What Is the Air Pollutant Watch List?
The
Air Pollutant Watch List (APWL) is a list of areas in Texas
where specific pollutants were measured at levels of concern. The
APWL is maintained by the Toxicology Section (TS), and is composed
of the following information—
- Area of concern listed by:
- APWL Site Number
- Year Added
- Pollutant of Interest
- Area Boundaries
To determine if a network monitor is in the area of concern, use
the
Air Monitoring Site Information Table or
TCEQ regional map.
What Is the Purpose of the APWL?
The purpose of the APWL is to—
- Heighten awareness in areas of concern for
interested parties, such as:
- TCEQ personnel (Air Permits Division, Monitoring
Operations Division, etc.)
- Industry representatives
- Private citizens
- Encourage efforts to reduce emissions
- Help the TCEQ focus resources to:
- Conduct facility inspections and field
investigations
- Pursue enforcement activities
- Increase pollution prevention efforts
- Prioritize
mobile monitoring efforts
- Help in review of air permits as outlined in the
Modeling and Effects Review Applicability Technical Guidance
Package
What Is an Area of Concern?
An area of concern is defined as an area in which one or more
particular pollutants has been measured at a level that can
potentially cause adverse short-term or long-term health effects
(or both) or odor. The area of concern is determined by:
- Reviewing all available data, which includes:
- Comparing monitored data to:
—Short- and/or long-term
Effects Screening Levels (ESLs) and odor thresholds
—state (TCEQ) regulatory standards
- Source-determination analysis based on
meteorological data and network monitoring data in order to assess
significant sources and locate sensitive receptors (such as humans,
livestock, and plants)
- Evaluation of how often regulatory values are
exceeded, and by how much
- Trend analyses for the pollutant in the area of
concern to identify possible seasonal or time-related
emissions
- Other factors that include, but are not limited
to: proximity of area of concern to high-traffic roadways, land-use
designation, emissions-data compliance history for industries in
the area
- Defining its boundary using streets, highways,
and other geographical boundaries
How Does a Pollutant Get On or Off the List?
- An area or pollutant, or both, are added
to the APWL when:
- Persistent elevations of measured concentrations
of the pollutant of interest are determined by the TS to be of
concern for potential to cause adverse short- or long-term health
effects (or both) or odor. (For a detailed list of all data
considered for review by the TS, see
Data Considerations for the APWL.)
- A 30-day comment period will be allotted prior to
the addition of an area or pollutant of concern to the APWL.
- An area or pollutant (or both) are
removed from the APWL when:
- Monitored concentrations of the pollutant of
interest in an area of concern indicate a downward trend over
time.
- The TS determines that no potential to cause
adverse short- or long-term health effects or odor remains.
- A 30-day comment period has ended.
Recommend an Area be Added to or Removed from the APWL
Interested parties may suggest that the TS consider specific
pollutants and locations for addition to or removal from the APWL
by filling out an
APWL Recommendation Form and submitting it to the TS. The TS
will acknowledge receipt of the completed form and evaluate the
information.
Areas Currently Under Consideration
Currently there are no areas under consideration for addition to,
or removal from the APWL
Contact the TCEQ About the APWL
If you have any questions regarding the APWL, please contact
Darrell McCant.
Sign Up to Receive Air Pollutant Watch List, ESL List, and
Other Related Toxicology Announcements
To join the Toxicology Announcement List, please e-mail:
join-tox@listserv.tceq.state.tx.us
Do not put any information in either the subject or message
body.
You will automatically receive an acknowledgment by e-mail
informing you that your request has been received; however, you
must confirm you want to be placed on the list. To make the
confirmation, reply to the message.
Once the list administrator has admitted your email address to the
list, you will receive a “welcome” document.
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