Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

Tribal Air Quality Management - Technical Activities

SOURCE IDENTIFICATION

What is a Source ID and how is one conducted?

Source identifications are conducted in order to collect data on sources of pollution within and nearby the reservation. A source is any place or object from which pollutants are released into the air. This can be a stack from a power plant or a woodstove, paved and unpaved roads, open fields and lots, or vehicle tailpipe emissions. Sources are classified as point, area or non-point, mobile/non-road, and biogenic.

To conduct source identifications, sources must first be located. Examples of ways to locate and identify sources include:

Look in your community’s phone directory; focus on manufacturing and production facilities, finishing/assembly facilities (furniture, automobiles, etc.), treatment plants, resource extraction operations (mining, oil/gas, etc.), energy production facilities (power plants, etc.), dry cleaning operations, etc.

Conduct assessments of community activities; focus on burning (wood stoves, agriculture, forests, refuse), internal combustion machinery (including motor vehicles and stationary generators), airborne dust (from unpaved roads or agricultural tilling), etc.

What sources of pollution are common in Indian Country?

Some common air quality concerns in and around Indian Country include:

Area Sources of Air Pollution:

Fugitive dust (from unpaved roads, agriculture, construction, etc.)

Open burning (from forested and agricultural land management and from refuse burning)

Point Sources of Air Pollution:

Automobile emissions

Diesel exhaust (locomotives, trucks and generators)

Power plant emissions

Chemical plants emissions

Wood smoke (from residential woodstoves)

Indoor Air Pollution:

Indoor air quality

Radon

Deposition of Pollutants from the Air:

Mercury deposition

Acid deposition

Visibility and Prevention of Significant Deterioration:

Ground-level ozone

Visibility (of scenic and sacred areas)

Prevention of Significant Deterioration

Class I Redesignation

Examples of some sources of air pollution in and around Indian Country include:

Major sources

Power plants

Sand and gravel operations

Pulp and paper mills

Natural gas transmission and compression operations

Crude oil processing facilities

Chemical processing operations

Surface coating operations (furniture making, automobile painting, etc.)

Wood-fired co-generation (biomass) plants

Slaughterhouses and animal rendering facilities

Agricultural and prescribed forest burning

Minor sources

Service stations

Motor vehicle emissions

Small engines (lawn mowers, etc.)

Fuel storage facilities

Oil well fields

Domestic heating (wood, gas, propane, and coal)

Boiler facilities

Lumber mills

Medical Waste Incinerators (MWIs)

Printing facilities

Textile manufacturing facilities

Electronics manufacturing facilities

Fish processing facilities

Dry cleaning operations

Paint shops

Fertilizer manufacturing facilities

Landfills (gaseous emissions)

