South Coast Air Quality Management Research Articles

Will a Market in Air Pollution Clean the Nation's Dirtiest Air - A Study of the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Regional Clean Air Incentives Market

Will a Market in Air Pollution Clean the Nation's Dirtiest Air - A Study of the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Regional Clean Air Incentives Market

Determination of the Size Distribution and Chemical Composition of Fine Particulate Semivolatile Organic Material in Urban Environments Using Diffusion Denuder Technology

AbstractCollection of particles on a filter results in underestimation of particulate organic compounds due to losses from the semivolatile organic fraction during sample collection, that is, a “negative sampling artifact.” This sampling-induced change in the phase distribution of semivolatile organic material resulted in the loss of an average of 35% of the particulate organic material in samples collected at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) sampling site at Azusa, CA, in the Los Angeles Basin. These semivolatile organic compounds lost from particles were measured using two diffusion denuder sampling systems. A multichannel diffusion denuder sampling system (BOSS) was used to determine the concentrations of fine particulate carbonaceous material, and a multisystem, multichannel, high-volume diffusion denuder sampler (BIG BOSS) was used for the determination of the particle size distribution and chemical composition of semivolatile organic compounds in fine particles. Results obtai...

Development and Application of Risk Analysis Methods to Stationary Sources of Carcinogenic Emissions for Regulatory Purposes by the South Coast Air Quality Management District

Desirable qualities of a risk assessment procedure for use in routine assessment of the impact of new and modified stationary sources of carcinogenic emissions are: (1) readily available analysis techniques and (2) simplicity when applied to small sources. Regulatory Gaussian models have these qualities but are limited by their accuracy at large distances and the difficulty of calculating the cancer incidence. Calculation of risk for the maximally exposed individual (MEI risk) and cancer incidence is discussed, and the relations found among MEI risk, de minimus individual risk, cancer incidence, population density, carcinogenic source strength, release conditions, maximum distance to de minimus individual risk, release period, and distance to nearest receptor found from application of these models to a typical situation are described. Suggestions for setting values for maximum allowable MEI risk, maximum allowable cancer incidence and de minimus individual risk are also presented. Several types of carcinogenic sources are examined for their cancer impact. The effect of various maximum allowable exposure parameter values on the source's acceptability is also examined. Screening methods for both MEI risk and cancer incidence is discussed. Application of the analysis method to numerous sources is presented, including use of an empirical equation for cancer incidence.

Air Quality Management: Participatory Ranking of Control Measures and Conflict Analysis

The ranking of air quality control measures according to a number of evaluation criteria and with the participation of a large number of interested publics is demonstrated. A pilot study for the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California serves as the reference point. Several methodological considerations are addressed, such as: (a) the enhancement of criterion priorities to account for the variability among the performance of the control measures when incommensurable impact levels are applied: (b) the derivation of alternative rankings according to the priorities of potential coalitions; (c) the assessment of the potential acceptability of a collective ranking given the degree of solidarity among participants with similar interest affiliations; and (b) the assessment of the extent to which the performance of specific control measures may override priority differences and lead to insignificant ranking differences.

An Evaluation of the REMI Model for the South Coast Air Quality Management District

This paper reports an evaluation of the econometric model developed by Regional Econometric Models Inc. for the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The analysis is focused on the in-sample performance, forecasting ability, and characteristics in impact analysis of the model. The trade-offs implicit in the performance of this model relate directly to questions of explanatory power. In particular, the model is characterized by well-specified structural equations that enhance its ability to formulate policy-relevant simulations. This may come at the cost of predictive ability in a statistical sense. Choices related to this trade-off are at the heart of applied regional analysis.

Reactivity-based hydrocarbon controls: scientific issues and potential regulatory applications.

