Air Monitoring
To jump immediately to the air monitoring map below, click here.
Work that began in 2010 to construct the area that will hold material removed from the lake, as well as a water treatment plant, will continue into 2012. A Community Health and Safety Plan describes the protective measures that will be taken during this construction. A separate Health and Safety Plan is being developed for lake cleanup operations, which are scheduled to begin this year.
Measures are taken to prevent dust from leaving the work area. The air monitoring system evaluates air quality at the work zone perimeter. The state-of-art system follows guidelines established by the New York State Department of Health's (DOH) Generic Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP). According to DOH, a CAMP provides "protection for the downwind community (i.e., off-site receptors including residences and businesses and on-site workers not directly involved with the subject work activities)."
Air is monitored for dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to ensure concentrations at the perimeter of the work zone remain below criteria established by DOH. Measures are taken such as wetting road surfaces of the work area with a water truck and/or hoses, and potentially applying dust-suppressing road materials. Odor levels are also measured during the construction.
The air monitoring system operates continually during the construction workday unless affected by inclement weather. Monitors also are affected by high humidity and condensation. There are eight fixed monitoring locations. The monitors (see map below) encircle the work zone. Air monitoring results, which are collected in real-time, are reviewed regularly by technicians and government regulators to ensure that the air quality criteria are not exceeded. Results are posted to this website and will note when the monitors were affected by weather, high humidity and/or condensation. Meteorological stations are used to evaluate monitoring data with respect to weather conditions.
The DEC and DOH have approved a work perimeter limit for dust of 150 µg/m3 above background levels for this site. To provide additional protection, the equipment is set to provide notification to a technician at a lower level (100 µg/m3 above background levels).
If this lower level (the control level) is exceeded for a 15-minute period because of site activities, the source of the emissions will be investigated, and measures such as wetting road surfaces with a water truck and/or fire hoses, and potentially applying dust-suppressing road materials, will be implemented. If the DOH work perimeter limit is reached, the work generating the dust will be stopped and there will be a re-evaluation of the activities.
A work perimeter limit for VOCs of 5 parts per million (ppm) above background levels has been approved for this site by DEC and DOH. To provide additional protection, the equipment is set to provide notification to the technician at two lower levels of 2 and 3 ppm (investigation and control levels). Should the air monitors detect concentrations exceeding the 2 ppm level for a 15-minute period because of site activities, the source of the emissions will be investigated. If the air monitors detect concentrations exceeding the 3 ppm level for a 15-minute period because of site activities, control measures, such as covering the excavation or applying foam, will be implemented. If a 15-minute average of 5 ppm is reached, work will be stopped until corrective measures are implemented.
Odor Monitoring
Odor monitoring is performed with a field olfactometer by a trained odor observer twice per day at each of the monitoring stations to ensure compliance with air quality criteria established for the project. Because there are no federal or New York State standards for odor monitoring, monitors test for odors exceeding 7 odor units (OU), the criteria established by several other states.
If results are over 7 OUs for more than 15 minutes, additional measurements will be taken at downwind locations. If these results are greater than 7 OUs, the source will be investigated, and if caused by the construction activities, measures such as using fire hoses, applying foaming agents, or rescheduling the work for days with better weather conditions will be taken.
The aerial photograph below shows the locations of the fixed monitors. To view the data collected, select the date from the drop-down list and click "Change." Move your cursor over a monitor icon and click on Dust Data, VOC Data, or Odor Data. If data from a particular monitor is unavailable, this will be stated next to the monitor icon. Wind direction and wind speed information is also available for each monitoring day below the map. If you would like all of the data in one file, please call Craig Milburn at 315.552.9784.
