Sac Metro Air Qual Mgmt Dist Flashcards
Where does SMAQMD get its funding?
44% - Stationary and area source air pollution permitting fees
28% - Motor vehicle registration fee surcharges
13% - Federal, state, and local subsidies
9% - Sales tax and other sources.
Describe AB 617, the part that does NOT have to do with air monitoring.
AB 617 was signed into law in July 2017. Among its provisions, California Health and Safety Code (HSC) section 40920.6 was amended to require each air district that is a nonattainment area for one or more air pollutants to adopt an expedited schedule for implementation of Best Available Retrofit Control Technology (BARCT). This requirement applies to each industrial source subject to the California Greenhouse Gas Cap-and-Trade regulation.
Describe all the colors of the AQI.
0 to 50. Good. Green
51 to 100. Moderate. Yellow
101 to 150. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Orange
151 to 200. Unhealthy. Red
201 to 300. Very Unhealthy. Purple
301 to 500. Hazardous. Maroon
Explain the Air Toxic “Hot Spots” Act.
California enacted The Air Toxics “Hot Spots” Information and Assessment Act in 1987. The Act establishes a formal air toxics emission inventory risk quantification program, which is managed by California air districts.
The program goals include:
collection of data on the emission of toxic air contaminants
identification of facilities having localized impacts
health risk assessment
public notification on health risks
reduction of the risks of “significant-risk facilities” below the level of significance
Define MACT.
Maximum achievable control technology.
Describe the Carl Moyer Program.
It provides grant funding for cleaner-than-required engines and equipment. Local air districts administer these grants and select which projects to fund.
Name Regulation 10
Mobile Sources
Describe the ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ data sets in Purple Air.
The PurpleAir sensor has two ‘channels’ that measure data. Channel A and Channel B. Each channel has a ‘primary’ and ‘secondary’ data set:
Primary Data: measured in µg/m3
Secondary Data: measured in particles/deciliter
µg/m3 is the particle mass concentration - the popular method of measuring particulate matter.
Particles/deciliter is a particle count per volume measurement.
Describe AB 32.
The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 is a California State Law that fights global warming by establishing a comprehensive program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sources throughout the state.
AB 32 requires CARB to develop regulations and market mechanisms to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year of 2020, representing approximately a 30% reduction statewide, with mandatory caps beginning in 2012 for significant emissions sources.
Who is John Angi?
Program Supervisor, Field Operations, Stationary Sources.
What exactly am I applying for?
The position of Air Quality Specialist, in the Field Operations section of the Stationary Sources Division.
Describe SECAT.
Sacramento Clean Air and Transportation Program.
This is a Truck Replacement program, designed to help get out of ozone non-attainment status.
Tell us about yourself, and why you are an ideal candidate.
In other words, what would you bring to the position?
- MS in a scientific field (quantitative).
- Work at CSU Stanislaus on an air quality project, briefly describe it.
- Volunteer in local county.
- Continuing education.
Name one source of extremely fine PM, and why this is problematic.
Diesel exhaust is a source of extremely small PM. This is a problem, because smaller particles penetrate more deeply into the lung.
Name and describe Rule 107.
Name: Alternative Compliance.
This Rule deals with alternative compliance from certain emissions standards that may be granted to a source, if the source provides emission reduction credits.
What is your thinking about lean management?
Seems like a good idea, but I don’t have direct experience with it.
Name Regulation 8
New Source Performance Standards
How is the SMAQMD governed?
It is overseen by a Board of Directors (all 5 Sac County Supervisors, and additional members from City Councils, for a total of 14 people).
Why do you want to be an Air Quality Specialist at SMAQMD?
- Opportunity to help a lot of people (County population = 1.5 million).
- Very passionate about air quality, because after moving to CA, I realize how important it is.
- My skills and experience are a close match (particularly my love for science and quantitative reasoning).
- Continuing education.
What is your biggest weakness?
I did not choose an academic / career path early enough.
What’s your favorite Excel function?
- Conditional formatting, with =TODAY() and formula for due dates.
- Linear regression.
