National Academy of Science Committee on Offshore Science and Assessment (COSA) BOEM s Air Quality and Satellite Study.

Transcription

1 National Academy of Science Committee on Offshore Science and Assessment (COSA) BOEM s Air Quality and Satellite Study March 7, 2017 Holli Ensz Physical Scientist Holli.Ensz@boem.gov

2 BOEM vs. USEPA Jurisdiction Map

3 BOEM Air Quality Regulatory Authority OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C (a)(8)) OCSLA requires BOEM to ensure compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to the extent that OCS oil and gas exploration, development, and production activities do not significantly impact the air quality of any state

4 BOEM s Air Quality Review Processes Pre-lease (NEPA Lease Sale Documents) 1. BOEM conducts studies assessing potential impacts of OCS oil and gas activities, if any, before making decisions to approve proposed leasing, exploration, or development. 2. For the proposed program, BOEM prepared a prelease Multisale EIS that covers the 5 years of lease sales ( 10 lease sales total). 3. BOEM could write an additional 9 Supplemental EISs. 4. Final version of the GOM Multisale EIS was released on March 3,

5 BOEM s Air Quality Regulations Post-lease (30 CFR 550 Subparts B & C) After a lease is obtained and before exploration, development, or production, a lessee must submit a plan with proposed activity to BOEM for review Subpart B states the requirements in the plan for air quality Subpart C states requirements in the plan to comply with OCSLA BOEM reviews projected emissions from proposed plans

6 BOEM s Ongoing and Future Studies Air Quality Modeling in the GOM Studyto assess AQ cumulative impacts to any state from OCS oil and gas activities using photochemical modeling (ongoing) Fugitive Study- analyzing the fugitive estimations to validate the estimations used in the Air Quality Spreadsheets and in GOADS (FY2017) Tracer Study- conducting tracer releases to ensure the sea/land interface and platform downwashes are adequately represented in current models (FY2018)

7 GOADS Emissions Inventories GOADS (2000, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017) 1. An emissions inventory of OCS oil and gas sources (platform and non-platform), including estimates of CO, SO 2, NO x, PM 10, PM 2.5, VOC, CO 2, CH 4, and N 2 O 2. GOADS ongoing, NTL/software posted 3. GOADS final early 2017, emissions trends analysis System-GOADS/

8 Satellite Interagency Agreement Study Use of Satellite Data for Offshore AQ Applications An interagency agreement with NASA s Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Lab at Goddard Space Flight Center to assess the probability of use of satellite data for air quality applications: to assess offshore oil and gas activities air quality impacts to the states as mandated by the OCSLA for BOEM, to support BSEE s enforcement of hard to reach offshore facilities, and to better assess the air quality impacts of oil and gas activities in NEPA documents through improvements and validations in the emissions inventories and photochemical modeling.

9 Satellite Study Objectives: Satellite Interagency Agreement Study Determine the feasibility of using satellites in offshore environments for: Estimating and monitoring trends of ground level concentrations of criteria NAAQS, precursors, and visibility pollutants where there are no monitors in the GOM and Pacific Regions, along with estimating background concentration data in the Alaska and Atlantic Regions before oil and gas or renewables development Validating photochemical modeling results at multiple vertical atmospheric heights Identify the pollutant concentrations in areas surrounding the largest emission sources in the GOM, relative to the quantity of inventory estimates Guiding enforcement of hard to reach offshore facilities

10 Satellite Interagency Agreement Study

11 Criteria for Study Development & Approval 1. Need for Information in BOEM Decision Making - OCSLA requires BOEM to perform air quality impacts assessments. There are no monitors offshore, so if satellites can help BOEM monitor air pollutants, this would fill a critical missing gap and support the impacts assessments under OCSLA, as well as improving current emissions inventories and modeling. 2. Research Concept, Design and Methodology - Trying to find a sound basic concept to attempt to monitor pollutants, or improve existing inventories and modeling, using satellite data for areas offshore with no monitors.

12 Criteria for Study Development & Approval 3. Contribution to Existing Knowledge - Using satellites to improve current emissions inventories and modeled values will contribute to existing knowledge plus improving these data aids in better decision making. 4. Cost Effectiveness - Not only is an IAA with NASA favorable as they have the expertise, but it decreases costs as NASA has been already looking at estimating onshore ground level pollutants using new satellites. 6. Partnerships - Partnering with NASA will achieve shared mission needs. 7. Multi-Regional & Strategic Utility - the satellite study will support BOEM s GOM, Alaska, Pacific, and Atlantic Regions.

13 Strategic Science Questions What are the BOEM regulated industry impacts of air emissions to the human, coastal, and marine environment? How can BOEM best assess cumulative effects? How can BOEM better use existing or emerging technology? What systems are best for monitoring? Providing baseline air quality data in areas with no monitors ANSWER: Satellite data might be able to monitor air pollutants for impacts assessments and cumulative effects, and to improve current emission inventories and modeling. New NASA satellites are emerging that might further support these goals with higher spatial and temporal resolutions.

14 In Conclusion Summary BOEM works to ensure OCS oil and gas related activities do not significantly affect the compliance with the NAAQS of any state under OCSLA through our studies program, NEPA Prelease EIS documentation, and NEPA Post-lease plan reviews. Further Assistance Holli Ensz BOEM Physical Scientist (703)