Historical trends in data and studies for the Upper Green River Basin

(UGRB)

2015 Western Air Quality Modeling WorkshopMay 14, 2015

Darla J. PotterWDEQ – Air Quality Division

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Overview

UGRB Overview Trends Studies

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Upper Green River Basin

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11 Years of UGRB Ozone Efforts2005•Elevated Ozone Monitored, 1st Time

2006•Ozone Monitor Comparison

•Initial VOC Samples2007•DEQ Collaboration & Research•DEQ & Industry Efforts

2008•DEQ Collaboration & Research

•DEQ & Industry Efforts2010

•DEQ Collaboration & Research•DEQ & Industry Efforts

2012•DEQ Formation of Task Force

•AQD Evaluation of Recommendations

2009•DEQ Collaboration & Research•DEQ & Industry Efforts

2011•DEQ Collaboration & Research•DEQ & Industry Efforts

2014•Ozone Strategy 4/22/14

•Ozone Strategy 10/21/14

2013•Ozone Strategy 3/11/13•Ozone Strategy 9/24/13

MarginalAttainmentJuly 20, 2015

MarginalNonattainmentDesignationJuly 20, 2012

NonattainmentRecommendation

March 2009

WDEQ‐AQD April 2015

2015•Ozone Strategy 4/28/15

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Upper Green River BasinOzone Nonattainment Area

Sublette County, Portion of Lincoln County,Portion of Sweetwater County

March 2009 Ozone NAA Recommendation

Final NAA Designation Marginal Effective July 20, 2012

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Winter Ozone Forecasting

Daily Forecasts January through March 7 days a week by WDEQ-AQD staff and contract meteorologists Based on weather forecasts: wind, snow depth and cover, pressure

fronts, cloud cover Winter Ozone Updates

Expected conditions for today, tomorrow, extended (day 3) Information for the public to make decisions about outdoor activity

Ozone Action Days Issued in advance (24-hrs) when forecast weather conditions appear

favorable for the formation of elevated ozone the following day Implementation of Ozone Contingency Plans

Voluntary plans to utilize short-term emission reduction measures

Everyone is encouraged to voluntarily reduce emissions6

SnowDepth

2007 - 2015

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SnowCover

March10,

2011

March10,

2015

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2006 2007 2008 20092005 2010

Winter ozone first monitored at Jonah and Boulder Stations

Focus on precusorsGaseous Nitrogen species and photolysis rateMesonets; VOC’s/aldehydesOther trace gasesMini‐SODAR/sondes

Full‐scale measurement with conducive ozone conditionsMesonets; VOC’s/aldehydesPlane/sondes Addition of mini‐SODAR

Focus on precursors and nitrogenHONOAddition of Methane/non‐methane at Boulder Mesonets; VOC’sMini‐SODAR

Ozone measurement comparisonCheck for instrument interferenceVOC measurements

First full‐scale measurementMesonetsVOC’s/aldehydesUpper air/plane/tetheredsondes 

UpperGreenWinterOzoneStudies

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2012 2013 20142011 Future

Focus on vertical/spatial distribution of precursorsTall tower/balloon multi‐level precursorsHONO; NOy; true NO2

Speciated PM2.5

Mesonets; VOC’sMini‐SODAR

Focus on spatial VOC distributionMesonetsVOC at 8 sitesJonah trailer with NOx and VOC’s

Ongoing MonitoringTracking changes in VOC compositionOngoing Long‐term ozone monitoring

Scaled back spatial distribution of precursorsMesonets; VOC’sJonah trailer with NOx and VOC’sMini‐SODAR

Scaled back VOC and Formaldehydedistibution MesonetsVOC/HCHO at 6 sitesJonah trailer with NOx and VOC’s

Non‐Attainment RequirementsAwaiting further requirements from EPA on Photochemical Assement Monitoring (PAMS) for non‐attainment areas

2015

VOC and Formaldehydedistibution MeteorologyVOC/HCHO at 6 sites

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UGRB WinterAmbient Monitoring

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2012-2014 Ozone Design Values

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Actual Emissions Inventories

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Collaboration and ResearchModeling Studies Box Model of 2006 Winter Ozone Episode Conceptual Model of Winter Episodes in Southwest Wyoming 2008 Winter Ozone Box Model Study Meteorological Modeling: Development of High-Resolution

3-Dimensional Wind Fields using CALMET CALGRID Ozone Modeling Analyses Meteorological Modeling, to support photochemical grid

modeling using WRF Modeling analysis of precursor (NOx & VOC) concentration

fields Photochemical Grid Modeling

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Collaboration and ResearchOther Studies Upper Green Winter Ozone Study (UGWOS): 2007, 2008,

2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Screening Health Risk Assessment, Sublette County Evaluation of meteorological conditions during UGWOS

2011 Climatology study of long-term meteorological phenomena Evaluation and refinement of WDEQ forecasting checklist Reactivity study of individual VOCs specific to UGRB EPA Geospatial Measurement of Air Pollution and diffusion

tube monitoring studies: 2011, 2012, 2013

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Collaboration and ResearchOther Studies (cont.) Pinedale Anticline Spatial Air Quality Analysis Emission Inventory refinement through development of

field-specific emissions factors for flashing emissions WY Department of Health epidemiologic study Microscale Wind Survey Evaluation of Winter Chemistry at Boulder Mobile Monitoring Assessment Produced Water Tank Study

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Collaboration and ResearchOther Studies (cont.)

Ongoing UGWOS Statewide Engine Study Oil & Gas Production Site Emissions Inventory

Study Produced Water Ponds Study

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Questions

Darla Potter, AQRM Program Manager darla.potter@wyo.gov

Cara Keslar, Monitoring Section Supervisor Andrew Keyfauver, New Source Review Permit Engineer Josh Nall, New Source Review Supervisor Adam Deppe, Air Quality Planning Meteorologist Dan Sharon, Ambient Air Monitoring Project Manager

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