BOARD MEETING DATE: February 6, 2004
AGENDA NO. 8
Approve Request for Additional Resources and Fixed Assets to Conduct MATES-III; Issue RFQs for Purchase of Various Laboratory and Monitoring Equipment; Recognize, Appropriate, and Allocate Additional Funds for PM2.5 Program; and Redirect Existing PAMS Funds
SYNPOSIS:
In order to conduct and complete the Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES-III) in a timely manner, staff has identified additional resource needs including retaining temporary staff services, and the purchase of additional laboratory and ambient monitoring analytical instruments and supplies. Staff is requesting the Board's approval for $425,000 for temporary services and $554,150 to purchase additional laboratory supplies and analytical equipment from the Clean Fuels Program Fund. In addition, staff is requesting the Board's approval to redirect $150,000 from the Board-approved 12th year PAMS program funds allocated to the purchase of a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer to the purchase of a gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector to measure oxygenated VOCs, such as MTBE, and a High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph to measure carbonyls, such as formaldehyde. No additional costs will be incurred with this action. Lastly, staff is requesting the Board’s approval to recognize, appropriate, and allocate an additional $10,690 for the PM2.5 Program from a Section 103 Grant.
COMMITTEE:
Technology, January 23, 2004, Recommended for Approval
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
- Transfer $979,150 from the Clean Fuels Fund to the FY 2003-04 Science and Technology Advancement Budget as set forth in Attachment 1.
- Redirect $150,000 from the 12th year PAMS program funds allocated to the purchase of a Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer, to a Gas Chromatograph with Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID) and a High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) as set forth in Attachment 2.
- Recognize $10,690 in revenue from U.S. EPA Section 103 Grant funds for the PM2.5 program. Appropriate $10,690 from the Undesignated Fund balance to the FY 2003-04 Budget as set forth in Attachment 3.
- Issue RFQ #Q2004-02 for the purchase of an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Spectrometer to support MATES-III and ongoing compliance efforts.
- Issue RFQ #Q2004-05 for the purchase of two (2) Microwave Digesters to support MATES-III and ongoing compliance efforts.
- Issue RFQ #Q2004-06 for the purchase of an Ion Chromatograph (IC) to support MATES-III.
- Issue RFQ #Q2004-04 for the purchase of three (3) Polyurethane Foam (PUF) Samplers to support MATES-III.
- Issue RFQ #Q2004-03 for the purchase of a High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) to support PAMS and MATES-III.
- Issue RFQ #Q2004-07 for the purchase of a Gas Chromatograph with Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID) to support PAMS and MATES-III programs.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer
Background
The AQMD conducted the first Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study (MATES) in 1987. This groundbreaking study was the first to attempt to characterize the concentration of airborne toxic compounds within the South Coast Air Basin and to determine the Basin-wide risks associated with major airborne carcinogens.
The AQMD conducted a second air toxics exposure study (MATES-II) in 1998-99 that expanded on the scope of the first study in 1998-99. The result of MATES-II was another groundbreaking comprehensive study which built upon and expanded the knowledge gained in MATES. Among the lessons learned from MATES-II was the extent of the impact of diesel emissions and the downward trend of certain air toxic contaminants common with the first MATES. Additionally, as part of MATES-II, air toxic measurements were conducted in specific areas in close proximity to industrial and transportation sources.
As part of the overall effort to reduce air toxic exposure in the South Coast Air Basin, the AQMD will be conducting a MATES-III program beginning as early as February of this year. MATES-III field measurements will be conducted over a one-year period at ten fixed sites (the same sites selected for MATES-II) to show the trend in air toxic levels. In addition, shorter-term measurements will be conducted at various locations to assess localized impacts. The locations will be identified within the next couple of months.
Many of the monitoring and laboratory equipment acquired for MATES-II are available for MATES-III and the associated localized study. However, due to either the age of some equipment or lack of laboratory equipment resources, additional instrumentation is required to complete MATES-III in a timely fashionmanner. In addition to equipment needs, temporary staffing is necessary to meet the additional workload associated with MATES-III.
In recent discussions with the California Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment and members of the state’s Scientific Review Panel, staff was informed that naphthalene may be assigned a unit risk factor. Naphthalene is one of the major poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in diesel combustion. The MATES-III Technical Advisory Group indicated that PAH sampling would be of value as part of MATES-III.
As part of the Board’s approval of the 11th and 12th Years PAMS and FY 2003-04 PM2.5 Program in December 2003, staff recommended the acquisition of a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC/MS) to assist in the MATES-III laboratory analysis. However, based on recent discussions with the MATES-III Advisory Group and refinements in resource needs, staff believes that it would be more importantpreferable to acquire a gas chromatograph with flame ionization detector (GC/FID) and a high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The two instruments would provide additional resources to the PAMS program in the longer-term.
