Presentation Details - Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Opening Remarks
9:00 a.m., Presenters: Kyle Vagadori (CARB) and Manisha Singh, Ph.D. (CARB)
Keynote Address - Air Monitoring in California - 2024 and Beyond
To kick off our PQAO Training, CARB's Monitoring and Laboratory Division Chief, Dr. Walter Ham, will begin with a review of the state of air monitoring in California, how our air monitoring community has adapted over the years, and the unique challenges of today.
9:15 a.m., Presenter: Walter Ham, Ph.D. (CARB)
Network Design and Network Modifications - EPA Requirements
A discussion related to network design and network modifications to assist with decision-making for designing and maintaining a robust ambient air monitoring network. Topics will include the U.S. EPA annual network plan and network assessment processes, balancing resources and priorities when designing a network, meeting federal minimum monitoring requirements, and considerations when making network changes.
9:40 a.m., Presenter: Jennifer Williams (U.S. EPA Region 9)
Network Modification - Air Monitoring Organization Point of View
A highlight of all the steps necessary when it comes to making any modifications to your air monitoring network; from planning all the way to instrument selection.
10:05 a.m., Presenter: Dustin Goto (CARB)
SLAMS, SPM, and Non-Regulatory Monitors
A discussion of the requirements of and reasons for three different air quality monitor classifications: Special Purpose Monitors (SPM), State and Local Monitoring Stations (SLAMS), and non-regulatory monitors.
10:30 a.m., Presenter: Jake Canney (Santa Barbara County APCD)
Crafting Competence - Training Tomorrow's Air Monitoring Technicians
An overview of the South Coast Air Quality Monitoring District (AQMD) training program for new air monitoring technicians responsible for daily maintenance at criteria pollutant air monitoring sites. The presentation describes the intricacies of the training program, outlining the specific skills and knowledge imparted during the training process. The presentation also emphasizes the importance of assessing the effectiveness of the training program, underscoring South Coast AQMD's commitment to refining and optimizing the training process for enhanced competence among air monitoring technicians.
11:05 a.m., Presenter: Rene Bermudez (South Coast AQMD)
Acceptance Testing - Air Monitoring Equipment Performance Evaluations
A broad overview and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) prospective on acceptance testing. Acceptance testing is the process of determining if a piece of air monitoring equipment is performing satisfactorily to gather regulatory ambient air quality data. The presentation touches on required benchmarks instrument manufactures must prove to receive designation certification, as well as the critical role agencies play in real world product testing and feedback.
11:30 a.m., Presenter: Sam Michie (Ventura County APCD)
Gen-3 BAM 1020 Challenges and Resolutions
Many agencies had seen issues with the release of the newest version of the BAM 1020 from MetOne. South Coast has been working diligently with MetOne on some of these issues. This will be a short presentation on what we have found, and what MetOne has done to improve upon the instrument.
11:50 a.m., Presenter: Eric Holden (South Coast AQMD)
Passing the Torch - Supporting New Air Monitoring Staff
Entering the world of air monitoring as a new staff member comes with challenges. Veteran staff hold valuable wisdom gained through experience, and management can build bridges connecting the two. This interactive presentation aims to foster a sense of community among staff regardless of their tenure and status.
1:40 p.m., Presenter: Beth Nordeen (CARB)
Zero Air Verifications - Why Reinvent the Wheel?
In this presentation, two local air districts will discuss how they collaborated to meet zero air verification requirements.
2:00 p.m., Presenters: Brian Marquardt (Tehama County APCD) and David Cardiel (San Luis Obispo County APCD)
Sample Handling Operations
An overview of CARB's sample handling operations for media-based samples in support of the PQAO.
2:20 p.m., Presenters: Victor Mendiola (CARB) and Lloyd Williams (CARB)
Using AI to Improve Air Monitoring
Large Language Model Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs like ChatGPT have become something of a buzzword recently and this presentation will explore the transformative potential of AI in air monitoring. This presentation will delve into the upsides of AI, showcasing real-world applications, as well as potential downsides and how these should be mitigated. Whether you're intrigued by AI's role in air quality or concerned about its ethical implications, this presentation should prove enlightening.
