MECKLENBURG COUNTY Land Use and Environmental Services Agency - A I R Q U A L I T Y - February 17, 2016

Transcription

1 MECKLENBURG COUNTY Land Use and Environmental Services Agency - A I R Q U A L I T Y - February 17, 2016 Beverly Banister, Director Air, Pesticides & Toxics Management Division U.S. EPA, Region 4 Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center 61 Forsyth Street, SW Atlanta, GA Re: Relocation of County Line Ozone Monitoring Station Dear Ms. Banister: Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services Agency Air Quality (MCAQ) is proposing to relocate the County Line ozone monitoring station ( ) due to the termination of our lease at its current location. MCAQ requests U.S. EPA approval of the relocation in accordance with the attached Notification of Change Addendum to the 2015 Annual Monitoring Network Plan for Mecklenburg County Air Quality. The owner of the property where the County Line ozone monitoring station is located is requiring MCAQ to remove the monitoring station from the property. MCAQ, in consultation with U.S. EPA Region 4 and the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ), has located a site suitable for relocation at the University Meadows Park, approximately 4.3 kilometers southwest of the current station. U.S EPA Region 4 and NCDAQ staff have visited the proposed location and have indicated that it is an acceptable replacement. On July 1, 2015 MCAQ submitted its network plan in accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR The MCAQ network plan was also submitted as Appendix B of the NCDAQ s Ambient Monitoring Network Plan on July 27. Attached to this correspondence, please find a Notification of Change Addendum to the MCAQ plan referenced above. The addendum provides information regarding the current County Line station that is being relocated and a description of the relocation site (University Meadows). The addendum will be posted for public notice and comment on the MCAQ web site for a period of 30 days beginning on February 17, 2016 and ending on March 18, Please do not hesitate to contact Jeff Francis of my staff at if you require additional information regarding this matter. Best regards, Leslie H. Rhodes Director cc: Gregg Worley, Todd Rinck, Ryan Brown - USEPA Sheila Holman, Donnie Redmond - NCDAQ Jeff Francis - MCAQ PEOPLE PRIDE PROGRESS PARTNERSHIP 2145 Suttle Avenue Charlotte, NC (704) FAX (704)

2 Notification of Change Notification of Change Addendum to the MCAQ Plan Addendum to the 2015 Annual Monitoring Network Plan for Mecklenburg County Air Quality - Relocation of County Line ( ) Ozone Monitoring Station to , (proposed site name: University Meadows) On July 1, 2015 Mecklenburg County Land Use and Environmental Services Agency Air Quality (MCAQ) submitted the 2015 Annual Monitoring Network Plan for Mecklenburg County Air Quality (MCAQ Plan). The MCAQ Plan was submitted in accordance with the requirements of 40 CFR The MCAQ Plan was also submitted as Appendix B of the NC Division of Air Quality s Ambient Monitoring Network Plan (NC Plan) on July 27, The NC Plan (including Appendix B, MCAQ Plan) was approved by U.S. EPA Region 4 on November 19, Since the approval date circumstances have arisen that require MCAQ to modify the MCAQ Plan. MCAQ is submitting this addendum to provide information regarding those circumstances. Changes are required due to the loss of property access where the MCAQ County Line ozone monitoring station ( ) is located. The property owner has requested MCAQ remove the monitoring station from the property. Discussions with U.S. EPA monitoring staff indicate that relocation of the monitoring station is required. The following graphic depicts the design values measured at the County Line station ( ) from : Ozone Air Quality, Mecklenburg County 8-hour Design Value Concentration Based on Annual 4th Maximum 8-hour Average 100 Concentration, ppb Mecklenburg Compliance Value County Line 2008 NAAQS 2015 NAAQS