Name the 2 ways that ozone formation can be limited.
NOx limited and VOC limited.
Name Regulation 5
Agricultural Burning
Name and describe Rule 101.
Name: General Provisions and Definitions.
It has general definitions of terms.
What is Title V?
In 1990 the Federal Clean Air Act was amended to include a new section - Title V. Title V requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national, federally enforceable operating permit program.
“Major stationary sources” need a Title V permit.
How does PM2.5 concentration relate to the AQI?
The 24-hour average PM2.5 concentration (µg/m3) determines the AQI number. This number can be found by using the AQI look-up table for PM2.5
Describe AB617.
Assembly Bill 617. Signed by Governor in August 2017. AB 617 requires CARB to develop a monitoring plan for the state, then select the highest priority locations to deploy community air monitoring systems. By July 1, 2019, air districts would be required to deploy monitoring systems in the selected locations, with data to be published on the CARB website. Air districts would also be authorized to require any stationary sources that emit air pollution in, or that materially affects the selected location, to deploy a fence-line monitoring system.
Describe AQI.
EPA calculates the AQI (Air Quality Index) for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: O3, PM, CO, SO2, and NO2. For each of these pollutants, EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health. Ozone and PM are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country.
Define T-BACT.
Best available control technology for Toxics.
Define coarse PM.
Particles with an aerodynamic diameter between 2.5 and 10 μm.
Define CCAA.
The California Clean Air Act (CCAA) of 1988 requires the air districts to endeavor to achieve and maintain the state ambient air quality standards by the earliest practicable date and develop plans for attaining the state ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide standards.
Describe AB 134
The state Legislature adopted AB 134 to fund community air quality projects, specifically clean vehicle and ports investments. As a result, CARB allocated $250 million to California’s air districts in 2017-18 to support early actions in deploying cleaner technologies in impacted communities. The Sac Metro Air District has been allocated $3 million for the 2017-18 budget cycle to implement projects pursuant to the Carl Moyer Program.
How is tropospheric ozone formed?
It occurs when nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), react in the atmosphere in the presence of sunlight, specifically the UV spectrum.
Name one piece of criticism that my manager would probably say about me / what is something that I need to work on.
- That I seem too “rushed” = but I am doing it for their benefit.
Name Regulation 1
General
What is the exact definition of NOx?
The term NOx is chemistry shorthand for molecules containing 1 nitrogen and 1 or more oxygen atoms.
Describe the Clean Air Act.
Passed in 1963, expanded in 1970 (EPA was created then too). Major piece of federal legislation that addresses air quality. Under the CAA, the EPA sets NAAQS for the 6 criteria pollutants.
Define HAPs.
Hazardous Air Pollutants. Defined by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
Includes:
- Many VOCs.
- Pesticides.
- Herbicides.
- Radionuclides.
This category does NOT include all known hazardous air pollutants.
What if your results are in a range of values, but your manager requires you to come up with one specific number/answer?
I would try to come up with a weighted average.
Define PERP.
The Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) is a statewide program created by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to register portable equipment as an alternative to securing a permit from one of the 35 local air quality control or management districts. CARB administers the PERP program and the Sac Metro Air District enforces the requirements of the program.
Describe PM.
PM = Particulate Matter. It consists of solid or liquid particles suspended in air, regardless of chemical composition. PM can be primary or secondary.
Who is Jorge DeGuzman?
Program Manager, Permitting, Stationary Sources.
What are the main pollutants described by the AQI?
There is an AQI for ozone and PM.
Define area sources.
Area sources include small pollution sources like dry cleaners, gas stations, and auto body paint shops. Area sources are defined as sources that emit less than 10 tons per year of a criteria or hazardous air pollutant or less than 25 tons per year of a combination of pollutants.
Describe NESHAPs.
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. They are part of the Clean Air Act.
Define Watt.
1 Watt = 1 Joule / second
What is the primary cause of acid rain?
NOx and SOx
How are people exposed to mercury?
Mercury is naturally found in fossil fuels, especially coal. When airborne mercury is deposited on farmland, people ingest it. This is the most common route of exposure.