IMPERIAL COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT. [Insert Pic]

Transcription

1 IMPERIAL COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT [Insert Pic] April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Exceptional Event Documentation For the Imperial County PM 10 Nonattainment Area DRAFT FINAL REPORT July 12, 2016

2 April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Exceptional Event, Imperial County Table of Content TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE I Introduction...1 I.1 Demonstration Contents...1 I.2 Requirements of the Exceptional Event Rule...2 I.2.a Public Notification that a potential event was occurring...2 I.2.b Notification to USEPA of the intent to exclude a measured violation (40 CFR (c)(2)(i))...2 I.2.c Documentation that the public comment process was followed for the event demonstration that was flagged for exclusion (40 CFR (c)(3)(v))...3 I.2.d Documentation submittal supporting an Exceptional Event Flag (40 CFR (a)(1-2))...3 I.2.e Necessary demonstration to justify an exclusion of data under (40 CFR (c)(3)(iv))...3 II April 25 and April 26, 2014 Conceptual Model...5 II.1 Geographic Setting and Monitor Locations...5 II.2 Climate...10 II.3 Event Day Summary...12 III Historical Norm...20 III.1 Analysis...20 III.2 Summary...23 IV Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable...24 IV.1 Background...24 IV.1.a Control Measures...25 IV.1.b Additional Measures...26 IV.1.c Review of Source-Permitted Inspections and Public Complaints...27 IV.2 Forecasts and Warnings...27 IV.3 Wind Observations...28 IV.4 Summary...28 V Clear Causal Relationship...29 V.1 Discussion...29 V.2 Summary...40 VI Conclusions...45 VI.1 Affects Air Quality...45 VI.2 Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable...45 i

3 April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Exceptional Event, Imperial County Table of Content VI.3 Natural Event...46 VI.4 Clear Causal Relationship...46 VI.5 Historical Norm...46 Appendix A: Public Notification that a potential event was occurring (40 CFR 50.14(c)(1)(i))...52 Appendix B: Meteorological Data...65 Appendix C: Correlated PM10 Concentrations and Winds...75 Appendix D: Regulation VIII Fugitive Dust Rules...79 ii

4 April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Exceptional Event, Imperial County Table of Content LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PAGE Figure 2-1: Colorado Desert Area Imperial County...5 Figure 2-2: Surrounding Areas of the Salton Sea...6 Figure 2-3: Location and Topography of Imperial County...7 Figure 2-4: Deserts in California, Yuma and Mexico...7 Figure 2-5: Monitoring Sites in and Around Imperial County...8 Figure 2-6: Sonoran Desert Region...10 Figure 2-7: Imperial County Historical Weather...11 Figure 2-8: Satellite Surface Composite April 25 and April Figure 2-9: GOES-W Visible Satellite April 25 and April Figure 2-10: Ramp-up Analysis April 25, Figure 2-11: Ramp-up Analysis April 26, Figure 2-12: Figure 2-13: Figure 2-14: Figure 3-1 Figure 3-2 Figure 3-3 Figure 3-4 HYSPLIT Model April HYSPLIT Model April Hour PM10 Concentrations at Regional Stations.. 20 Brawley Historical FRM and FEM PM10 24-Hr Avg. Concentrations January 1, 2010 to April 26, Brawley Seasonal FRM and FEM PM10 24-Hr Avg. Concentrations Months April through June, Brawley Historical PM10 24-Hr FRM & FEM Concentrations January 2010 through June Brawley Seasonal PM10 24-Hr FRM & FEM Concentrations January through June, iii