3 MCAQ, in consultation with U.S. EPA Region 4 and the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ); conducted a search for suitable relocation sites in the vicinity of the current County Line ozone monitoring station. MCAQ has located a site suitable for relocation at the University Meadows Park approximately 4.3 kilometers southwest of the current station. U.S EPA Region 4 and NCDAQ have inspected the proposed location and have provided input indicating the proposed location is an acceptable replacement. MCAQ requests U.S. EPA approvals for the Notification of Changes Addendum and specifically, for the following changes to the MCAQ Plan: 1) Discontinuation of the County Line station ( ) in accordance with 40 CFR 58.14(c)(6): A SLAMS monitor not eligible for removal under any of the criteria in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(5) of this section may be moved to a nearby location with the same scale of representation if logistical problems beyond the State's control make it impossible to continue operation at its current site. 2) Relocation of the County Line station to the new location at University Meadows Park (proposed new AQS ID: ), at the following coordinates: , (approximate address 1608 Pavilion Blvd.) 3) Approval to allow MCAQ to combine data from the discontinued site ( ) with the relocated site (proposed AQS ID ) for the purpose of calculating a design value for a relocated site in accordance with 40CFR Part 50 Appendix U(2)(c): In certain circumstances, including but not limited to site closures or relocations, data from two nearby sites may be combined into a single site data record for the purpose of calculating a valid design value. The appropriate Regional Administrator may approve such combinations after taking into consideration factors such as distance between sites, spatial and temporal patterns in air quality, local emissions and meteorology, jurisdictional boundaries, and terrain features. The following is a description of the new University Meadows station ( ) as it is proposed:

4 8. University Meadows (A) University Meadows Site Table Site Name: University Meadows AQS Site Identification Number: Location: 1608 Pavilion Boulevard (address approximate) Charlotte, NC Latitude: N Datum: WGS84 Longitude: W Elevation: 216 meters Parameter Method Probe Sampling Method Number Height (m) Schedule Ozone UV Photometry 47 5 April 1 Oct. 31, Continuous Date Monitor Established: Ozone April 1, 2016 Nearest Road: Pavilion Blvd. Distance to Road: 50 meters Traffic Count: 8000 Year of Count: 2012 (9/24/2012) MSA: Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (2013) MSA #: Table 9. (B) University Meadows Site Description and Statement of Purpose The University Meadows site is located approximately 325 meters north of the intersection of Highway 49 and Pavilion Boulevard in Mecklenburg County. It will begin monitoring ozone on 4/1/2016. The site is located 15 kilometers NE of the central business district at latitude N and longitude W The site elevation is 216 meters. The nearest road is Pavilion Boulevard, which is 50 meters from the probe and has a daily traffic count (adt) of 8000 (2012). The monitoring shelter is located in a large grass field at University Meadows Park. The probe inlet is 5.0 meters above the ground and 2.0 meters from the roof of the monitoring building. There are no obstructions to air flow near the probe. The site is located 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) downwind of the central business district of Charlotte, NC. It is oriented along the primary summer wind vector (SW to NE) which intersects the central business district. The site should measure peak ozone concentrations in Mecklenburg County.

5 Figure 1. Summer June, July, and August NWS Station KCLT The ozone monitor is a SLAMS monitoring station. Data will be used to assess compliance with the NAAQS. The ozone instrument is operated during the North Carolina ozone monitoring season which begins April 1 and ends October 31 in The ozone monitoring season for the University Meadows station will be revised in accordance with Table D-3 to Appendix D of 40 CFR 58 to operate from March 1 to October 31 beginning on March 1, The ozone instrument will operate continuously during the seasonal period. The site complies with the siting requirements of 40CFR58 for criteria air pollutants. OBJECTIVE AND SPATIAL SCALE The monitoring objective of the University Meadows ozone station is to determine the highest concentrations expected to occur in the area covered by the network. The site is an urban scale site which represents ozone levels over several kilometers. Data from this site is used to assess compliance with the NAAQS for ozone. The station is located along the primary summer wind vector in the Charlotte area which is predominated by winds from the southwest (prevailing wind direction). The site is located in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The principal cities and counties in the MSA are Charlotte, NC; Gastonia, NC; Concord, NC; Rock Hill, SC and Cabarrus County, NC; Gaston County, NC; Iredell County, NC; Lincoln County, NC; Mecklenburg County, NC; Rowan County, NC; Union County, NC; Chester County, SC; Lancaster County, SC; and York County, SC.

