Lessons Learned from Fenceline Monitoring at an Integrated Olefins Facility in Jefferson County, Texas

摘要

A Photochemical Assessment Monitoring System (PAMS) has been in operation at an integrated Olefins Manufacturing facility in Jefferson County, Texas since 2004. This system was installed as a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) in accordance with an Agreed Final Judgment with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (formerly the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission). The two monitoring stations incorporate meteorological instruments along with Gas Chromatographic (GC) analyzers and are capable of measuring seven chemical compounds in the ambient air at the site's property boundaries. Prior to the installation of the real time PAMS GCA monitors, a Summa Canister sampling system had been in operation since 1997 and continues to operate as a supplement to this system. When designing a fenceline monitoring project, several factors should be considered to ensure cost effective, reasonable, and accurate measurements of the ambient air are achieved. Compounds to be monitored should be based on the predominant chemicals encountered in the facility's manufacturing process. In order to ensure an adequate, reliable system is installed, the design should be robust to meet demanding environmental conditions required for field monitoring equipment. Remote access via the Internet for troubleshooting and problem solving, as well as transmission of data to a remote location, will provide optimum, accurate data collection with the most efficient use of resources. Operation of the system should not only include the sampling and collection of data, but also frequent calibration of the equipment and regular audits of the program. Operating issues such as electrical power outages, ancillary equipment failures, leaks in the sampling and analyzing equipment, failure of gas chromatograph components, computer hardware and software failures, communication interface interruptions, and adverse weather conditions are challenges to be encountered. Efficient problem solving and troubleshooting is paramount to maintaining these systems, and is dependent on the expertise of the managing personnel.