The California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District hosted a conference on April 8-9, 1991 to examine the scientific issues associated with reactivity-based hydrocarbon controls, and to identify the obstacles to potential regulatory applications. Owing to residual uncertainties in the underlying science, and the complex emission measurement capabilities required for enforcement, a general consensus emerged on the need for further research before application of reactivity-based controls. A number of recommendations were made for research on the remaining scientific, enforcement, and policy issues, many of which have led to cooperative efforts initiated since the conference.

California clean air initiatives — the role of fuel cells

The interaction between energy and the environment has been recognized for some time, but increasing focus is being placed on the feedback mechanisms between the two as local/regional and federal governments address the issue of regional pollution and global climate change, respectively. In Los Angeles the continued severity of the air pollution problem has stimulated renewed efforts to significantly curtail emissions to meet the health-related air quality standards. This paper provides an overview of the ambient air quality in Los Angeles, the impact of previous emissions control strategies, and the additional reduction in emissions required to meet the health-related air quality standards (Air Quality Management Plan, 1991) The paper focuses upon the role of clean technologies such as the fuel cell to effect the emissions reductions required. Finally, there is a discussion of the demonstration programs, planned or underway, with fuel cells and related technologies in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), followed by some comments on the regulatory and legislative actions underway to stimulate new technologies.

Public values for equity in air quality management

The results of a pilot study of public values regarding the criterion of equity for air quality management are reported. Values refer to: (a) the priority assigned to equity attributes; and (b) the strength of preference for potential attribute levels. The public for this study was comprised of: (a) the members of two task forces appointed to assist the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California evaluate alternative air quality management measures, and (b) the gallery present during the task force meetings. Major findings include: (a) the concern with the equity of the impact distribution of measures among socio-economic groups is significantly higher to that among counties; (b) the concern with the equity of employment impact distributions is even higher than that of the next value of all impacts for a large number of the study participants; (c) there exist two groups of participants with opposing strong views regarding the priority of all equity attributes defined by the study; (d) there is no unanimous agreement on a monotonically increasing preference for higher equity levels; and (e) the lack of agreement among participants declaring similar interest and expertise affiliations. These findings call for a participatory multi-attribute evaluation of the equity of air quality management measures which will facilitate conflict management and thus a more efficacious implementation.

Public priorities for efficiency in air quality management

The results of a pilot study of the priorities that concerned parties assigned to efficiency attributes of air quality management measures are reported. The analysed priorities were those of the members of: (a) two task forces appointed to assist the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California evaluate alternative measures; and (b) the gallery, during the task force meetings. Major findings include: (a) a great majority of concerned parties assigned a more than two-times greater priority to the beneficial impacts of measures than to the negative impacts; (b) concerned parties with the highest priority for the beneficial impacts appear to disagree on the priority of specific categories of these impacts; (c) concerned parties with similar special interest affiliations and expertises hold statistically different priorities; and (d) distinct patterns of priorities exist necessitating separate efficiency assessments of measures in order to better understand the reasons for support (opposition) of each measure and the strength of this support. According to these findings, even when efficiency is chosen as the only criterion, a more involved process is needed than a pecuniary benefit-cost analysis. The objective of this process should be a multi-attribute evaluation of air quality management measures with the proactive participation of interested parties. Only such a process can assist conflict management and a more efficacious implementation of decisions.

Public priorities for evaluating air quality management measures

The results of a pilot study of the priorities that concerned parties assign to a number of criteria for evaluating air quality management measures (AQMM) are reported. The analysed priorities were those of the members of: (a) two task forces appointed to assist the implementation of the Air Quality Management Plan of the South Coast Air Quality Management District of California; and (b) the gallery , during the meetings of these task forces. Major findings include: (a) that there is not a single criterion that predominates; (b) the concern that supports the legal requirement for an almost exclusive economic efficiency valuation is not shared by the public; (c) concerned parties with similar special interest affiliations and expertise hold statistically different priorities; and (d) distinct patterns of priorities exist necessitating separate evaluations of AQMM in order better to understand the reasons for support (opposition) of each measure and the strength of this support. An important consequence of these findings is that no charge that air quality management decisions may cater to special interests can be supported. Hence, the challenge emerges for all concerned parties to determine the factors, other than those associated with conventional special interest labels, which actually influence public values regarding air quality management.

