ORS-Based Air Monitoring During An MGP Site Cleanup

摘要

Dalias-based Atmos Energy Corporation recently completed a removal action at a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) site in Tennessee, removing approximately 1,200 tons of coal tar and impacted soils from two tar wells and a spray pond area. The site is located in the historic downtown center of Bristol, adjacent to the county courthouse. Development of an effective ambient air monitoring program was necessary to ensure safe ambient air quality for the downwind community at all times during the cleanup. Having completed two other MGP site cleanups, Atmos Energy was familiar with traditional point monitoring but was interested in a technology that could offer improved data quality and real-time data capabilities. Therefore, Atmos Energy began researching alternative monitoring approaches which were simple, unobtrusive, and able to acquire realtime data, and which had increased sensitivity and the capability to analyze many compounds simultaneously. Optical remote sensing (ORS) addressed all of these needs.