Ambient Air Monitoring

Are you constructing a new major stationary source or making major modifications to your existing major source (e.g., replacing a boiler, or adding new process equipment)? If so, Air Compliance Testing provides complete, turnkey on-site meteorological and ambient air monitoring services. We can establish your Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) station to determine the effect of emissions from a proposed source on ambient air quality as required by 40 CFR Part 51.

Our programs meet the requirements of 40 CFR Part 58, "Ambient Air Quality Surveillance" the criteria in Appendix B to Part 58, "Quality Assurance Requirements for Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Air Monitoring" and Appendix E to Part 58, "Probe and Monitoring Path Siting Criteria for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring".

Following is a sample of what the components of an actual Ambient Air Monitoring Program can include. This list is not all-inclusive. Our scope of work will be developed specifically to meet your unique needs.
 

Constructing and Siting a Meteorological Station

Stations are designed and sited in accordance with the Ambient Air Monitoring requirements of 40 CFR Part 58.

Develop Tower Specifications and Oversee Construction

Specify and procure a Meteorological Station Tower, determine appropriate siting, provide construction oversight. This includes developing tower construction specifications.

Procure and Assemble Meteorological Monitoring Equipment

Specify, procure and assemble Meteorological Station monitoring equipment including sensors power supply and modem/communication equipment. This typically includes establishing a temporary installation of the Meteorological Monitoring Equipment at Air Compliance Testing's facility to troubleshoot equipment prior to its installation in the field.

Constructing and Installing a Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS)

A CEMS is used to measure concentrations of pollutants for use in determining the net increase in ambient concentration levels caused by the increase in plant emissions.

Procure and Assemble CEMS Monitoring Equipment

Procure CEMS equipment including an ambient monitoring probe, analyzers, the Data Acquisition System, construct the CEMS Trailer, assemble a calibration manifold (Solenoid valves, regulators, etc.) and the calibration gas delivery system (including a dilution system, if necessary).

Prepare Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) and Calibration Procedures

Prepare the Meteorological Station and CEMS QAP. The QAP contains the data validation and calibration procedures for the Meteorological Monitoring Equipment and includes the maintenance, calibration and auditing procedures for the Meteorological Monitoring equipment. It includes policies, procedures, specifications, standards and documentation necessary to provide data that meet monitoring objectives and EPA QA requirements, and minimize the loss of data due to malfunctions or out-of-control conditions. The QAP is written to meet the requirements of 40 CFR Part 58.

Program Support

Our service extends beyond field work and data collection. We will meet with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss and obtain approval for all aspects of your project, including meteorological tower placement, sensor placement, the QAP, the CEMS, and reporting requirements and frequency.

We also provide ongoing Meteorological Station and CEMS Service as required. This includes periodic equipment calibration and maintenance and data download, review and validation.

Once the data files are obtained from the Data Acquisition System (DAS) and transferred to Air Compliance Testing's offices, the data is processed into predetermined reports and submitted to our clients in both paper and electronic copy formats.

Click here to view, download or print our Ambient Air Monitoring Technical Service Bulletin.