5 April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Exceptional Event, Imperial County Table of Content Figure 4-1 Regulation VIII Graphic Timeline Development...25 Figure 5-1 Surface Analysis Composite...29 Figure 5-2 Time Sequence Analysis April 25, Figure 5-3 Terra and Aqua MODIS Satellite Images April 25 & Figure 5-4 Figure 5-5 Terra & Aqua MODIS AOD Satellite Images April 25 & hour Wind Comparison of Neighboring Sites Figure 5-6 Brawley 48-hour Correlation of PM10 Concentrations & Wind Speed...35 Figure 5-7 Brawley 96-hour Correlation of PM10 Concentrations & Wind Speed...36 Figure Hour PM10 Concentrations: Regional Sites...37 Figure Hour Time Series PM10 Concentrations and Visibility...37 Figure 5-10 Imperial Valley Air Quality Index in Brawley April 25, Figure 5-11 Figure 5-12 Imperial Valley Air Quality Index in Brawley April 26, Take Away Points 40 iv

6 April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Exceptional Event, Imperial County Table of Content LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE Table 1-1 Brawley Concentrations of PM10 on April 25 and April 26, Table 2-1 Monitoring Sites in Imperial County, Riverside County, and Yuma, Arizona April 25 and April 26, Table 2-2 Wind Speeds on April 25 and April 26, Table 6-1 Technical Elements Exceptional Event Demonstration for High Wind Dust Event (PM10)...41 v

7 April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Exceptional Event, Imperial County Table of Content ACRONYM DESCRIPTIONS AQI Air Quality Index AQS Air Quality System BACM Best Available Control Measures BAM 1020 Beta Attenuation Monitor Model 1020 BLM United States Bureau of Land Management BP United States Border Patrol CAA Clean Air Act CARB California Air Resources Board CMP Conservation Management Practice DCP Dust Control Plan DPR California Department of Parks and Recreation EER Exceptional Events Rule EPA Environmental Protection Agency FEM Federal Equivalent Method FRM Federal Reference Method GOES-W/E Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (West/East) HF Historical Fluctuations HYSPLIT Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model ICAPCD Imperial County Air Pollution Control District ITCZ Inter Tropical Convergence Zone KBLH Blythe Airport KCZZ Campo Airport KIPL Imperial County Airport KNJK El Centro Naval Air Station KNYL/MCAS Yuma Marine Corps Air Station KPSP Palm Springs International Airport KTRM Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (aka Desert Resorts Rgnl Airport) LST Local Standard Time MMML/MXL Mexicali, Mexico Airport MPH Miles Per Hour MST Mountain Standard Time NAAQS National Ambient Air Quality Standard NCAR National Center for Atmospheric Research NCEI National Centers for Environmental Information NEAP Natural Events Action Plan NEXRAD Next-Generation Radar NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration nrcp Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable NWS National Weather Service PDT Pacific Daylight Time PM10 Particulate Matter less than 10 microns PM2.5 Particulate Matter less than 2.5 microns vi

8 April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Exceptional Event, Imperial County Table of Content PST QA/QC QCLCD RACM RAWS SIP SLAMS SMP SSI USEPA USGS UTC WRCC Pacific Standard Time Quality Assured and Quality Controlled Quality Controlled Local Climatology Data Reasonable Available Control Measure Remote Automated Weather Station State Implementation Plan State Local Ambient Air Monitoring Station Smoke Management Plan Size-Selective Inlet United States Environmental Protection Agency United States Geological Survey Coordinated Universal Time Western Regional Climate Center vii

