U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS), Ambient Air Monitoring Group [AAMG] March 2022 PM2.5 Chemical Speciation Network (CSN) CSN Newsletter This is the third issue of the CSN newsletter. You can find previous issues of the news- letter here. We use the newsletter to communicate information on CSN that is useful to the State, Local, and Tribal (SLT) monitoring agencies and data validators, as well as users of CSN data. The EPA AMTIC page for CSN is here. Questions Regarding CSN If you have any questions regarding CSN, contact us using the CSN sup- port (5isonomatech.com email address. This email address puts you in touch with EPA, the sample handling/shipping and gravimetric laboratory (Wood Environment & Infra- structure Solutions, Inc. or Wood), the sample analysis laboratory (University of Cali- fornia at Davis or UC Davis), and the CSN Data Analysis and Reporting Tool (DART) support team (Sonoma Technology). Wood has also created an email address for site operators to contact them regarding shipping and handling requests. Please use csnfield@woodplc.com for any questions specifically related to late shipments, stopping and starting sample collection, and any other issues related to the logistics of shipping and handling. Reminder about Freezing Ice Packs for Shipping The Filter Handling Lab (Wood) continues to receive a large percentage of shipments above the target criterion of 4°C. When shipments arrive above 4°C, the transport tempera- ture or "TT" qualifier is applied. Upon receipt from Wood, please remove the freezer packs and freeze them at < -18°C (0°F) for a minimum of 3 days (>72 hours) if possible to help ensure that samples arrive at temperatures < 4°C. See page 2 of the 2021 newsletter for more information. Met One Super SASS URG 3000N Inside this issue Data Analysis and Reporting Tool Training 2 Spare EPROM Kits Available for URG 3000N 2 Annual Data Quality Reports 3 CSN Data Advisories 3 CSN Sampler Flow Verifications/ Audits and AQS 4 Update on the 25-mm Teflon® FilterPilot Study 4 Special points of interest • 2022 National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference, August22-25 in Pittsburgh, PA • The 2022 Shipping and Sam- pling Calendars for CSN are nowavailable • New DART Page for Agencies ------- 2022 Shipping and Sampling Schedules Available The 2022 CSN shipping and sampling schedules for l-in-3 and l-in-6 sampling are now available. Copies of the sched- ules were sent to site operators in a December 2021 shipment and also emailed to site operators and EPA CSN Region representatives. The schedules have also been posted on EPA's CSN AMTIC website here. Data Analysis and Reporting Tool (DART) Training Our last DART webinar training was held in August 26, 2021. The slides and re- cording of the training are located here under Data Validation Resources along with the CSN data validation guide and quick reference guide. The DART web address is https:// dart.sonomatech.com. Agency users can request access to DART by setting up an account using the Log In tab at the top of the DART home page or requesting DART access through: CSNsupport(5)sonomatech.com. New features in DART include: • Capabilities for adding comments to indicate that sample dates are in- correct and need to be changed • New options for bulk editing data • Changes to editing functions (removed the "Request Exclusion" Manage | Explore | Validate | Export | Help | Log In qualifiers, prevent 'MD' and TP qualifiers from being removed, and edits to composite/contributing parameters) An Administration page for Agency admins to configure CSN Validators for their Agency (see the side bar for more on this feature). Check boxes for adding access or uncheck them for removing access. DART Page for Agencies to Manage Users There is a "Manage Users" feature in DART that allows monitoring agencies to configure CSN validators roles. Se- lect your agency at the top left of the Manage Users page to see a list of users with a DART account. Individuals can be assigned "CSN Admin", "CSN Validator, and/or "CSN Emails" roles. Please confirm your Agency's Adminis- trators, Validators, and those wishing to get DART emails using this page (uncheck or check the box as needed in the corresponding columns). Note, the "Manage Users" page is only visible to users with the CSN Admin role. To add a new validator, users must first sign up for a DART account here. Spare EPROM Kits Available for URG3000N In 2014, EPA upgraded the software for the URG 3000N sampler. The new software allowed more flexibility in sampling and sequential sampling. All of the existing CSN sites received a copy of the new software on an EPROM along with installation in- structions. Instructionsforthe installation is also available here. EPROM kits are availa- ble for both Phase I and Phase ll/lll sam- plers. Phase I samplers have the isolation valve at the top of the pump box and 2 power cords. Phase ll/lll samplers have the isolation shown in the figure and one pow- er cord. The kit includes an IC puller and straightener and chip lifter. One EPROM is needed and the kit includes 2 EPROMs in case one is damaged during installation. We still have EPROM kits available for those that did not receive a kit, misplaced the original kit, or have a damaged EPROM kit. If you would like a kit, please contact Melinda Beaver; beaver.melinda(5)epa.gov. Phase I Sampler Phase