Aerial pesticide application

Grain elevators

Asphalt/paving/concrete operations

Rock crushers

GENERAL EXTERNAL LINKS:
Dirty Air, Dirty Water	Contains links to different sections of the report (mostly graphical information), and links to the rest of the NWF site. Topics include: health, lead pollution, mercury pollution, PCBs, nitrogen pollution, Great Lakes, fish consumption, and more.
Clean Air Trust CAA Information	Contains commonly asked questions and answers about the Clean Air Act, plus a sidebar with numerous links to related issues and the rest of the site. Topics include: CAA, air pollution fact sheets, Clean Air Villains, and more.
ACID DEPOSITION
AMS - Acid Deposition	Contains brief definitions and descriptions of various topics related to Acid Deposition. Topics include: acid deposition, monitoring, meteorological issues, modeling, and more.
STAPPA-ALAPCO Acid Rain Links	Contains links to numerous resources for acid deposition resources. Topics include: regulations, health, Title IV, allowance trading, and other acid rain related topics.
National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP)	Contains overview on NAPAP, as well as links to related reports, participating agencies, and the rest of the NOAA site. Topics include: acid rain.
USGS Acid Rain and Data Reports	Contains links to the NADP/NTN, recent presentations and reports, and additional information. Topics include: NADP, precipitation and surface water chemistry, mercury deposition, air quality management, effects of acid rain on ecosystems and man-made structures, monitoring, education and other topics.
BURNING
USEPA Information on Agricultural Burning	Contains information on burning for agricultural purposes, plus links to the rest of the AgCenter pages and the EPA site. Topics include: Title I of the CAA, emissions from agricultural practices, prescribed burning, particulates, federal, regional and state contacts, and more.
Air Pollution from Wood-Burning Appliances	Contains general information on air pollution from residential wood burning, plus links to other USDOE and EREN pages. Topics include: EPA woodstove standards, reducing emissions, and more.
Wood and Trash Burning	Contains information on the health effects of burning. Topics include: trash burning, wood burning for residential heating, related health problems, pollution control, and more.
DIESEL EXHAUST (SEE ALSO: MOBILE AND NONROAD EMISSIONS)
Information on Diesel Exhaust	Contains information on diesel exhaust and links to the rest of the AFSCME site. Topics include: pollution from diesel exhaust, health effects, pollution control, OSHA standards, and more.
Exhausted by Diesel	Contains links to topics and sections of the report, and links to the rest of the NRDC site. Topics include: diesel, health effects, regulation, alternative fuels, and more.
FUGITIVE DUST (SEE ALSO: VISIBILITY)
Fugitive Dust from Nonpoint Sources	Contains text of the report on fugitive dusts, plus links to the rest of the MU Extension site. Topics include: fugitive dust pollution, particulates, regulations, agricultural dust, unpaved road dust, construction dust, control strategies, and more.
NRDC Particulate Pollution FAQ	Contains FAQs and links to the answers, plus links to the rest of the NRDC site. Topics include: particulates, health, pollution prevention, and more.
HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS (HAPs)
Environmental Benzene Exposure	Contains a graph of different activities and their associated exposure to benzene, plus links to other parts of the NCDENR site. Topics include: benzene, indoor air, outdoor air, passive smoke, etc.
USEPA HAPs List	Contains list of 189 official HAPs and their code numbers. Topics include: HAPs.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ)
Aerias Home Page	Contains information on and links to IAQ and health in various environments (home, office, school, etc.), and news/updates. Links to environments take the user to interactive, point-and-click information on several indoor air concerns. Topics include: asthma, sick building syndrome, indoor pollutants, pollution testing and investigation, and many others.
MSU Indoor Air Quality Information	Contains information on and links to resources and tools about indoor air quality, as well as links to EPA, MSU, and USDA sites. Topics include: indoor air quality, building science, indoor air hazards and pollutants, health, sick building syndrome, asthma, secondhand smoke, and more.
Health House Home Page	Contains information on, and links to, indoor air quality, healthy home building, news and contact information. Topics include: indoor air quality, indoor air pollutants, radon, sick building syndrome, tipsheets on subjects on concern (back drafting, basement moisture, carbon monoxide, furnace filters, mold, pesticides, secondhand smoke, humidifiers, etc.), and more.
American Lung Association - Radon Information	Contains answers to frequently asked questions about radon, plus links to related pages and the rest of the ALA site. Topics include: radon, health, indoor air quality, risk assessment, radon control, and more.
MAJOR STATIONARY SOURCES
Air Pollution from Electric Utility Generation	Contains information on pollution from electricity generation, plus links to the rest of the ALA site. Topics include: air pollution from power plants, health effects, and more.
Air Pollution from Power Plants	Contains information on the pollution of older power plants, plus links to the rest of the Sierra Club site. Topics include: power plants, New Source Review, health effects, environmental effects, and more.
Air Pollution from Stationary Industrial Sources	Contains text on the report about stationary source pollution, and links to the rest of the AMS site. Topics include: PSD, new and existing sources, emissions trading, pollutants of concern, and more.
MERCURY
Environmental and Health Effects of Mercury	Contains fact sheet on different types of mercury and their effects on human and environmental health, plus links to the rest of the MN PCA site. Topics include: mercury, fish consumption, health, and more.
Environmental Mercury	Contains fact sheet about mercury, plus links to related subjects and the rest of the MN PCA site. Topics include: mercury, bioaccumulation, fish consumption, emissions, and more.
Preventing Environmental Mercury Contamination	Contains fact sheet on environmental contamination of mercury, plus links to related sites and the rest of the MN PCA site. Topics include: mercury, pollution, hazardous waste, fish consumption, and more.
MOBILE AND NONROAD EMISSIONS (SEE ALSO: DIESEL EXHAUST)
USEPA Automobile Emissions An Overview	Contains an overview of air emissions from automobiles, plus links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: sources of emissions, combustion processes exhaust emissions, evaporative emissions, emission controls, and more.
USEPA Nonroad Engines and Air Pollution Information	Contains overview information and links to related documents and reports. Topics include: nonroad and off-road sources, pollutants of concern, emission controls, and more.
Smoginator's Lawn and Garden Tools	Contains information about pollution from various motorized yard care tools, plus links to the rest of the LA DEQ site. Topics include: smog, lawn and garden tools, and more.
OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION
RADON
American Lung Association - Radon Information	Contains answers to frequently asked questions about radon, plus links to related pages and the rest of the ALA site. Topics include: radon, health, indoor air quality, risk assessment, radon control, and more.
REGIONAL TRANSPORT OF POLLUTION
USEPA Document "Regional Approaches to Improving Air Quality"	Contains information on ways to control air pollution on a regional level. Topics include: pollution transport, ground-level ozone, particulate matter, acid rain, air toxics, regional haze, RPOs, and more.
VISIBILITY (SEE ALSO: FUGITIVE DUST)
IMPROVE Special Studies	Contains links to information collected for the studies, including data, reports, related websites, plus links to the rest of the IMPROVE and CSU pages. Study areas/subjects include: Big Bend NP, Southeastern US (Smoky Mtns.), Southwestern US (Mohave Power Plant), Pacific NW, Grand Canyon NP/Navajo Generating Station, Mt. Zirkel Wilderness.
Ground-Level Ozone	Contains answers to frequently asked questions about ground-level ozone, and links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: ground-level ozone, ozone standards, asthma, and more.