2:40 p.m., Presenter: Brian Marquardt (Tehama County APCD)
Overview of AQPortal and AQview - AQPortal: Lessons Learned in Developing a Data Management Platform - and - Community Air Quality Viewer (AQview) Introduction and Data Quality Assessment
The South Coast AQMD AQPortal data management platform provides a scalable cloud-based platform that is able to ingest, persist, analyze, and visualize substantial quantities of air quality monitoring data. This presentation will provide lessons learned in our efforts to develop AQPortal and data dashboards for air monitoring programs.
3:20 p.m., Presenters: Brandon Feenstra, Ph.D. (South Coast AQMD) and Raiford Hann (CARB)
PDF of Presentation by Feenstra
PDF of Presentation by Hann
Annual Data Quality Report - Process Overview and 2022 Data Highlights
This presentation will provide an overview of CARB’s preparation of the Annual Data Quality Report. Topics include its purpose, importance, contents, creation, and a summary of results.
3:45 p.m., Presenter: Melanie Levesque (CARB)
End User Perspective: Monitoring Data and the State Implementation Plans
The federal Clean Air Act establishes planning requirements for areas that are not meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This talk will focus on State Implementation Plans (SIP) and will highlight how air quality monitoring serves as a key foundational piece to attainment plan development and other SIP efforts.
4:05 p.m., Presenter: Angelica Carrazco, Ph.D. (CARB)
Revision to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter
This presentation will review changes to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter, including finalized changes to network design, Air Quality Index, PM10 site level calculations, and the PM2.5 primary standard. We will also discuss timelines and potential impacts in U.S. EPA Region 9.
4:25 p.m., Presenter: Julia Carlstad, Ph.D. (U.S. EPA Region 9)
Social and Networking Event (Optional)
CARB has planned a no-host social and networking event.
6:00 p.m., Location: Riverside Food Lab, https://www.riversidefoodlab.com/
Presentation Details - Wednesday, February 28, 2024
CARB Southern California Headquarters Tour (Optional)
This is an opportunity to visit one of the world’s most advanced vehicle emissions testing and research facilities dedicated to cleaning California’s air. The tour will include the light and heavy-duty testing laboratories and the state-of -the-art chemistry laboratory.
8:00 a.m., Reservation needed
Ozone TAD and Cross-Section Requirement Updates
This presentation provides an overview of the 2023 Ozone Transfer Standard Technical Assistance Document (TAD). Topics will focus on changes from the 2013 Ozone TAD and the new cross section requirement.
9:00 a.m., Presenters: Kai Crombie (U.S. EPA Region 9) and Amy Seeds (U.S. EPA Region 9)
Navigating the Calibration Landscape - NIST Traceability and Choosing the Right Certification Laboratory for Your Equipment
This presentation aims to shed light on the critical aspects of calibration hierarchy and traceability in ensuring the accuracy and validity of results. Beginning with an overview of why calibration hierarchy plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of outcomes. Then moving forward, the discussion will navigate through the concepts of accredited laboratories and calibration. The presentation will conclude with a practical guide on choosing the right certification laboratory for your equipment. By the end of this presentation, participants will be equipped with valuable insights into the calibration hierarchy, traceability, and the pivotal role of accredited laboratories. Additionally, they will have a clear understanding of the factors influencing the choice of a certification laboratory, empowering them to make informed decisions for their monitoring organization.
9:20 a.m., Presenter: Louise Sorensen (CARB)
Electronic Site Documentation
A presentation on the use of Electronic Site Documentation (Electronic Logbooks).
9:45 a.m., Presenter: Joel Craig (Air Quality Consultant)
Quality Assurance Guardians: Corrective Action Methods
10:05 a.m., Presenter: Lilian Turcios-Metho (Bay Area AQMD)
Quality Assurance District Access Page Overview and Standards Laboratory Corrective Action Process
The presentation will demonstrate of the District Access Page. The District Access Page is a CARB webpage that monitoring districts can use to view their audit reports, CANs, and Air Quality Data Actions. CARB Standards Laboratory will also provide an overview on why corrective action notifications (CAN) are issued for certification and verification failures of calibration standards, and potential resolutions of those CANs.
