200 Maine, Suite B
Lawrence, Kansas 66044-1357
Office: 785/843-3060 Fax: 785/843-3161
Clinic: 785/843-0721 Fax: 785/843-2930
MEMORANDUM
Date: December 13, 2005
To: Health Board
From: Richard Ziesenis
Director of Environmental Health
RE: Lawrence – Kansas City Ozone Status Update
Background:
The need for some form of air quality capacity within the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department was first raised by the Douglas County Commission in 2000. In response, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Board formed an Air Quality Advisory Committee to consider air quality trends, data, and possible voluntary measures to maintain or improve outdoor air quality within Douglas County. The committee was comprised of people who have an active interest in various aspects of air quality, together with a Health Board liaison member and Health Department staff. The committee was formally charged to “consider air quality data and trends and recommend measures to maintain compliance with EPA air quality standards.”
In April of 2003, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) installed an outdoor air quality monitoring station at the City of Lawrence Municipal Airport, which has now provided three years worth of monitoring data for ozone levels. The future use of this monitoring station is uncertain. Continued operation will be determined by KDHE and is dependent on funding resources and KDHE priorities.
For EPA regulatory purposes, Douglas County is in a separate air quality area than the Kansas City area. The EPA requires three years worth of air quality monitoring data to determine if an area is in compliance with the Clean Air Act. For ozone levels, the
8-hour standard is expressed in the form of the three-year average of each year’s fourth highest concentration. The 8-hour standard is not exceeded until the three-year average of each year’s fourth highest monitored value exceeds .084 parts per million (ppm).
2003 – 2005 Ozone Monitoring Period:
During the 2003 – 2005 ozone monitoring period, Douglas County and the greater Kansas City monitoring areas were both in compliance with the EPA Clean Air Act. The preliminary average ozone reading for Douglas County was .073 parts per million (ppm). This reading was among the lowest of the eleven monitoring sites within the greater
Kansas City area over the three-year period. The Kansas City five-county area includes Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas, and Platte, Clay, and Jackson counties in Missouri.
2005 Ozone Season Monitoring Results:
While ozone data has been received for the 2005 ozone season, KDHE does not consider the monitoring readings to be official until the readings have completed their quality assurance process. That said, Douglas County only had one “unofficial” 8-hour exceedance of the ozone standard during the 2005 ozone season. This exceedance was recorded at .088 ppm on July 15, 2005. By comparison, the other ten monitors within the five-county Kansas City area “unofficially” exceeded the 8-hour standard 24 times during the 2005 ozone season.
Air Quality Advisory Committee:
The Air Quality Advisory Committee continues to meet quarterly throughout the year to monitor and assess outdoor air quality within Douglas County and provide recommended measures to the Health Department to maintain compliance with EPA air quality standards.
MARC Meetings:
I continue to attend the monthly Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) air quality meetings in Kansas City, Missouri, to stay abreast with current issues and concerns surrounding air quality in the region. Various air quality topics are discussed at these meetings such as possible changes to EPA air quality regulations, comparisons of air quality monitoring information, suggestions for public education events, and voluntary control measures for cities and counties to implement in order to maintain or reduce outdoor air pollutant emissions.
Public Education:
The Health Department continues to provide public education to those in Douglas County regarding outdoor air quality. The purpose of public education activities is to inform individuals about voluntary measures that will help keep our air clean for health reasons, while also keeping Douglas County in compliance with EPA regulations. The Health Department purchased billboard space for a public education message during August, 2005, at the east Lawrence I-70 highway interchange. The message encouraged commuters between Lawrence and Kansas City to carpool. The Health Department has also provided information booths at the annual Lawrence Earth Day event at South Park and at the Douglas County Fair.
Should you have questions about this report, please don’t hesitate to call me.