9 Conceptual Model I Introduction On April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014, the Federal Equivalent Method (FEM), Beta Attenuation Monitor Model 1020 (BAM 1020) (AQS Site Code ) located in Brawley, California, measured (midnight to midnight) 24-hr average concentrations of µg/m 3 and µg/m 3, respectively. PM10 24-hr measurements recorded above the 150 µg/m 3 are exceedances of the NAAQS. April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 were not scheduled run days for the FRM Size-Selective Inlet (SSI) high volume samplers in Imperial County. The SLAMS in Brawley was the only station, in Imperial County to record exceedances of the PM10 NAAQS on April 25, 2014 and April 26, TABLE 1-1 BRAWLEY CONCENTRATIONS OF PM10 ON APRIL 25 AND APRIL 26, 2014 DATE MONITORING SITE AQS ID POC(s) HOURS 24-HOUR CONCENTRATION ug/m 3 PM10 NAAQS ug/m 3 4/25/2014 Brawley /26/2014 Brawley The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD) has been submitting PM10 data from FRM SSI instruments since 1986 into the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Air Quality System (AQS). Most recently, since 2013 ICAPCD has been submitting continuous PM10 data from BAM 1020's. On April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 the Brawley monitor was impacted by elevated particulate matter caused by the entrainment of fugitive windblown dust from high winds associated with a Pacific storm and accompanying powerful cold front that swept through the region. This report demonstrates that the exceedances observed on April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 were caused by a naturally occurring event which elevated particulate matter affecting air quality, was not reasonably controllable or preventable (nrcp), was in excess of normal historical fluctuations (HF) and would not have occurred "but for" the entrainment of fugitive windblown dust from outlying deserts and mountains of the Sonoran Desert. The document further substantiates the request by the ICAPCD to flag PM10 24-hour NAAQS exceedances of µg/m 3 and µg/m 3 as an exceptional event. This demonstration substantiates that this event meets the definition of the USEPA Regulation for the Treatment of Data Influenced by Exceptional Events (EER) 1. I.1 Demonstration Contents Section II - Describes the April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 event as it occurred in California and into Imperial County, providing background information of the exceptional event and explaining how the event affected air quality. Overall, this section provides the evidence that the event was 1 "Treatment of Data Influenced by Exceptional Events; Final Rule", 72 FR 13560, March 22,

10 Conceptual Model a natural event. Section III - Describes the normal historical fluctuations using data charts, summaries, and timeseries graphs which demonstrate that the elevated concentrations of PM10 on April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 were in excess of normal historical fluctuations. Section IV - Provides evidence that the event of April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 was not reasonably controllable or preventable despite the full enforcement and implementation of Best Available Control Measures (BACM). Section V - Discusses and establishes the clear causal relationship between the exceedance at the Brawley station and the natural event which occurred on April 25, 2014 and April 26, This section provides evidence that the event affected air quality as a result of a natural event. Section VI - Brings together the evidence presented within this report to show that the exceptional event was a natural event; that the event was not reasonably controllable or preventable; that there was a clear causal relationship between the natural event and the exceedance, and; that the event affected air quality. I.2 Requirement of the Exceptional Event Rule The above sections combined comprise the technical requirements described under the Exceptional Events Rule (EER) under 40 CFR 50.14(c)(3)(iv). However, there are additional nontechnical requirements that must be met in order for the USEPA to concur with flagged air quality monitoring data. I.2.a Public Notification that a potential event was occurring The ICAPCD and the National Weather Service (NWS) provided notification via the ICAPCD s webpage that winds 20 to 30 mph and gust to 40 miles per hour (mph) could impact this region potentially elevating particulate matter. Because of the potential for suspended particles and poor air quality, the ICAPCD issued a "No Burn" day in Imperial County April 25, 2014 and April 26, The ICAPCD posted the notices issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) Phoenix office warning of potential blowing dust and sand. Appendix A contains copies of notices as they were issued during the early mornings of April 25, 2014 and April 26, I.2.b Notification to USEPA of the intent to exclude a measured violation (40 CFR 50.14(c)(2)(I)) States are required under federal regulation to submit measured ambient air quality data into the AQS. AQS is the federal repository of Quality Assured and Quality Controlled (QA/QC) air ambient data used for regulatory purposes. Ambient data that is potentially influenced by an exceptional event must be appropriately flagged and initially described and submitted to USEPA according to 40 CFR 50.14(c)(2)(iii) no later than July 1 st of the calendar year following the year 9

