Impact/Purpose:

The overall objectives of this task are to provide reference methods and their associated EPA designation requirements for PM when new indicators of PM are required by OAQPS, and to provide continuous improvements to existing PM reference and equivalent methods so that national data quality objectives for PM can be met. These efforts will provide the necessary assurance that attainment determination uncertainties are at acceptable levels.

Description:

This task supports attainment determinations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM) in the areas of development, testing, and improvement of new and current PM Federal Reference Methods (FRMs) and Federal Equivalent Methods (FEMs). The result is national PM data of sufficient accuracy, precision, and completeness, providing assurance that attainment determination uncertainties are at acceptable levels. When a new ambient indicator of PM is established by the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), the development of the associated FRM is performed under this task. This includes promulgation of the regulations containing the FRM technical specifications under 40CFR50, and of the technical requirements for EPA designation of commercially produced PM methods as FRMs or FEMs, under 40CFR53. The task also includes continued operation of the Reference and Equivalent Program under which candidate FRMs and FEMs are determined to be qualified for designation by EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) as specified in 40CFR53. In addition, the task includes developing quality assurance procedures associated with the utilization of FRMs and FEMs for PM, investigation and resolution of technical or application issues in which the integrity of FRM or FEM measurements have been questioned, and research and development of technical or operational improvements to FRM specifications or of PM measurement technologies that may be advantageous for new FRMs. Other PM tasks include PM Supersites Program (Speciation Initiative); Development and Support for New and Current FRMs; PM Research Methods: Particle Methods Evaluation and Development; Methods for Ozone and Ozone Precursors;

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT

Start Date:10/01/2000

Completion Date:09/30/2001

Record ID: 15838

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Project Information:

Progress :A new Federal reference method for measuring PM smaller than 2.5 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) in ambient air was developed and was promulgated in 1997 as regulations at 40 CFR 50, Appendix L. Also, new test procedures, performance specifications, and other requirements for determining reference and equivalent methods for PM2.5 were developed and incorporated into 40 CFR Part 53. Recommended quality assurance procedures and guidance for PM2.5 FRM monitoring were developed and delivered to OAQPS as Quality Assurance Guidance Document 2.12. Research studies and field testing of prototype samplers were carried out to verify and refine the final PM2.5 FRM specifications and quality assurance guidance, and several journal articles describing various aspects of this work are nearing completion. Processing of reference method applications from commercial producers of PM2.5 samplers has been ongoing, and as of this writing, eight candidate PM2.5 reference methods from four instrument vendors have been designated as FRMs by EPA. Several of these instruments have also been configured for PM smaller than 10 micrometers in aerodynamic diameter (PM10) monitoring and have been designated as FRMs for PM10. Currently, 14 FRMs and four FEMs have been designated by EPA for PM10. A number of technical issues that arose related to implementation of the new PM2.5 FRMs in the new National PM2.5 Monitoring Network - which was started on January 1, 1999 - have largely been resolved (jointly with OAQPS), but others remain. A study report confirming the limited large-particle intrusion into PM2.5 samples, as required by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, is completed. Work on modifications to the fine particle FRM continues in FY01. The most significant task in this area has been determining the frequency and impact of Well impactor ninety-six (WINS) Oil crystallization. Preliminary work has begun on developing a new PM coarse (PMc) FRM. Contract work assignments needed for the beginning of the FY01 work are in place.

Experiments were performed this past summer to evaluate the electrostatic precipitator (ESP) method and optimize its construction. The device was modified to minimize ozone production while maintaining a high efficiency for particle collection and semi-volatile recovery. Two papers have been prepared and submitted.


ABSTRACT/ORAL

Date Cleared - Citation

17-DEC-99 - Vanderpool, R.W., Peters, T.M., Natarajan, S., Gemmill, D.B., and Wiener, R.W. Performance and sensitivity analysis of the USEPA wins fractionator for the PM 2.5 federal reference method. Abstract presented at: PM 2000 AWMA Conference, Charleston, SC, January 25-28, 2000.

15-MAR-00 - Peters, T.M., Vanderpool, R.W., and Wiener, R.W. Incorporation of real-time methods into

US EPA laboratory procedures for evaluation of size selective samplers. Abstract presented at: European Aerosol Conference, Dublin, Ireland, September 4-8, 2000.

04-FEB-00 - Gemmill, D.B., and Vanderpool, R.W. Performance and sensitivity analysis of the USEPA wins fractionator for the PM 2.5 federal reference method. PM 2000 AWMA Conference, Charleston, SC, January 25-28, 2000.

JOURNAL

Date Cleared - Citation

06-JUL-00 - Noble, C., Vanderpool, R.W., Peters, T.M., McElroy, F.F., Gemmill, D.B., and Wiener,

R.W. Federal reference and equivalent methods for measuring fine particulate matter. Submitted to: Aerosol Science and Technology.

09-JUN-00 - Tolocka, M.P., Tseng, P.T., and Wiener, R.W. Optimization of the wash-off method for measuring aerosol concentrations. Accepted by: Aerosol Science and Technology.

09-JUN-00 - Tolocka, M.P., Peters, T.M., Vanderpool, R.W., Chen, F.-L., and Wiener, R.W. On the

modification of the low flow-rate PM10 dichotomous sampler inlet. Accepted by: Aerosol Science and Tech

Relevance :Whenever EPA establishes a new NAAQS, the Agency also defines or prescribes the reference measurement method by which attainment of the new NAAQS is to be determined, or provides for suitable equivalent methods. The work described by this task is directly related to this requirement and is necessary to provide adequate and credible methods for use by the States, as required by the EPA monitoring regulations, in formally determining or demonstrating attainment of the NAAQS for PM. In areas determined to be in non-attainment for PM, these regulatory methods are needed by States in developing and implementing suitable PM control/abatement strategies. [Section 7.2 of the NERL Particulate Matter Research Plan]

Clients :Emissions, Monitoring and Analysis Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards; EPA Regional Offices; State air quality monitoring agencies.

Project IDs:

ID Code :3909

Project type :OMIS