Fact Sheet: Extension of Start Date for Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations

FACT SHEET
EXTENSION OF START DATE FOR PHOTOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT MONITORING STATIONS
ACTION
• On May 23, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to revise the
start date for the updated Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS). The
PAMS network measures ozone, the pollutants that form it, and meteorology to better
understand ozone formation and to evaluate national and local ozone-reduction options.
• On October 1, 2015, in conjunction with establishing the 2015 National Ambient Air Quality
Standards for ground-level ozone, EPA took final action to streamline and modernize the
PAMS network.
• The current regulations require the new PAMS network to be operating by June 1, 2019.
This proposed revision would extend the start date to June 1, 2021. This action would give
states two additional years to acquire the necessary equipment and expertise needed to
successfully make the required measurements at the required PAMS sites.
• EPA will accept comment on this proposed rule for 30 days after it is published in the
Federal Register.
BACKGROUND
• EPA established requirements for the PAMS program in the early 1990s. As part of the 2015
Ozone NAAQS review, the Agency made significant revisions to the PAMS requirements.
• The revised PAMS requirements call for ozone precursor measurements to be made at
existing multi-pollutant monitoring sites (known as NCore sites) in areas with a population
of one million or more. These sites are referred to as "required PAMS sites." The main
objectives of the updated PAMS sites is to develop a database of pollutants that form ozone
(precursors) and meteorological measurements to support ozone model development and
track the trends of important ozone precursor concentrations.
• The updated PAMS requirements also call for each state with nonattainment areas
classified as moderate or above for any ozone NAAQS and states in the Ozone Transport
Region to develop and implement an Enhanced Monitoring Plan (EMP). The objective of
EMPs is to better understand ozone formation in specific areas through enhanced ozone
and ozone precursor monitoring activities.
• The updated PAMS requirements significantly reduced the number of required PAMS sites
(from 75 to 43) while improving spatial distribution. Of the 43 required PAMS sites, 16 were
existing PAMS sites and 27 are new PAMS sites. Many states still need to install new
equipment. EPA recognized that some states would have difficulties in purchasing the
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higher cost items needed to make PAMS measurements. To assist the states in acquiring the
necessary equipment, EPA is working on a national contract to provide much of the needed
equipment for making PAMS measurements.
• Many of the states relying on EPA's assistance in acquiring equipment for the required
PAMS sites will not be able to comply with the current compliance deadline as they will not
have much of the necessary equipment. Because many states also will be new to making
PAMS measurements, and staff will need time to become proficient with the equipment
after the equipment has been delivered, EPA believes it is appropriate to extend the
compliance date until the start of the PAMS season following the delivery of the remaining
PAMS equipment.
• Based on current expectations, the last equipment will be delivered in the summer of 2020.
As such, EPA is proposing to extend the compliance date until the beginning of the PAMS
season in 2021.
HOW TO COMMENT
• Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0137, by one of
the following methods:
o http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
o E-mail: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.
O Fax: 202-566-9744.
o Mail: Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Air and
Radiation Docket and Information Center, Mail Code: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20460. Please include two copies.
o Hand Delivery: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA West (Air Docket), 1301
Constitution Avenue, Northwest, Room 3334, Washington, DC. Such deliveries are
only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
FOR MORE INFORMATON
• Interested parties can download the rule from EPA's web site under Recent Actions at the
following address: https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/monregs.html.
• Other places to read the proposed rule and background information (use Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OAR-2019-0137): p
• EPA's electronic public docket and comment system at
http://www.regulations.gov.
• The EPA Docket Center's Public Reading Room (for hard copies).
o The Public Reading Room is located at EPA Headquarters, Room Number 3334 in
EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington,
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o DC. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. eastern standard time,
Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays,
o You will have to show photo identification, pass through a metal detector, and
sign the EPA visitor log. Any materials you bring with you will be processed
through an X-ray machine as well. You will be provided a badge that must be
visible at all times.
• For further information about the rulemaking, contact Kevin Cavender at EPA's Office of Air
Quality Planning and Standards at (919) 541-2364 or cavender.kevin@epa.gov.
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