11 Conceptual Model in which the flagged measurement occurred. The ICAPCD made a written request to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to place preliminary flags on SLAMS measured concentrations in Brawley. The request, dated May 28, 2015 requested an initial flag for the measurements from the BAM 1020 in Brawley of µg/m 3 and µg/m 3. A brief description was included with the initial flag of the meteorological data which indicated a potential natural event had occurred on April 25, 2014 and April 26, I.2.c Documentation that the public comment process was followed for the event demonstration that was flagged for exclusion (40 CFR 50.14(c)(3)(v)) The ICAPCD posted, for a 30-day public review, a draft version of this demonstration on the ICAPCD webpage and published a notice of availability in the Imperial Valley Press on January 4, The notice advised the public that comments were being solicited regarding this demonstration, which supports the request, by the ICAPCD to exclude the measured concentration of µg/m 3, which occurred on April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Brawley. The final closing date for comments was February 3, Appendix A contains a copy of the public notice affidavit along with any comments received by the ICAPCD for submittal as part of the demonstration (40 CFR 50.14(c)(3)(i)). I.2.d Documentation submittal supporting an Exceptional Event Flag (40 CFR 50.14(a)(1-2)) States that have flagged data as a result of an exceptional event and who have requested an exclusion of said flagged data are required to submit a demonstration that justifies the data exclusion to the USEPA no later than 3 years following the end of the calendar quarter in which the flagged concentration was measured or 12 months prior to the date that a regulatory decision must be made by USEPA. The ICAPCD, after the close of the comment period and after consideration of the comments will submit this demonstration along with all required elements, including received comments and responses to USEPA Region 9 in San Francisco, California. The deadline for the submittal of this demonstration is June 30, 2017; however, it currently has regulatory implications for the PM10 SIP due in I.2.e Necessary demonstration to justify an exclusion of data under (40 CFR 50.14(c)(3)(iv)) A This demonstration provides evidence that the event, as it occurred on April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014, satisfies the definition in 40 CFR 50.1(j) and (k) for an exceptional event. a The event affects air quality b The event is not reasonably controllable or preventable. 10

12 Conceptual Model c The event is caused by human activity that is unlikely to recur at a particular location or [is] a natural event. d The event is a natural event where human activity played little or no direct causal role. B C D This demonstration provides evidence that air quality was affected by the exceptional event in Imperial County. There is a clear causal relationship between the event and the measured concentrations in Brawley supporting that the event affected the air quality in Imperial County. This demonstration provides evidence that the measured concentration, caused by the event, is in excess of normal historical fluctuations. This demonstration provides evidence that but-for the event there would have been no exceedance (violation). 11

13 Conceptual Model II April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 Conceptual Model This section provides a summary description of the meteorological and air quality conditions under which the April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014 event unfolded in Imperial County. The subsection elements include» A description and map of the geographic setting of the air quality and meteorological monitors» A description of Imperial County s climate» An overall description of meteorological and air quality conditions on the event day. II.1 Geographic Setting and Monitor Locations According to the United States Census Bureau, Imperial County has a total area of 4,482 square miles of which 4,177 square miles is land and 305 square miles is water. Much of Imperial County is below sea level and is part of the Colorado Desert an extension of the larger Sonoran Desert (Figure 2-1). FIGURE 2-1 COLORADO DESERT AREA IMPERIAL COUNTY Fig 2-1: 1997 California Environmental Resources Evaluation System. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Western Ecological Research Center the Colorado Desert bioregion is part of the bigger Sonoran Desert Bioregion which includes the Colorado Desert and Upper Sonoran Desert sections of California and Arizona, and a portion of the Chihuahuan Basin and Range Section in Arizona and New Mexico (Forest Service 1994) A notable feature in Imperial County is the Salton Sea which is at 235 feet below sea level. The Chocolate Mountains are located east of the Salton Sea and extend in a northwest-southeast direction for approximately 60 miles (Figure 2-2). In this region, the geology is dominated by the 12

14 Conceptual Model transition of the tectonic plate boundary from rift to fault. The southernmost strands of the San Andreas Fault connect the northern-most extensions of the East Pacific rise. Consequently, the region is subject to earthquakes and the crust is being stretched, resulting in a sinking of the terrain over time. FIGURE 2-2 SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE SALTON SEA Fig 2-2: Image courtesy of the Image Science and Analysis Laboratory NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston Texas All of the seven incorporated cities, along with the unincorporated city of Niland, are surrounded by agricultural fields to the north, east, west and south (Figure 2-3). Together, these communities and agricultural fields make up what is known as the Imperial Valley. Surrounding the Imperial Valley are desert areas found on the eastern and western portions of Imperial County. Abnormally arid conditions preceding the event (see Figure 2-7) resulted in soils that were particularly susceptible to particulate suspension by the elevated gusty winds. 13

