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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Inspector General
At a Glance
2005-P-00004
February 7, 2005
Why We Did This Review
We sought to determine
whether EPA's PM2 5
speciation air monitoring
network is sufficient to
(a) adequately identify sources
of fine particulate matter
(PM2 5), and (b) facilitate the
development of effective
control strategies to reduce
PM2 5 to safe levels.
Determining the chemical
make-up of a particle - known
as speciation - is largely
accomplished through data
generated by this network.
Background
Airborne particulate matter
2.5 microns or less in size
(PM2 5) is comprised of a
complex mixture of particles
composed of sulfate, nitrate,
ammonium, organic carbon,
elemental carbon, and organic
and inorganic compounds.
Tens of thousands of
premature deaths yearly are
associated with exposure to
excess levels of PM2 5. By
2010, EPA estimates that
compliance with PM2 5
emission control strategies
will cost industry more than
$37 billion annually. EPA's
speciation monitoring network
is a critical component in the
development of these control
strategies.
For further information,
contact our Office of
Congressional and Public
Liaison at (202) 566-2391.
To view the full report,
click on the following link:
www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2005/
20050207-2005-P-00004
Catalyst for Improving the Environment
EPA Needs to Direct More Attention, Efforts, and Funding
to Enhance Its Speciation Monitoring Program for Measuring
Fine Particulate Matter
What We Found
EPA has made substantial progress in establishing a speciation monitoring
network to facilitate the development of PM2 5 control strategies, but still faces a
number of challenges in ensuring that the controls are implemented at the right
sources. The development of control strategies is best approached through
collaborative processes that use emissions inventories, ambient monitoring data,
and air quality modeling. Although the speciation network provides information
for understanding the make-up and origin of PM2 5, the network does not fully
assist in providing the data for EPA and States to identify or quantify the chemical
make-up of PM2 5 particles, reliably trace particles back to their source, or account
for chemical changes that occur after particles are released into the atmosphere.
Speciation data are available to begin working on control strategies, and EPA and
the States are beginning the development of control strategies; however, increased
monitoring efforts are needed.
Under the Clean Air Act, States with PM2 5 nonattainment areas have until
February 2008 to develop control strategies for reducing PM2 5, and an additional
2 years to reach attainment with the PM2 5 standard. Also, with justification, the
Act allows EPA to grant a State an extension of up to 5 years to reach full
attainment. Data from EPA's speciation network will be vital to ensuring that
pollution controls are implemented at the right sources. Otherwise, some
facilities may install unneeded controls, while some needed controls may go
uninstalled; ultimately, compliance may be further delayed and more costly.
Agency officials acknowledge that improved speciation data will be needed for
EPA to overcome the uncertainties associated with PM2 5 particle origin. In 2004,
EPA budgeted over $43 million for PM2 5 monitoring, with about $16.4 million
for operation of the existing speciation monitoring network. However, only about
$800,000 was budgeted for improving its capability to address uncertainties with
PM2 5 particle origin. According to manufacturers and some Agency officials we
contacted, increased partnering between EPA and monitor manufacturers may be
needed if advanced speciation monitors are to be developed in time to help
agencies develop air pollution control strategies that ensure controls are
implemented at the right sources.
What We Recommend
We recommend that EPA increase its research on technologies that can more fully
identify the chemical make-up of PM25, account for the atmospheric impacts on
PM2 5, and assay the resultant changes that occur to the composition of the
particle. This includes increasing opportunities for cooperation with the private
sector to develop improved continuous speciation monitors. In its response to the
draft report, EPA disagreed with certain issues; however, the Agency stated that
the recommendations generally align with their current improvement efforts.

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