REGIONAL IMPACTS OF AIR QUALITY REGULATION: APPLYING AN ECONOMIC MODEL

The South Coast Air Quality Management District promulgated an Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) in 1989 so as to attain federal air quality standards for the South Coast Air Basin by the year 2007. Because the AQMP affects all walks of life, its economic impact has become the focal point of debates. This paper examines not only the traditional approach to evaluating the direct cost of a public policy change on the regulated community, but also a systematic approach to assessing direct and indirect impacts of such policy change. This latter approach will enhance the decisionmaking process by allowing one to compare the impacts of various projects in the same context.

Air Quality Management in Los Angeles: Perspectives on Past and Future Emission Control Strategies

The 1988 Air Quality Management Plan was approved by the Board of the California South Coast Air Quality Management District in March 1989. The District comprises the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside, and the non-desert portion of San Bernardino county. Emissions reductions in the past have lead to significant improvement in air quality despite large increases in growth. However, the District, largely because of continuous growth, currently violates the air quality standards for ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and respirable particulate matter (PM10). Based upon the AQMP, reduction of approximately 80 percent in emissions of oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds is required to bring the District into compliance with all air quality standards in the next twenty years. Achieving compliance will necessitate the use of advanced technologies, as well as some changes in lifestyle and management practices. Advanced technologies, including the use of electric vehicles powered b...

Comment on "Ten-Year Ozone Trends in California and Texas''

The results of analyses of ozone data from California's South Coast Air Basin (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties), presented in Ten Year Ozone Trends in California and Texas by H.M. Walker do not agree with the results of similar analyses performed by technical staff of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. There are also several errors and omissions in the article which should be noted. The author has stated that the California State Air Resources Board (ARB) used 20 percent for the conversion of all its data except for the San Diego area. This is not correct. The method in use prior to June 1975 in Los Angeles County was found to be sufficiently comparable to the ultraviolet photometer (UV) calibration method to require no correction. The method in use in the Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino County areas was found to calibrate high relative to the UV calibration method, and data obtained prior to June of 1975 have been corrected by a factor of 0.80 to make them comparable to later data. In addition, the author has not taken into account the changes in monitoring methods which occurred from 1974-1979 in this Basin. For Losmore » Angeles County locations, the average daily maximum ozone concentration determined by UV photometer averaged 12 percent higher than that measured by continuous potassium iodide (KI) method. While the ARB has corrected data from this area for change in calibration method where required, no correction is made for monitoring method changes.« less

Artifact sulfate and nitrate formation at two sites in the South Coast Air Basin. A collaborative study between the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVArticleNEXTArtifact sulfate and nitrate formation at two sites in the South Coast Air Basin. A collaborative study between the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources BoardSamuel. Witz and Jerome G. WendtCite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 1981, 15, 1, 79–83Publication Date (Print):January 1, 1981Publication History Published online1 May 2002Published inissue 1 January 1981https://doi.org/10.1021/es00083a007RIGHTS & PERMISSIONSArticle Views49Altmetric-Citations12LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InReddit PDF (654 KB) Get e-Alerts Get e-Alerts

Statistical Forecasting Models:I. Carbon Monoxide Concentrations in the Los Angeles Basin

The body of information presented in this paper is directed to those individuals constructing models for forecasting carbon monoxide concentrations and/or wishing to know which parameters were found most closely associated with CO concentrations. Models for forecasting daily maximum CO concentrations throughout the Los Angeles area were derived using least squares. The parameters that proved most significant within the models derivedfor forecasting daily maximum CO concentrations were the preceding day's CO concentrations, pressure differences between nearby stations, the height of the 500 mb level, temperatures at the surface, 1000 mb and/or 950 mb, days of the week, the length of daylight, and potential solar radiation. These models are currently being employed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District with good results.