15 Conceptual Model FIGURE 2-3 LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY Fig 2-3: Depicts the seven incorporated cities within Imperial Valley - City of Calipatria, City of Westmorland, City of Brawley, City of Imperial, City of El Centro, City of Holtville, City of Calexico. Niland is unincorporated. Mexicali, Mexico is to the south Furthermore, the deserts located to the east and west of Imperial County expand to the southeast, and southwest into Mexico (Sonoran Desert) (Figure 2-4). Combined, these deserts are sources of dust emissions which impact the Imperial County during high wind events. FIGURE 2-4 DESERTS IN SE CALIFORNIA, SW ARIZONA, AND NORTHERN MEXICO Fig 2-4: Depicts the Sonoran Desert as it extends from Mexico into Imperial County. Source: Google Earth 14

16 Conceptual Model The air quality and meteorological monitoring stations used in this demonstration are shown in Figure 2-5. SLAMS in Imperial County are located in Calexico, El Centro, Westmorland, and Niland. Each station measures air quality and meteorological data; the station located in Brawley only measures air quality and no meteorological data. Other air monitoring stations with air quality and meteorological data used for this demonstration include stations in Riverside County and Arizona (Figure 2-5 and Table 2-1). As mentioned above, the PM10 exceedances on April 25, 2014 and April 26, 2014, occurred at the Brawley station. The Brawley station is regarded as a northern monitoring site within the Imperial County air monitoring network. In order to properly analyze the contributions of meteorological conditions occurring on April 25 and April 26, 2014, other meteorological sites used in this demonstration include airports in eastern Riverside County, southern San Diego County, southwestern Yuma (Arizona) County, northern Mexico, and Imperial County, along with other sites relevant to the wind event (Figure 2-5 and Figure B-1). FIGURE 2-5 MONITORING SITES IN AND AROUND IMPERIAL COUNTY Fig 2-5: Depicts a select group of meteorological and PM 10 monitoring sites in Imperial County, eastern Riverside County, southern San Diego County, southwestern Yuma (Arizona) County, and northern Mexico. The image exemplifies the regional area impacted by the exceptional event which occurred on April 25 and April 26,

17 Conceptual Model TABLE 2-1 MONITORING SITES IN IMPERIAL COUNTY, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, AND YUMA, ARIZONA APRIL 25 AND APRIL 26, 2014 Monitor Site Name IMPERIAL COUNTY Calexico-Ethel Street El Centro-9th Street Brawley-Main Street #2 Westmorland Niland-English Road Operator* CARB ICAPCD ICAPCD ICAPCD ICAPCD Monitor Type Hi-Vol Gravimetric Hi-Vol Gravimetric AQS ID AQS PARAMETER CODE ARB Site Number Elevation (meters) (81102) (81102) Day 24-hr PM10 (ug/m 3 ) Avg 1-hr PM10 (ug/m 3 ) Max Time/Hour of Max Reading (PDT) Max Wind Gust (mph) Time/Hour of Max Wind Gust 25th :00 26th :00 25th :00 26th :00 BAM th : BAM (81102) th : Hi-Vol 0007 Gravimetric 26th BAM th BAM (81102) th Hi-Vol 4003 Gravimetric 26th BAM th : :00 BAM (81102) th : :00 Hi-Vol 4004 Gravimetric 26th RIVERSIDE COUNTY Palm Springs Fire Station SCAQMD TEOM (81102) th : :00 26th : :00 Indio (Jackson St.) SCAQMD TEOM (81102) th : :00 26th : :00 ARIZONA YUMA Yuma Supersite ADEQ TEOM CARB = California Air Resources Board IID = Imperial Irrigation District ICAPCD = Air Pollution Control District, Imperial County SCAQMD = South Coast Air Management Quality District ADEQ =Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (81102) N/A 25th : :00 26th : :00 16