Lastly, in recent discussions with U.S. EPA staff, an additional $10,690 in Section 103 Grant funding has been identified for the PM2.5 Program. As such, staff is recommending that the additional funds be recognized for the PM2.5 Program.
Proposal
Staff is requesting the Board’s approval to purchase several laboratory and air monitoring equipment needed to conduct MATES-III, retain temporary staff to conduct field sampling and laboratory analysis, and external laboratory services to analyze PAH samples. A list of the funding requests is shown in Attachment 1 to this letter.
In addition, staff is requesting the Board to redirect PAMS funds intended for the purchase of a GC/MS to purchase a GC/FID and a HPLC. There are no additional costs associated with this request. The funding allocation request is shown in Attachment 2.
Lastly, staff is requesting the Board to recognize and appropriate $10,690 to the Science and Technology Advancement FY 2003-04 Budget for the PM2.5 Program. Specifically, staff is requesting the Board to allocate the $10,690 to the purchase of an acid purifier. The funding allocation request is shown in Attachment 3.
To facilitate the purchase of the necessary equipment, staff is requesting the Board’s approval to release several RFQs as discussed below.
MATES-III Resource Needs
Staff has identified the need for additional resources to conduct MATES-III including temporary field and laboratory staff. The requested funding would cover the costs to collect and analyze PAH samples. The AQMD does not currently have the capability or the proper laboratory safety precautions to conduct PAH analysis in-house;. As such, PAH samples collected as part of MATES-III must be processed by an external laboratory. Upon approval by the Board, staff will prepare aan RFP to retain a qualified laboratory to process the PAH samples.
A list of the resource needs is shown in Attachments 1 through 3. Staff is requesting that the total funding for the additional resources be covered from:
(1) transference of $425,000 from the Clean Fuels Fund to cover the costs of additional temporary staff services (Attachment 1); (2) transference of $554,150 from the Clean Fuels Fund to cover the cost of an Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (EDXRF) instrument ($135,000), two microwave digestors ($50,000), one (1) ion chromatograph ($80,000), three (3) PUF samplers ($45,000), miscellaneous laboratory supplies ($1,150 - 50 glass cartridges for the PUF samplers), and procuring external laboratory services to analyze the PAH samples ($243,000) (Attachment 1); (3) redirection of $150,000 from the 12th year PAMS program funds allocated to the purchase of a GC/FID and an HPLC (no additional costs associated with this request) (Attachment 2); and (4) allocation of $10,690 from the PM2.5 Program to the purchase of an acid purifier (Attachment 3).
Issuance of RFQs for Instrumentation
To facilitate the procurement process, staff is requesting the Board’s approval to release RFQs for the following needed equipment:
| (a) | Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) Spectrometer (EDXRF)
(Not to exceed $135,000) The primary function of this instrument will be in the analysis of particulate matter on Teflon™ filters. The acquisition of a new EDXRF Spectrometer is necessitated by the large increase in the number of samples for MATES-III and the frequent breakdown of the existing, 15-year old instrument. In addition, on-going PM2.5 network samples undergo EDXRF analysis on a routine basis for the determination of many metal species which are emitted by mobile sources. Further, a sizable number of enforcement samples such as lead in paint, chrome in plating solutions, toxic metals in coatings, sulfur in fuel oil are analyzed using EDXRF. |
| (b) | Microwave Digesters (Two digesters not to exceed $50,000
total) The accurate analysis of toxic metals using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICPMS) is dependent on a thorough and complete digestion of samples such as particulate filters containing toxic metals from both mobile and stationary sources, soil and dust from special monitoring and enforcement programs are examples of the types of samples which benefit from microwave digestion. The biggest bottle- neck in the analytical scheme is the digestion process. A microwave digestion system running a U.S. EPA approved protocol will greatly enhance sample throughput. Such systems allow fast and complete digestion of as many as 30 samples in less than 30 minutes. The laboratory has a need for two microwave digestion systems to facilitate the significant increase in sample load from and the coming MATES-III program. Additionally, at the conclusion of MATES-III, the digesters will be used in the analysis of compliance related samples. |
| (c) | Ion Chromatograph (Not to exceed $80,000) The Ion Chromatograph (IC) is needed for the analysis of hexavalent chromium in ambient air. The analysis of hexavalent chromium is a critical part of MATES-III since hexavalent chromium has one of the highest unit risk factors. In addition, the instrument can also be used for ambient air analysis of cations (e.g. sodium, potassium, and ammonium). Hexavalent chromium and other metals are known to be emitted by mobile sources as well as stationary facilities. The IC can be configured to perform two sets of wholly different analyses with control from one computer. Two autosamplers holding up to 60 samples may be connected to fully automate the system. |