EMISSIONS INVENTORIES

What is an Emissions Inventory (EI)?

An emissions inventory is a detailed listing of pollutant emissions, and their calculated emission rate estimates, as identified from specific sources in a given area. Information from source identifications is compiled into a comprehensive report inventorying sources, activities and pollutants.

GENERAL EI INFORMATION: (External links)
USEPA CHIEF Home Page	Contains links to emissions inventory related tools, resources, contacts, listservs, news, etc., plus links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: emissions inventories, NEI, air toxics, source codes, emissions factors, software (CHIEF, TANKS, FIRE, etc.), emissions modeling, and more.
USEPA Facility Information Query Form	Contains search criteria fields for locating facilities registered with the Facility Registry System (FRS); also contains links to the Facility Information pages, and the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: FRS, geography, emissions, and more.
EPA GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS
USEPA Document "Criteria Pollutant Inventory Development" - 682K pdf	Contains bookmarks to contents and full text of the document. Topics include: emissions inventories, QA/QC, point source inventories, area source inventories, list of acronyms and commonly used terms, and more.

Does the tribe need to conduct an Emissions Inventory?

Emissions Inventories are not required for tribal air program management, but they can help target areas of concern is assessing or managing air quality. Conducting an Emissions Inventory (EI) can help tribal environmental staff and tribal councils in their efforts to:

Assess the current state of the reservation’s air quality

Fill data gaps [ë Data Gaps] in Indian Country

Develop AQ codes/regulations and pollution standards

Update operating permits for sources on tribal lands

Develop or enhance air monitoring network or conduct dispersion modeling to investigate pollutant transport

Participate in the USEPA’s National Emissions Inventory (NEI)

USEPA CHIEF Home Page

Contains links to emissions inventory related tools, resources, contacts, listservs, news, etc., plus links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: emissions inventories, NEI, air toxics, source codes, emissions factors, software (CHIEF, TANKS, FIRE, etc.), emissions modeling, and more.