18 Conceptual Model II.2 Climate As mentioned above, Imperial County is part of the Colorado Desert, which is a subdivision of the larger Sonoran Desert (Figure 2-6) encompassing approximately 7 million acres (28,000 km 2 ). The desert area encompasses Imperial County and includes parts of San Diego County, Riverside County, and a small part of San Bernardino County. FIGURE 2-6 SONORAN DESERT REGION Fig 2-6: Depicts the magnitude of the region known as the Sonoran Desert. Source: Desertmuseum.org. The majority of the Colorado Desert lies at a relatively low elevation, below 1,000 feet (300 m), with the lowest point of the desert floor at 275 feet (84 m) below sea level at the Salton Sea. Although the highest peaks of the Peninsular Range reach elevations of nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 m), most of the region's mountains do not exceed 3,000 feet (910 m). In the Colorado Desert (Imperial County), the geology is dominated by the transition of the tectonic plate boundary from rift to fault. The southernmost strands of the San Andreas Fault connect to the northern-most extensions of the East Pacific Rise. Consequently, the region is subject to earthquakes, and the crust is being stretched, resulting in a sinking of the terrain over time. The Colorado Desert's climate distinguishes it from other deserts. The region experiences greater summer daytime temperatures than higher-elevation deserts and almost never experiences 17

19 Conceptual Model frost. In addition, the Colorado Desert experiences two rainy seasons per year (in the winter and late summer), especially toward the southern portion of the region; the more northerly Mojave Desert usually has only winter rains. The west coast Peninsular Ranges, or other west ranges, of Southern California northern Baja California, block most eastern Pacific coastal air and rains, producing an arid climate. Other short or longer-term weather events can move in from the Gulf of California to the south, and are often active in the summer monsoons. These include remnants of Pacific hurricanes, storms from the southern tropical jet stream, and the northern Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The arid nature of the region is demonstrated when historic annual average precipitation levels in Imperial County average 3.11 (Figure 2-7). During the 12 month period prior to April 25 and April 26, 2014, Imperial County recorded total annual precipitation of 2.12 inches FIGURE 2-7 IMPERIAL COUNTY HISTORICAL WEATHER Precipitation (inches) Temperature *F Precipitation Precip prior to EE Max Avg. Temp Min Avg. Temp Fig 2-7: Prior to April 25 and April 26, 2014, the region had suffered abnormally low precipitation of 2.12 inches. Average annual precipitation is 3.11 inches. Meteorological data courtesy of Weather Underground, California Observed Climate Normals, and Western Regional Climate Center (WRCC). While windblown dust events in Imperial County during the summer monsoon season are often due to outflow winds from thunderstorms, windblown dust events in the fall, winter, and spring are usually due to strong winds associated with low-pressure systems and cold fronts moving southeast across California. These winds are the result of strong surface pressure gradients between the approaching low-pressure system, accompanying cold front, and higher pressure ahead of it. As the low-pressure system and cold front approaches and passes, gusty southwesterly winds typically shift to northwesterly. The strong winds can loft dust into the air and transport it over long distances, especially if soils in the region are dry. 18

20 Conceptual Model II.3 Event Day Summary The exceptional event for April 25 and April 26, 2014, was caused by a strong cold front associated with a Pacific storm moving inland from the California coast. The weather system and a strengthening low pressure over the Great Basin generated powerful winds across southern California and into western Arizona. The system began moving through the region on April 25 and continued through April 26, The Phoenix and San Diego offices of the National Weather Service Numerous issued numerous wind advisories including warnings of blowing dust (see Appendix A). The weather system brought strong and gusty westerly winds across the mountains and deserts of southeastern California. Dust lofted and transported by these winds was responsible for the exceedances recorded at the Brawley monitoring site on April 25 and April 26, Figures 2-8 and 2-9 show the progression of the weather system and cold front through the region over a two-day period. FIGURE 2-8 SATELLITE SURFACE COMPOSITE- APRIL 25 AND APRIL 26, 2014 Fig 2-8: Satellite surface composite maps for April 25 and April 26 show the movement of the weather system that struck the area over a two-day period. Left image is at 14:30 LST on April 25. By 05:30 LST on April 26 the cold front was over the southeastern portion Imperial County, near the edge of the California-Arizona border. Source: Unisys Corporation. 19

