ABBREVIATED NOTICE OF SOLICITATION OF PUBLIC COMMENT
Notice is hereby given that the District of Columbia’s (District) Draft Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan for 2017 is open for public comment before submittal to to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on July 1, 2016.
The Clean Air Act mandates that ambient air quality surveillance systems in state and local jurisdictions, including the District, meet requirements specified in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.), Part 58. Regulations require state and local monitoring agencies to conduct a periodic assessment of ambient air monitoring networks and propose any changes in an annual ambient air monitoring network plan. EPA established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six pollutants: ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), lead (Pb), and particulate matter less than 10 microns aerodynamic diameter (PM10) and less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). These are commonly known as the “criteria” pollutants. When air quality does not meet the NAAQS, the area is said to be in “non-attainment” with the NAAQS. For more information on air quality and the federal NAAQS, please visit EPA’s website, or DOEE’s Air Quality section.
In the District’s Annual Ambient Air Network Plan (Network Plan) for calendar year 2017, DOEE proposes to remove carbon monoxide (CO) monitors at the Verizon Center and River Terrace stations to avoid redundancy and remove the Lead (Pb) monitor at the McMillan station. Pollutant concentrations at all of these monitors are low, and the changes comply with monitoring requirements that were revised in April 2016. Finally, the Federal Reference Monitors (FRMs) at the McMillan, River Terrace, and Hains Point stations will be replaced with continuous Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) monitors. The rest of the existing network will be maintained.
The District of Columbia’s Draft Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan for 2017 is available for review. A person may obtain a copy of the Plan by any of the following means:
Download from the attachment below;
Email a request to [email protected] with “Request copy of Draft Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan for 2017” in the subject line;
Pick up a copy in person from the Department reception desk, located at 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002. Call Khin Sann Thaung at (202) 535-2600 to make an appointment and mention this Plan by name;
Write the Department at 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002, “Attn: Draft Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan for 2017” on the outside of the envelope.
The Department is committed to considering the public’s comments while finalizing this Plan. Interested persons may submit written comments on the draft Plan, which must include the person’s name; telephone number; affiliation, if any; mailing address; a statement outlining their concerns; and any facts underscoring those concerns. All comments must be submitted by Monday, June 6, 2016.
Comments should be clearly marked “Draft Annual Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan for 2017” and either:
- Mailed or hand-delivered to the Department of Energy and Environment, Air Quality Division, 1200 First Street, NE, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20002, Attention:, or
- E-mailed to [email protected].
The Department will consider all timely received comments before finalizing the Plan. All comments will be treated as public documents and will be made available for public viewing on the Department’s website. When the Department identifies a comment containing copyrighted material, the Department will provide a reference to that material on the website. If a comment is sent by e-mail, the email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public record and made available on the Department’s website. If the Department cannot read a comment due to technical difficulties, and the email address contains an error, the Department may not be able to contact the commenter for clarification and may not be able to consider the comment.