How can the tribe conduct an Emissions Inventory?

Several resources are needed to conduct a thorough and accurate Emissions Inventory (EI). Some of these resources include:

Staff (with appropriate training and time to commit to data gathering and reporting activities

Funding (for data gathering and reporting activities)

Technical and office equipment (i.e., access to transportation, means for communication, facility and pollution research, emissions calculations, pollutant sampling, etc.)

For this reason, tribes often coordinate efforts with contractors, or hire contractors to conduct the full scope of the project. However, many tribes conduct their own emissions inventories. Obtaining technical and financial assistance from various sources, or networking with other tribes who have EI experience, can help those tribes interested in conducting an EI better understand the different processes and possibilities.

GENERAL EI INFORMATION: (External links)
USEPA CHIEF Home Page	Contains links to emissions inventory related tools, resources, contacts, listservs, news, etc., plus links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: emissions inventories, NEI, air toxics, source codes, emissions factors, software (CHIEF, TANKS, FIRE, etc.), emissions modeling, and more.
USEPA Facility Information Query Form	Contains search criteria fields for locating facilities registered with the Facility Registry System (FRS); also contains links to the Facility Information pages, and the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: FRS, geography, emissions, and more.
EPA GUIDANCE DOCUMENTS
USEPA Document "Criteria Pollutant Inventory Development" - 682K pdf	Contains bookmarks to contents and full text of the document. Topics include: emissions inventories, QA/QC, point source inventories, area source inventories, list of acronyms and commonly used terms, and more.

What is the National Emissions Inventory (NEI)?

The USEPA has developed a national database for housing data and other information collected for purposes of identifying sources and determining their emissions. The National Emissions Inventory (NEI) aims to collect the most current emissions data from across the nation for inclusion into a data bank that will be used for comprehensive emissions reporting, improved pollution standards and regulations, and future modeling efforts.

Tribal participation in the NEI is critical to the success of the project. In the past, many emissions reported to the EPA from sources in Indian Country were estimated by state and local air pollution control entities. Additionally, current data on many emission sources in Indian Country is possibly outdated. For information about submitting EI data to the NEI, contact:

David Misenheimer
USEPA OAQPS (D205-01)
RTP, NC 27711
Tel: 919/541-5473

Laura McKelvey
USEPA OAQPS (C504-01)
RTP, NC 27711
Tel: 919/541-5497

Angelique Luedeker
ITEP-TERC
P.O. Box 15004
Flagstaff, AZ 86011
Tel: 928/523-5037

GENERAL EI INFORMATION: (External links)
USEPA CHIEF Home Page	Contains links to emissions inventory related tools, resources, contacts, listservs, news, etc., plus links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: emissions inventories, NEI, air toxics, source codes, emissions factors, software (CHIEF, TANKS, FIRE, etc.), emissions modeling, and more.

MONITORING

Does the tribe need to conduct air monitoring, and if so, how can it begin monitoring?

Monitoring different aspects of the atmosphere (ambient air, indoor air, meteorology, and visibility) has many purposes, and reasons for conducting monitoring can vary widely. Monitoring can:

Assess air quality over time, or at certain times of the day or year

Assess air quality as it relates to topography and meteorology, and help interpret the behavior of pollutants from on and off reservation sources

Be used as a tool for helping in the development of air quality regulations or pollution standards (i.e., by showing that certain times of the year have high levels of particulate pollution, and thus restrict burning activities).

Provide data to incorporate into air dispersion models (computer programs that help project the behaviors of pollution/pollutants)

Maintaining a monitoring program requires a number of financial and personnel resources:

Staff with the appropriate time and expertise needed for proper data management techniques, equipment operation and maintenance procedures, access to monitoring sites, and other activities

Purchase and/or lease of monitoring equipment (monitors, power source, site constructs, etc.)

Monitoring site management following designated methods for construction, maintenance, security, and accessibility

Development of, and adherence to, Quality Assurance/Quality Control procedures such as:

Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs)

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Data Quality Objectives (DQOs)

Many technical and financial resources are available to tribes to help them build their capacity to manage various air program activities, including monitoring.