21 Conceptual Model FIGURE 2-9 GOES-W VISIBLE SATELLITE - APRIL 25 AND APRIL 26, 2014 Fig 2-9: GOES-W satellite visible composite images at (clockwise, from top left) 13:00 LST April 25; 16:00 LST April 25; 13:00 LST April 26; and 16:00 LST April 26. Wind barbs superimposed over the images show winds over Imperial County were approximately 28.8 mph at 16:00 April 26 (top right image). Wind barbs also show how the wind direction shifted as the system passed through the area. Winds were initially from the southwest (top left image) but had shifted to west west-northwest (bottom left) 24 hours later. Source: SFSU Department of Earth and Climate Sciences and the California Regional Weather Server. 20

22 Conceptual Model The upper-level trough resulted in winds outside the normal historical average for the Brawley monitoring site. The NWS Phoenix office issued an Urgent Weather Message that included a wind advisory at 02:06 MST on Friday, April 25 for southeastern California including El Centro and Blythe, along with portions of the Salton Sea; the lower Colorado River valley, and; the southwest deserts of Arizona including Tacna and Wellton east of Yuma. Gusty westerly winds to 25 mph to 35 mph were expected, with gusts up to 50 mph. Travel on Interstate 8 and Interstate 10 was expected to be impacted by blowing dust. At 14:32 on April 25, the wind advisory was extended through 20:00 on April 26. An Area Forecast Discussion issued at 10:05 MST on April 26 contained a blowing dust advisory for southeastern California in effect until 16:00. See Appendix A for issued notices. As the weather system moved into Imperial County, strong winds did in fact occur. Figures 2-10 and 2-11 illustrate the chain of events for April 25 and April 26, FIGURE 2-10 RAMP-UP ANALYSIS - APRIL 25, 2014 Fig 2-10: A ramp-up analysis for the Brawley station on April 25, A change in wind direction was coincident with a jump in wind speeds and gusts. Darker-colored arrows indicate the increasing wind speed. Meteorological data for Imperial Airport and El Centro NAF from the NCEI s QCLCD data bank. Base map from Google Earth. As recorded by meteorological instruments at Imperial County Airport (KIPL) and the El Centro 21

23 Conceptual Model NAF (KNJK), at 10:00 variable winds abruptly shifted to the west-southwest. Wind speed increased significantly, accompanied by strong gusts. Both KIPL and KNJK recorded multiple and sometimes consecutive hours of winds at or above the 25 mph threshold. KNJK recorded multiple hours of winds at or above 25 mph on April 26, while KIPL recorded one hour of winds above 25 mph. On April 26 KNJK reported several observations of blowing dust due to the high winds. The W to WSW direction and increase in wind speeds held constant through April 26. Winds and gusts finally subsided by 05:00 on April 27 as the system moved out of the area. Brawley s FEM monitor recorded the maximum 24-hour hourly concentration of 943 µg/m 3 at 19:00 on April 25. Concentrations remained elevated going into April 26. During the 03:00 hour the Brawley FEM monitor recorded its peak 24-hour value of µg/m 3 at 03:00. Concentrations did not normalize until 21:00 that day. FIGURE 2-11 RAMP-UP ANALYSIS - APRIL 26, 2014 Fig 2-11: A ramp-up analysis for the Brawley station on April 26, Strong, gusty W to WSW winds continued unabated on April 26. El Centro NAF experienced blowing dust due to the high winds. Darker-colored arrows indicate the increasing wind speed. Meteorological data for Imperial Airport and El Centro NAF Meteorological data from the NCEI s QCLCD data bank. Base map from Google Earth. A summary of maximum winds, peak wind gusts, and wind direction at monitors in Imperial 22