ll/lll Sampler 2 ------- Annual Data Quality Reports The filter handling laboratory (Wood) and the sample analysis laboratory (UC Da- vis) prepare annual data quality reports. Reports for the period of the current CSN contract period (2015-2020) are available here. Each report contains information on: • Laboratory and field operation issues • Quality issues and corrective actions • Laboratory QC summaries • Data management and reporting • OA and data validation activities CSN Data Advisories When issues are identified that affect CSN data, we summarize the impacts in data advisories that let the CSN community and data users know about potential issues. Since the last newsletter in 2021, three data advisories have been issued for CSN . The current CSN data advisories are located here. A short description of the three most recent advisories are provided below. More details can be found in each advisory. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Protocol Change Data affected: elements; Period: October 2018 and later In November 2015, the contractor performing the EDXRF analysis changed from Research Triangle Institute (RTI) to UC Davis. The EDXRF instruments used by these two laboratories use different techniques for sample analysis. Detection limits for several elements, particularly heavier elements (e.g., Lead), increased when the laboratory changed. To obtain lower detection limits, the XRF protocol was modified and the overall analysis time increased. Carbon Analyzer Change Data affected: carbon parameters; Period: October 201S and later Thermal-optical carbon analysis for CSN has gone through a number of changes in the sam- pling, analytical protocol, and instrumentation during the last 15 years. This advisory addresses the most recent analytical labora- tory transition, which included a change in the model of carbon analyzers. An inter -laboratory study was conducted to compare the measurements reported from these two analyzer models using 4000+ CSN quartz filter samples. The largest im- pact is on subtractions of organic and elemental, as well as pyrolized carbon. We are exploring the cause of the differences and how to improve the continuity of the times series for these species. Contract Laboratory Transition Data affected: all parameters; Period: November 2015 and later This data advisory covers all of the data processing and analytical procedure changes corresponding with the change in CSN contractors in 2015. This data advi- sory covers: • Laboratory measurements • Filter blank correction • Method detection limit calculations • Reporting of negative values • Updating the Teflon filter deposit area • Reporting chloride data 2020 Site Summaries Available Soon Starting in 2017, our analysis labor- atory contractor has compiled individual CSN site summaries. These summaries include infor- mation on the site AQS ID, site latitude/longitude, completeness, daily reconstructed fine mass (RCFM), long-term trends in RCFM, chemical composition, and a map of RCFM as compared to both nearby CSN and Interagency Moni- toring of PROtected Visual Environ- ments (IMPROVE) monitoring sites. To view all CSN site summaries for 2017—2020, please visit: https://aqrc.ucdavis.edu/csn-field- sites-maps. CSN National Contract Status EPA's current national contracts to support CSN filter shipping, han- dling, and gravimetric analysis, as well as analysis laboratory support for ions, elements, and carbon have been in place since 2015 and are expiring soon. EPA is working on awarding a follow-on contract. We will communicate more as we can. Stay tuned! ------- Coming Soon: Filter- based Light Absorption Measurements Since June 2018, UC Davis has been measuring filter light absorption using the PTFE filters from CSN. A Hybrid Integrating Plate/Sphere (HIPS) system is used forthis analysis. The HIPS system uses a 632.8 nm laserto illuminate the backside of a sampled filter. Both reflected and transmitted light are collected and used to calculate the filter absorption coefficient, Fabs. Fabs is compara- ble to EC measured on quartz filters and used as a quality check for EC. The IMPROVE network already measures and reports the Fabs value to AQS. Now that we have a few years of Fabs data from CSN, we are working on a plan to use the data in the CSN validation review procedures in DART and also to submit the data to AQS. We will provide more information on the measurement, results, and how to use the data for validation purpos- es as we get closer to submitting the data to DART and AQS. CSN Sampler Flow Verifications/Audits and AQS Last year EPA began inspecting the CSN metadata residing in EPA's Air Quality Sys- tem (AQS). Review of the sampler metada- ta found that many flowrate verifications and audit results could not be loaded to AQS due to Sampler IDs not consistently being entered into the database. To facili- tate these metadata corrections and addi- tions, EPA queried the database to isolate the records for samplers in AQS that need- ed updates and created AQS AD- Transaction files for those records. EPA is using a phased approached for updating these metadata records with its CSN partners. The goal is to have phase 1 completed by April 2022. In phase 1 the 'Sampler ID' and 'channel count' AQS fields are updated. In phase 2, the CSN program begins updating the 'channels' and 'filter types' for those samplers in AQS that need