GENERAL EXTERNAL LINKS
TAMS Center
USEPA AMTIC Website	Contains links to information on monitoring programs, monitoring methods, documents and articles, trends and non-attainment, and regulations; also provides links to the rest of the TTN and EPA pages. Topics include: air toxics (HAPs), PM 2.5, PAMS, QA/QC, GEMS/AIR, Criteria Pollutants, Air Quality Index, non-attainment, and more.
USEPA Ambient Air Monitoring Program	Contains overview of the ambient air monitoring program, maps of SLAMS, NAMS, and PAMS stations, and links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: purposes and uses of air monitoring, SLAMS, NAMS, PAMS, NAAQS, and more.
USEPA SCRAM Website	Contains information and links to pages that offer guidance, tools, resources, contacts, and other information related to air modeling, plus links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: air modeling, dispersion modeling, meteorological modeling, Regional Modeling Center, and more.

What kinds of monitoring can be conducted?

After general air quality assessments have identified sources, types, and severity of pollution, tribes may wish to monitor specific pollutants, or types of pollutants, in order to quantify air quality impacts on tribal lands.

Many different pollutants can be monitored, and many different techniques can be utilized. The USEPA has developed strict reference methods for conducting different types of monitoring; the EPA will only formally recognize data gathered according to these methods.

Some common types of pollutant monitoring include:

Criteria Pollutants

Particulate Matter (PM, PM10, PM2.5)

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Ozone (O3)

Lead (Pb)

Acid Deposition

Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)/Air Toxics

Visibility

Air pollution monitoring equipment can often be selected to meet varying requirements for assessment.

Ambient air monitors can vary from:

High-volume to low-volume samplers (different amounts of air are sampled over the same amount of time)

Continuous or manual monitors (sample air continuously or according to a programmed schedule)

Pollutant-specific or multiple-pollutant monitors (monitors that measure only PM10 or gaseous constituents, or monitors that have the capability to monitor more than one pollutant at a time)

In addition to single-site monitors, collocated (two monitors at one site) and monitors arranged in a network (more than one monitor site in a specified area) can provide:

Valuable information about pollution transport and small-scale variations in regional or localized pollution

