As activities return to normal following the recent spate of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, facilities with ambient monitoring stations may be undertaking repairs or experiencing emissions that do not comply with operating permits or agreements.
Here are 5 steps you can take to quickly restore operation of ambient and meteorological monitoring stations to ensure you’re meeting the requirements of existing permits, consent decrees and voluntary agreements:
- Ensure that your systems are operational. This can be accomplished with simple visual and performance checks.
- If you do find damage, have the systems diagnosed and repaired by facility personnel or a qualified consultant.
- If the equipment appears to be operational, have facility personnel or a qualified consultant perform appropriate checks or audits to make certain that your recorded data meets required standards.
- Keep records of outages, repairs, checks, and audits for the governing agency or EPA.
- Check agency websites for waivers, variances, or guidance regulations on air quality to help you ensure continuing compliance. The table below provides resources for areas that have been affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria.
| Agency | Website | Information Summary |
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | https://www.epa.gov/hurricane-response | EPA recovery information |
| Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | https://www.tceq.texas.gov/publications/rg/rg-517a.html | Guidance regulations on air quality for permitted facilities |
| Florida Department of Environmental Protection | http://www.dep.state.fl.us/mainpage/em/info.htm | Florida hurricane information |
| Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board | http://www.jca.gobierno.pr/ | Puerto Rico hurricane information |
| EPA Region VI | https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=12353 | Hurricane Harvey Response |
| EPA Region IV | https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=12382 | Hurricane Irma Response |
| EPA Region II | https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=12403 | Hurricane Maria Response |
If you need assistance with instrumentation checks, audits, or interpretation of any temporary guidance, contact TRC for help. We have experience in disaster relief/response and can schedule repairs, tests or audits at your facility and work with the regulating agencies to support your compliance efforts.
Next Steps
- Learn how TRC can assist you with ambient and meteorological monitoring and help you navigate local, state and federal regulations.
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Kyle Hunt
Kyle has over 25 years of experience as an environmental consultant, with a focus on air quality. Over his career, he has provided various support for public and private sector projects associated with ambient air, point source, indoor air, odor, vapor intrusion and fugitive emissions. Kyle serves as a Project Director in TRC’s Air Measurement Services (AMS) practice, where he is responsible for ambient air monitoring programs. Kyle attended Texas State University where he received a BS in Chemistry.