GMAP – Real-time Mobile Air Monitoring

Since the promulgation of the Petroleum Refinery Sector Rule (RSR) and with it, the requirement to conduct routine benzene fenceline monitoring, there has been a growing focus on industrial fenceline monitoring by U.S.EPA, state and local authorities, and by non-government organizations.  This focus has not just been on fenceline monitoring at petroleum refineries, but has expanded to chemical manufacturing facilities including, but not limited to ethylene production plants. Many of the major ethylene producers have recently entered into or are in the process of entering into Consent Decrees requiring routine fenceline monitoring, very similar to that required by the RSR.  As additional fenceline monitoring data is collected and made public, the U.S.EPA and the DOJ’s focus on industrial fenceline monitoring is expected to continue to grow and with it, the use of real-time mobile monitoring by governing authorities as a screening tool for potential enforcement.

These fenceline monitoring programs have provided insights to each facility’s long-term impacts from emission sources towards concentrations of regulated pollutants, e.g. benzene, at its fenceline.  However, it has also provided many challenges, such as often trying to find unknown onsite or off-site emission sources that may be causing elevated fenceline concentrations on a short-term basis.

In response to this challenge and the growing focus on fenceline monitoring at petroleum refineries and chemical plants, TRICORD offers real-time ambient air monitoring using a portable (vehicle mounted) air monitor in combination with real-time meteorological monitoring, collectively referred to as a GMAP (Geospatial Measurement of Air Pollutants) Unit.  The GMAP Unit provides a complete on-demand mobile air monitoring system equipped with an advanced data analysis and geospatial mapping program designed to measure ground-level concentrations of certain pollutants and to help identify upwind contributing emission sources. This monitoring practice is outlined in OTM 33 and 33A.

 

GMAP Highlights

• A complete on-demand mobile air monitoring system designed to help identify unknown emission sources that may be causing elevated fenceline concentrations of benzene and other regulated pollutants.
• Performs real-time continuous ambient air monitoring using a mobile (vehicle mounted) multi-pass UV optical spectrometer in combination with real-time meteorological and geospatial monitoring.
• Gas analyzer is able to qualify and quantify up to 15 gases including BTEX, NO_X, and SO₂ simultaneously nearly every second at low ppb levels.
• Equipped with an advanced data analysis and geospatial mapping program designed to help identify upwind contributing emission sources by generating interactive pollutant maps (based in Google Earth KMZ files). The maps indicate the route driven with the measured pollutant concentrations.
• Can be used portably to quickly map areas/zones of concern within facility or operated in a stationary location for consistent point monitoring used to triangulate upwind contributing emission sources.
• GMAP Unit monitoring maps combined with conventional gas imaging and hand-held detection devices can quickly identify an unknown leak and allow it to be fixed.
• The GMAP Unit provides an apples-to-apples comparison to similar monitoring units currently used by the U.S.EPA, the City of Houston and other air regulatory authorities.

GMAP Key Services

• Fenceline Monitoring (FLM) support – identify unknown and/or underestimated emission sources
• Differentiate competing emission sources between facility sources and/or third-party contributing sources
• Pre-screen monitoring in preparation of planned agency GMAP monitoring
• Comparative monitoring during agency GMAP monitoring
• Support for negotiating Consent Decrees with FLM
• Support of FLM studies and FLM program implementation
• Routine supplemental monitoring (e.g., quarterly screening of equipment) as an enhancement to existing LDAR, BWON, FLM, and Community Relations Management programs
• Baseline community monitoring
• Rapid response remote air monitoring e.g., offsite monitoring during an emission event (limited service).

 

 

Whether you need help finding an unknown benzene source or just want to better understand the influences to your facility’s fenceline concentrations, let us put our GMAP Unit to work for you. Contact one of our GMAP Experts today!

Call 1-888-900-0746 or email info@tricordconsulting.com with questions and let us help you get started today.