Comparison data to check against collocated and networked monitors

Back up data collection in case of the failure of a (collocated) monitor

GENERAL MONITORING
USEPA AMTIC Website	Contains links to information on monitoring programs, monitoring methods, documents and articles, trends and non-attainment, and regulations; also provides links to the rest of the TTN and EPA pages. Topics include: air toxics (HAPs), PM 2.5, PAMS, QA/QC, GEMS/AIR, Criteria Pollutants, Air Quality Index, non-attainment, and more.
USEPA Ambient Air Monitoring Program	Contains overview of the ambient air monitoring program, maps of SLAMS, NAMS, and PAMS stations, and links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: purposes and uses of air monitoring, SLAMS, NAMS, PAMS, NAAQS, and more.
USEPA OAQPS Monitoring QA	Contains overview of OAQPS QA team and their activities, plus links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: National Performance Audit Program, Precision and Accuracy Data Assessment, Technical Systems Audit Oversight, Guidance Documents, PAMS QA Program, Standard Reference Photometer Program, and Ambient Air Quality Assurance Training.
CRITERIA POLLUTANTS
Integrated Mapping Assessment Project	Contains links to maps and other information on annual global and regional emissions of various pollutants. Topics include: ozone, particulates, acid deposition, toxic substances, and more.
USEPA Nonattainment Areas for Criteria Pollutants	Contains links to information on the criteria pollutants, areas of nonattainment for each (or all) criteria pollutants. Links can be followed to maps and text files of nonattainment areas, and related information. Topics include: nonattainment, criteria pollutants, ozone, particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead.
Ozone Transport Assessment Group (OTAG)	Contains links to OTAG executive summaries, technical reports, data sets and animations, other OTAG activities, contacts and member links, and a discussion forum. Topics include: ozone, meteorology, NAAQS, ambient air quality monitoring and modeling, and other topics.
Ozone Transport Commission (OTC)	Contains links to news, contacts, members, Requests for Proposals, and other activities of the OTC. The OTC covers areas within Washington DC, VA, MD, DE, NJ, PA, NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, and ME. Topics include: ozone, NOx, VOC, regional haze, and more.
Rethinking Ozone (1992)	Contains a linked Table of Contents for the book. Topics include: ozone, pollution trends, pollution reduction strategies, atmospheric chemistry, VOC and NOx relationship to ozone, emissions inventory data, modeling, pollution controls, alternative fuels, and others.
ACID DEPOSITION
AMS - Acid Deposition	Contains brief definitions and descriptions of various topics related to Acid Deposition. Topics include: acid deposition, monitoring, meteorological issues, modeling, and more.
USEPA CASTNET	Contains information on and links to maps, data, monitoring sites, data collection methods, reports, and contacts. Topics include: acid deposition, acid deposition monitoring, rural ozone, and other information.
National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP)	Contains overview on NAPAP, as well as links to related reports, participating agencies, and the rest of the NOAA site. Topics include: acid rain.
National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP-NTN)	Contains links to contact information, NADP maps and data, current and upcoming events, NADP networks, and more. Topics include: history and overview of NADP, collaborating agencies, quality assurance information, isopleth maps, NADP data access, publications, atmospheric trends and monitoring, mercury, contacts, a search page, and other information.
USGS Acid Rain and Data Reports	Contains links to the NADP/NTN, recent presentations and reports, and additional information. Topics include: NADP, precipitation and surface water chemistry, mercury deposition, air quality management, effects of acid rain on ecosystems and man-made structures, monitoring, education and other topics.
STAPPA-ALAPCO Acid Rain Links	Contains links to numerous resources for acid deposition resources. Topics include: regulations, health, Title IV, allowance trading, and other acid rain related topics.
HAPs
USEPA HAPs List	Contains list of 189 official HAPs and their code numbers. Topics include: HAPs.
VISIBILITY
IMPROVE Website	Contains overview information on the IMPROVE program, plus links to data, analysis tools, publications and studies, educational materials and resources such as maps, photos, databases, etc. Topics include IMPROVE, visibility, haze, and more.

QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL

What are Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC)?

Quality Assurance/Quality Control is defined in the EPA’s Terms of the Environment as:

"A system of procedures, checks, audits, and corrective actions to ensure that all EPA research design and performance, environmental monitoring and sampling, and other technical and reporting activities are of the highest achievable quality."

Quality Assurance is used to describe administrative procedures undertaken to plan and review data gathering activities to ensure higher quality results.

Quality control is used to describe technical procedures that address the precautions taken to prevent errors in data gathering, manipulating and reporting.

The EPA has developed numerous guidance documents to address specific procedures and rules for conducting quality assurance/quality control activities for various data gathering efforts.

GENERAL EXTERNAL LINKS
Quality Assurance-Quality Control	Contains overview of the importance of QA-QC procedures with respect to environmental sampling. Topics include: Quality Assurance and Quality Control.
USEPA Document "Requirements for QAPPs" - 120K pdf	Contains bookmarks to contents and full text of the document. Topics include: QAPPs.
USEPA Information on QA Project Plans	Contains links to FAQs, tools, resources, contact information, documents, training, and the rest of the EPA site. Topics in the linked pages include: Quality Assurance Project Plans, Data Quality Assessments and Objectives, Standard Operating Procedures, Audits, Data Validation and Verification, Laboratory Quality Systems, guidance on EPA policy and procedure for QAPPs, DQOs, Sops and other plans, and more.
USEPA OAQPS Monitoring QA	Contains overview of OAQPS QA team and their activities, plus links to the rest of the EPA site. Topics include: National Performance Audit Program, Precision and Accuracy Data Assessment, Technical Systems Audit Oversight, Guidance Documents, PAMS QA Program, Standard Reference Photometer Program, and Ambient Air Quality Assurance Training.

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Last updated: July 12, 2007