edits. EPA found that the metadata for the SuperSASS samplers are the most in need of updates. Lastly, phase 3 will focus on defining the Sampler IDs for each of the CSN parameters, in addition to the sam- plers, so that flowrate verifications and audit results performed on the samplers can be associated with the routine ambient measurements. We are hoping that this will assist in im- proving the submission of CSN flowrate results into AQS. The flow rate data com- pleteness by sampler type and year is pro- vided below. Flowrate Data Completeness CSN Network Size Flow Checks in AQS (%) Sampler Cou nt 2017 SASS 139 39.7 2017 URG 132 48.1 2018 SASS 141 42.0 2018 URG 135 49.2 2019 SASS 144 44.5 2019 URG 136 53.6 2020 SASS 141 42.3 2020 URG 135 48.5 2021 SASS 141 38.3 2021 URG 136 45.6 We would like to thank the state and local monitoring agencies that have assisted EPA during phase 1 of this metadata house cleaning and we look forward to working with you as we complete phases 2 and 3 during this calendar year. Please contact Doug Jager (iaeer.doue@epa.eov) if you have questions about this effort. Update on the 25-mm Teflon® Filter Pilot Study In order to reduce the frequency of non- detectable results from XRF analysis, we have been investigating concentrating the sampled PM2.5 onto a smaller filter. Specifi- cally, we have been exploring the use of a 25 -mm Teflon® filter (and insert) instead of a 47-mm filter. This filter diameter change will increase the density of PM2.5 per cm2 of filter area by a factor of about 3. This should re- duce the number of non-detectable sam- ples, especially for elements with ambient concentrations near the method detection limit (MDL). We have been evaluating the 25-mm filter and insert at six collocated CSN sampling sites on the l-in-6 day schedule: Bakersfield, CA; Riverside (Rubidoux), CA, G.T. Craig, OH; Rutgers, NJ; Roxbury, MA; and Deer Park, TX. The study started in January 2019 and XRF and mass data show that results from the inserts were approximately 20% lower than expected. After several months of trouble- shooting, UC Davis determined the current design was leaking and that a new filter insert design was the best option. UC Davis designed a new insert, and we plan to begin testing the new 25-mm filter design at the 6 collocated sites later in 2022. Thanks to the state and local monitoring agency operators at the six collocated CSN sites for continuing to collect the extra mod- ules for this special study. ------- 2022 National Air Monitoring Conference (NAAMC) Call for Papers and Posters The National Ambient Air Monitoring Con- ference, will be held August 22-25 in Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania. The 2022 National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference, spon- sored by EPA in conjunction with the Asso- ciation of Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA) and the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) is a must for federal, state, local and tribal air pollution organizations involved with operating, planning, or managing air monitoring net- works and reporting data to AQS, and/or AIRNOW. Essential training on air monitor- ing topics will help prepare you for future challenges of air monitoring. The conference is intended to provide a national and international forum for EPA, State, local, tribal, international, and other agencies who are involved in imple- menting air monitoring programs. Paper and poster submissions are due March 18, 2022. For more information and instructions on submitting abstracts, the conference web- site is located here. If you have questions about the confer- ence, you can send them to: Nealson Wat- kins watkirisjiealsonfSeEa;^^ an^ Erin Pittorino erin.pittorino(5>erg.com. Ambient Air Monitoring Group (AAMG) We plan, implement, and assess the nation's ambient air quality networks. We collaborate with states, locals, tribes, instrument compa- nies, researchers and colleagues at EPA and other Federal agencies to optimize the ambient air monitoring networks. We provide oversight, guidance, and tools to ensure quality data for clean air decisions across thecountry. CSN Contacts Wondering who the right people are to contact regarding CSN? Please note that a few of the Regional contacts have changed. The current contacts are: EPA Contacts Program Lead: Melinda Beaver; beaver.melinda(S>epa.gov; 919-541-1062 Technical Point of Contact: Joann Rice; rice,ioann(S>epa.gov: 919-541-3372 Quality Assurance: Doug Jager; iager.dougPepa.gov; 919-541-4804 Mega Performance Evaluation Program: Colin ESarrette; barrette.colin(5)epa.gov; 919-541-5535 Regional Contacts Region 1: Anne McWilliams: mcwilliams.anneiS'epa.gov: 617-918-1697 Region 2: Gavin Lau; lau.gavintSepa.gov; 212-637-3708 Region 3: Lori Hyden; hvden.loretta(S>epa.gov: 215-814-2113 Region 4: Keith Harris; harris.keith(5)ep3.gov; 706-355-8624 Region 5: Chad McEvov: mcevov.chad(S)epa.gov: 312-886-6084 Region 6: Josh Madden; madden, ioshua(a)epa.gov; 214-665-7251 and Fran Verhalen; verhalen.frances@epa.gov; 214-665-2172 Region 7: Leland Grooms; grooms.leland(S>epa.gov: 913-551-5010 Region 8: Josh Rickard; rickard.ioshua(5>epa.gov; 303-312-6460 Region 9: Dena Vallano; vallano.dena(5)epa.gov: 415-972-3134 Region 10: Will Wallace; wallace.willfSepa.gov; 206-553-2495 General Contacts CSNsupportta'sonomatech.com and/or csnfield(a)woodplc.com ------- |