Proposal:
Report on the Air Monitoring Modernization and Streamlining Plan
Synopsis:
To operate a modern, efficiently functioning air monitoring network, consistent with the projected declining revenue in the years ahead, staff has developed a modernization and streamlining program. Over the next decade, this program would reduce the size of the network from 35 to 22 permanent sites and modernize station equipment by introducing automation as well as remote diagnosis and calibration of equipment. This will result in labor savings which will more than offset the capital equipment costs.
Committee:
Administrative, March 22, 1996, Recommended for Approval
Recommended Action:
Receive and file this report.
James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer
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Background
Over the next ten to twelve years, the AQMD faces the challenge of providing an air quality network that adequately characterizes our progress toward attainment and maintenance of the ambient air quality standards within a framework of progressively reduced levels of funding and staffing. To meet this challenge, staff has developed a monitoring network downsizing plan and a concurrent equipment modernization plan that will allow more efficient operation of the monitoring program. The plan presented is based on the assumption that attainment of the federal air quality standards will be achieved (except for ozone) by 2008.
Proposal
Network Streamlining - The current air monitoring network consists of 35 permanent sites with good geographic coverage of populated areas of AQMD's jurisdiction. The plan would schedule decrease of the network size to 22 sites between 1996 and 2008 in a four step process. Following is a listing, by year, of proposed station closures:
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1996 1998 2002 2008
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Temecula Costa Mesa La Habra Pasadena
Hemet Riverside Lake Elsinore Reseda
Diamond Bar Pomona Ontario Norco
Norco (retain PM10) West L.A. ------ ------
In 2008, the network would focus on the Metropolitan L.A.-Orange County area to monitor attainment of NO2 and CO and along the foothills of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains to track progress in areas of highest ozone and PM10. Staff believes that the 22-site network will be adequate to characterize air quality in a maintenance setting once we approach or attain the standards. Temporary sites making measurements over 3-6 month periods would periodically be used to fill in information gaps caused by site closures. The constitution of the permanent monitoring network in 2008 would be as follows:
Anaheim Glendora Los Angeles Redlands Azusa Hawthorne Lynwood Rubidoux Banning Indio Palm Springs San Bernardino Burbank Lake Forest Perris Santa Clarita Crestline Lancaster Pico Rivera Upland Fontana Long Beach
Equipment Modernization - Concurrent with the streamlining, anticipated attrition of staff through 2008 will reduce the assigned personnel from the current 26 to 16. The plan calls for acquiring state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and computerized peripheral equipment that will allow remote diagnosis of instrument problems, remote activation of calibration sequences, and remote validation of field-generated data. Additional equipment includes instrumented temporary sites to fill in the data gaps resulting from the streamlining, and various diagnostic equipment to maintain the new generation monitoring equipment.
Fiscal Impacts - The five-year (1996-2002) fixed asset cost of the modernization program will be $842,000, and will be supplemented by EPA maintenance grant funding. The modernization program will pay for itself from salary savings in approximately six years, since staff attrition can be allowed to take place and still provide the level of monitoring necessary. Annual salary savings from 2008 and beyond are estimated at $700,000. The Fiscal Year 1996-97 proposed budget includes $147,000 for the first year of this five-year modernization program which will be funded by the District's equipment replacement reserve.