s air monitoring system is the most extensive in the U.S., with more than 50 monitoring sites

HRM is an important part of Houston’s air monitoring system

HRM has invested over $30M in air monitoring 10 monitoring sites in Houston $2.2 million annual budget Voluntarily funded by our members 32 years of gathering and analyzing ambient air data 38 participating ship channel companies

HRM benefits industry, government, and the public

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Houston-Area Ozone Monitoring Stations

Note: Monitors with text box highlighted in yellow are non-FRM monitors

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HRM SERVICE AREA

HRM 4 Sheldon Rd

HRM 1 Central St.

HRM 3 Haden RdHRM 7 West Baytown

HRM 11 East Baytown

HRM 10 Mont Belvieu

HRM 8 LaPorte

HRM 617 Wallisville

HRM C615 Lynchburg Ferry

HRM 16 Deer Park

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View of Monitor Site

Trailer

Sampling GC Inside the trailer

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Our Operating Principles

Provide our members with the best scientific air quality data available

Enable our members to make the best decisions about ways to effectively reduce emissions

Share key air monitoring data with TCEQ, City of Houston and Harris County on a routine basis

Inform citizens, elected officials, and agencies about our results

Demonstrate progress toward attainment of all air quality standards

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Our Measuring Process

Criteria Air Pollutants (NAAQS) Ozone* (O3) Particulate Matter (PM10, and PM2.5 mass concentration and

chemical Speciation) Oxides of Nitrogen* (NOx) Carbon Monoxide* (CO) Sulfur Dioxide* (SO2) Lead

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 157 VOCs emitted by industries, utilities, small businesses,

vehicles, household sources, and vegetation Meteorology/Weather*

Temperature, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, net solar radiation (solar energy) and barometric pressure (Site 16 only)

* Continuous Monitoring

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Our Measuring Process

VOC samples are taken using EPA-approved methods and equipment One sample every sixth day for a 24-hour

period at each monitoring site Approximately 10,000 VOC samples collected

by HRM in last 25 years with more than 1 million VOC results reported

Sampling methods are routinely audited using EPA audit methods

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Our Analysis Process

Upon collecting data from monitoring stations, we: Compare to EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality

Standards (NAAQS) Compare to known benchmark concentrations Compare with computer modeling results Analyze trends Compare with data from other cities All HRM measurement results are accessible to

members via a web portal

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Sharing Information An active process with our member

companies, agencies and communities Monthly Technical Advisory Committee

meetings – includes member companies, TCEQ, Harris County and City of Houston

Meetings with CACs and CAPs Educational Outreach Participation in studies and committees

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What We Know:Putting Houston’s Air Quality in Context

Houston’s air meets 5 of 6 of the federal NAAQS, the exception being ground-level ozone

Houston air compares favorably with other cities when looking at all of the NAAQS

According to EPA data, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City all fail to meet two or more of the NAAQS

On average an 80 percent reduction in ambient concentration of key VOCs (BTEX) in the past 18 years

Industry has spent $4-6 billion in Houston from 2002-2012 to improve air quality -- on top of substantial investment in the 1990s

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Are We Meeting Air Quality Standards?

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Significant Decline In Number of Ozone Exceedance DaysSignificant Decline In Number of Ozone Exceedance Days

Days When Houston Area Monitors ExceededEPA Ozone Air Quality Standard

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2012 8-hr Ozone Design ValueRegulatory Monitors in Houston Area

All but one Regulatory Monitor in Houston Area is in attainment for 84 ppb 8-hr STDAll but one Regulatory Monitor in Houston Area is in attainment for 84 ppb 8-hr STD

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All but one Regulatory Monitor in Houston Area is in attainment for 125 ppb 1-hr STDAll but one Regulatory Monitor in Houston Area is in attainment for 125 ppb 1-hr STD

2012 1-hr Ozone Design ValueRegulatory Monitors in Houston Area

125 ppb 1-hr Standard

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Annual Average NOx ConcentrationHRM and Core Houston Area Monitors --

Crawford/Texas Ave, Clinton, Lang, Aldine

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Annual Average BTEX TrendsHRM Network - 1988 through 2011

85% Reduction in BTEX Concentrations Since 198885% Reduction in BTEX Concentrations Since 1988

BTEX – Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, XyleneHRM every sixth day 24-hour composite canister sampling data

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Using TCEQ Air Monitoring Comparison Values (AMCVs) As Air Quality Indicator

TCEQ implemented use of the term “air monitoring comparison values” (AMCVs) to evaluate air monitoring data. AMCVs are chemical-specific air concentrations set to protect human health and welfare

Exposure to an air concentration at or below the AMCV is not likely to

cause adverse health effects

AMCVs are a collective term that refers to all values used by TCEQ to

review ambient air monitoring data

The short-term AMCV, based on acute exposure health and welfare data, is

compared to monitored concentrations ranging from instantaneous to up to one hour. The long-term AMCV, based on chronic health and welfare data, is used to evaluate annual averaged monitored concentrations or annual concentrations averaged over multiple years (if available)

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What We Know:Monitoring Data Indicate Good Air Quality

A comparison of the 2012 monitored ambient concentrations of a list of common urban air pollutants to the AMCVs generally indicates very good air quality in the greater Houston area.

The 2012 annual average benzene concentration at all monitoring sites were below the AMCV.

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Our Mission Going Forward:Maintaining and Improving Air Quality

Provide data to member companies to enable them to meet state and federal air standards

Assist TCEQ in air monitoring to meet NAAQS Monitors must show progress toward meeting NAAQS for

ground-level ozone and confirm attainment Houston area targeting an 80 percent reduction in NOx and

substantial reduction in HRVOCs

Use HRM data as input to rigorous permitting process to identify air control improvements in projects

Communicate with neighbors about our improving air quality and address their questions

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What This Means for Air Quality

Houston’s air quality has dramatically improved and will continue to improve

Houston’s air quality is monitored and analyzed using the most thorough network in the country

HRM and its members recognize our responsibility and have made significant investments as part of our commitment – but we can and will do better.

Houston Regional Monitoring HRM Houston Regional Monitoring Network Overview.

Documents

monitoring sites hrm

laporte hrm

air quality u

continuous monitoring

results u

east baytown hrm

west baytown hrm

sheldon rd hrm