| (d) | Polyurethane Foam (PUF) Samplers (Three samplers not
to exceed $45,000 total) There is specific interest to characterize a suite of PAHs including naphthalene as a part of MATES-III. Due to the significant cost of the analysis of these species, a limited monitoring element has been proposed. Both PAHs and naphthalene are emitted almost exclusively by mobile sources and require specialized sampling equipment withwhich the AQMD does not currently have. The purchase of these samplers will allow for PAH and naphthalene samples to be collected for subsequent analysis and inclusion in the MATES-III risk analysis. |
| (e) | High Pressure Liquid Chromatograph (Not to exceed
$70,000 total) The laboratory currently has one high pressure liquid chromatograph (HPLC) to analyze for carbonyls such as formaldehyde and acetone. However, an additional HPLC is necessary to process the additional VOC samples for carbonyls under MATES-III. In the longer-term, the second HPLC will provide additional resources for staff to process ambient samples for the PAMS program. |
| (f) | Gas Chromatograph with Flame Ionization Detector
(Not to exceed $80,000 total) An additional gas chromatograph is needed with the capability to analyze for oxygenated hydrocarbons such as MTBE for the MATES-III program. In the longer-term the GC/FID will provide additional resources to staff in processing VOC samples for the PAMS program. |
Resource Impacts and Justification
Staff is requesting that a total of $979,150 from the Clean Fuels Fund be used to cover the cost of the additional resources shown in Attachment 1. Section 40448.5(e) of the California Health and Safety Code provides that "when considering which clean fuels projects to promote, the south coast district shall consider, among other factors … potential effects on public health, ambient air quality, visibility within the region, and other factors determined to be relevant by the south coast district." MATES III will help establish an emissions baseline for mobile sources, from which the benefits of clean fuel programs can be calculated.
Results from MATES-II indicate that mobile sources contribute over 85 percent of the potential cancer risk from air toxics in the South Coast Air Basin. Seventy percent of the mobile source contributions are estimated to be from diesel combustion sources. The activities paid for by these funds are all related to mobile sources. A significant portion of the $979,150 requested funding will go towards the collection and analysis of PAHs including naphthalene which occur primarily from diesel combustion sources. In particular, staff is requesting three polyurethane foam (PUF) samplers for the collection of PAHs, temporary staff services for the operation and maintenance of the samplers, and external laboratory services to process the samples. The remaining requested funds will be used to conduct the core MATES-III sampling and analysis of which 85% is related to mobile sources. Specifically, hexavalent chromium and other mobile source related chemicals such as sodium and potassium will be measured by the requested ion chromatograph. While these emissions are typically associated with plating operations, mobile sources do emit hexavalent chromium as well as other metal constituents such as lead and manganese in addition to benzene, 1,3 butadiene, elemental and organic carbon. Microwave digesters are needed to facilitate the processing of these samples while the EDXRF will provide measurement information on the levels of metal species in the air.
MATES-III will provide an update on the impact of mobile emission sources on air toxic exposure. The study will provide additional information for the AQMD staff to promote clean fuel projects that will advance the commercialization of mobile source emissions control technologies.
The U.S. EPA has given its concurrence relative to the redirection of existing PAMS funds to the purchase of a GC/FID and HPLC. In addition, U.S. EPA has given its concurrence to the purchase of an acid purifier as part of the PM2.5 Program.
Attachment 1 – Proposed Additional Resources for MATES-III
Attachment 2 – Proposed PAMS Program Reallocation
Attachment 3 – Proposed PM2.5 Program Expenditure
Attachment 4 – RFQ #Q2004-02 for the purchase of an EDXRF Spectrometer to
support MATES-III
Attachment 5 – RFQ #2004-05 for the purchase of two (2) Microwave Digesters to
support MATES-III
Attachment 6 – RFQ #Q2004-06 for the purchase of an Ion Chromatograph (IC) to
support MATES-III
Attachment 7 – RFQ #Q2004-04 for the purchase of three (3) Polyurethane Foam
samplers to ssupport MATES-III
Attachment 8 – RFQ #2004-03 for the purchase of a High Pressure Liquid
Chromatograph (HPLC) to support the PAMS program and MATES-III
Attachment 9 – RFQ #Q2004-07 for the purchase of a Gas Chromatograph with Flame
Ionization Detector (GC/FID) to support the PAMS Program and MATES-III
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