10:20 a.m., Presenters: Eric Burton (CARB) and Francisco Silvas (CARB)
PDF of Presentation by Burton
PDF of Presentation by Silvas
Exceptional Events Requests
This presentation provides an overview of PM2.5 and PM10 exceptional events. PM design values and national ambient air quality standards will be discussed along with the common types of PM exceptional events. Examples of analyses to support exceptional event demonstrations will also be presented. An exceptional event demonstration tool to streamline the process of creating exceptional event demonstrations will be introduced.
10:55 a.m., Presenters: Scott Epstein, Ph.D. (South Coast AQMD) and Matthew Densberger (CARB)
PDF of Presentation by Epstein
PDF of Presentation by Densberger
Performance Audit Program Updates 2024
The Quality Assurance Section (QAS) will provide a summary of CARB’s PQAO ambient air monitoring network including audits and corrective actions completed in 2023. Additional information will be provided on upcoming changes to the QAS audit program and future events to occur in 2024 and beyond.
11:20 a.m., Presenter: Aaron Plasencia (CARB)
Technical Systems Audits (TSA)
An overview of the Technical Systems Audit program. This presentation will detail what a TSA covers and what to expect during the different phases of a TSA. These phases include: audit preparation, onsite assessment of the monitoring organization, report development, and what the process is to resolve the TSA findings found during the audit
11:40 pm., Presenters: Bilal Qazzaz (U.S. EPA Region 9) and Aman Bains (CARB)
Quality Management Documents
This presentation gives an overview of three required quality management documents: quality management plans (QMP), quality assurance project plans (QAPP), and standard operating procedures (SOP). Document importance, what each document covers, tips and resources for development, and CARB’s review and approval process will be discussed.
1:25 p.m., Presenter: Grace Tuazon (CARB)
Working with EPA's Air Quality System (AQS)
A brief introduction to EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) – what it is, why it’s there, and how to use it. This presentation will also provide resources and guidance to aid troubleshooting problems.
1:50 p.m., Presenter: Fletcher Clover (U.S. EPA Region 9)
Quality Assurance of Low-Cost Sensors
During the summer of 2023, USEPA hosted and Air Sensor Quality Assurance Workshop to help the air sensor community better understand established and emerging quality assurance methods for collecting air sensor data. This presentation will briefly summarize the main takeaways from that event, discuss future research needs, and direct audience members to support resources and workshop summaries. Also, an overview of the Air Quality Sensor Performance Evaluation Center (AQ-SPEC) program at the South Coast AQMD, and how the program contributes to air sensor data quality. This presentation will also provide resources and guidance for optimizing data quality for air sensor projects.
2:00 p.m., Presenters: Andrea Clements, Ph.D. (U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development) and Wilton Mui, Ph.D. (South Coast AQMD)
PDF of Presentation by Clements
PDF of Presentation by Mui
Data Review Using AirVision
2:25 p.m., Presenter: Joel Craig (Air Quality Consultant)
Data Certifications
A quick overview of data certification and common questions related to this process. This presentation will also provide data certification resources and guidance.
3:10 p.m., Presenter: Trisha Curran (U.S. EPA Region 6)
Question and Answer Session
During the Question and Answer Session, the session moderator will pose a series of air monitoring-related questions to a panel of experts. These questions were gathered from training registrants through an optional survey conducted prior to the training. The distinguished panel includes representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and South Coast Air Quality Management District.
Panelists:
- Jason Low, Ph.D., Deputy Executive Officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District
- Kate Hoag, Assistant Manager, Meteorology and Measurements Division, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
- Michael Miguel, Assistant Division Chief, Monitoring and Laboratory Division, California Air Resources Board
- Jennifer Williams, Monitoring and Analysis Section, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9
3:25 p.m., Moderator: Melissa Niederreiter (CARB)
Closing Remarks
3:55 p.m., Presenter: Kyle Vagadori (CARB)
CARB Southern California Headquarters Tour (Optional)
This is an opportunity to visit one of the world’s most advanced vehicle emissions testing and research facilities dedicated to cleaning California’s air. The tour will include the light and heavy-duty testing laboratories and the state-of -the-art chemistry laboratory.
4:00 p.m., Reservation needed