6 (C) University Meadows Aerial Photograph Figure 5. University Meadows aerial photograph with 4 km diameter circle.

7 Notification of Change Addendum to the MCAQ Plan (D) University Meadows Site Photographs NORTH NORTHEAST EAST SOUTHEAST SOUTH SOUTHWEST WEST NORTHWEST

8 Current 2015 MCAQ Annual Monitoring Network Plan Air Monitoring Station Description. To be replaced by the University Meadows ozone monitoring station and removed from the MCAQ - Plan: 3. County Line (A) County Line Site Table Site Name: County Line AQS Site Identification Number: Location: Highway 29 North at Hudspeth Road (13001 US 29 HY UNINC) Charlotte, NC Latitude: N º Datum: WGS84 Longitude: W º Elevation: 216 meters Parameter Method Probe Sampling Method Number Height (m) Schedule Ozone UV Photometry 47 4 April 1 Oct. 31, Continuous Date Monitor Established: Ozone November 9, 1979 Nearest Road: NC Highway 29 Distance to Road: 128 meters Traffic Count: Year of Count: 2010 MSA: Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area (2012) MSA #: Population (Census blocks within 1 mile of property) Projected 2016 Population (Census Blocks within 1 mile of property) Table 9. (B) County Line Site Description and Statement of Purpose The County Line site is located near Highway 29 North at the Mecklenburg/Cabarrus County line. It has monitored ozone since 11/09/1979. The site is located 20 kilometers NE of the central business district at latitude N º and longitude W º. The site elevation is 216 meters. The nearest road is NC Highway 29, which is 128 meters from the probe and has a daily traffic count of (2010). The monitoring building is located in a large grass field near the Mecklenburg County-Cabarrus County line. The probe inlet is 4.1 meters above the ground and 1.7 meters from the roof of the monitoring building. The site is located downwind from the central business district of Charlotte, NC. It is oriented along the primary summer wind vector (SW to NE) which intersects the central business district. The site should measure peak ozone concentrations.

9 The ozone monitor was a NAMS monitoring site through December 31, The site type was changed to SLAMS by USEPA on January 1, 2007 in accordance with the revised 40CFR58 monitoring rules published October 17, Data is used to assess compliance with the NAAQS. The ozone instrument is operated during the North Carolina ozone monitoring season which begins April 1 and ends October 31. The ozone instrument operates continuously during this period. The site complies with the siting requirements of 40CFR58 for criteria air pollutants. There are no proposed changes for this site. It is recommended that the current site status be maintained. OBJECTIVE AND SPATIAL SCALE The monitoring objective of the County Line ozone site is to determine the highest concentrations expected to occur in the area covered by the network. This site is considered an urban scale site which represents ozone levels over several kilometers. Data from this site is used to assess compliance with the NAAQS for ozone. The site is located in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metropolitan Statistical Area. The principal cities and counties in the MSA are Charlotte, NC; Gastonia, NC; Concord, NC; Rock Hill, SC and Cabarrus County, NC; Gaston County, NC; Iredell County, NC; Lincoln County, NC; Mecklenburg County, NC; Rowan County, NC; Union County, NC; Chester County, SC; Lancaster County, SC; and York County, SC.

10 (C) County Line Aerial Photograph Notification of Change Addendum to the MCAQ Plan Figure 5. County Line aerial photograph with 4 km diameter circle.

11 (D) County Line Site Photographs Notification of Change Addendum to the MCAQ Plan NORTH NORTHEAST EAST SOUTHEAST SOUTH SOUTHWEST WEST NORTHWEST