24 Conceptual Model County; Riverside County; Yuma, Arizona and Mexicali, Mexico is shown in Table 2-2. For detailed meteorological station graphs see Appendix B. TABLE 2-2 WIND SPEEDS ON APRIL 25 AND APRIL 26, 2014 Station Monitor Airport Met Data Imperial Airport (KIPL) Naval Air Facility (KNJK) Calexico (Ethel St) El Centro -9 th Street Westmorland Niland RIVERSIDE COUNTY Blythe Airport (KBLH) Palm Springs Airport (KPSP) Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) - Thermal ARIZONA YUMA Yuma MCAS (KNYL) MEXICALI - MEXICO Mexicali Int. Airport (MXL) PM 10 Maximum Wind Time 24 hr correlated Hourly Wind Direction (hour) Maximum to time Maximum Speed during of Max Wind Gust Time (hour) of Observed Day (WS) (mph) Max WS (degrees) Wind Speed (WG) (mph) (hour) of Max WG Max Wind Speed PM10 (ug/m3) : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Air Resources Laboratory HYSPLIT back-trajectory model, 2 Figure 2-12, shows the air flow in the hours leading up to the wind event 2 The Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory Model (HYSPLIT) is a computer model that is a complete system for computing simple air parcel trajectories to complex dispersion and deposition simulations. It is currently used to compute air parcel trajectories and dispersion or deposition of atmospheric pollutants. One popular use of HYSPLIT is to establish whether high levels of air pollution at one location are caused by transport of air contaminants from another location. HYSPLIT's back trajectories, combined with satellite images (for example, from NASA's MODIS satellites), can provide insight into whether high air pollution levels are caused by local air pollution sources or whether an air pollution problem was blown in on the wind The initial development was a result of a joint effort between NOAA and Australia's Bureau of Meteorology. Source: NOAA/Air Resources Laboratory,

25 Conceptual Model on April 25, Figure 2-13 shows the air flow as the wind event continued into April 26. Both trajectories show that on both days air flow took winds over largely barren desert soils to the west, entraining dust particles that were then transported into Imperial County. It should be noted that modeled winds can differ from local conditions. Data used in the HYSPLIT model has a horizontal resolution of 12 km and is integrated every three hours. Thus, the HYSPLIT model may differ from local observed surface wind speeds and directions. The elevated levels of PM10 concentrations measured in Riverside, Imperial and Yuma counties illustrate the regional nature of the event (Tables 2-1 and 2-2, Figure 2-14). This chain of meteorological events resulted in steep increases in PM10 concentrations in Imperial County, heavily impacting the Brawley monitoring site on April 25 and April 26, FIGURE 2-12 HYSPLIT MODEL APRIL 25, 2014 Fig 2-12: Brawley 24-hour back trajectory ending at 19:00 PDT on April 25, during the peak hour of PM 10 concentrations. Red represents air movement at 10 meters above ground level (AGL); Blue represents air movement at 100 meters above ground level (AGL); Green represents air movement at 500 meters above ground level (AGL). Image generated through NOAA Air Resources Laboratory HYSPLIT. 24

26 Conceptual Model FIGURE 2-13 HYSPLIT MODEL APRIL 26, 2014 Fig 2-13: Brawley 24-hour back trajectory ending at 12:00 PDT on April 26, during one of the highest hourly PM 10 concentration values. Red represents air movement at 10 meters above ground level (AGL); Blue represents air movement at 100 meters above ground level (AGL); Green represents air movement at 500 meters above ground level (AGL). Generated through NOAA Air Resources Laboratory HYSPLIT. Figure 2-14 illustrates the elevated levels of PM10 concentrations measured in Riverside, Imperial and Yuma, Arizona counties. The entrained dust particles resulted in a (midnight to midnight) 24-hr average concentration of µg/m 3 and µg/m 3 at the Brawley monitor. Best Available Control Measures (BACM) was overwhelmed by the suddenness and intensity of the meteorological event. For additional correlated wind speed and PM10 concentration graphs see Appendix C. 25

27 Conceptual Model 3000 FIGURE HOUR PM10 CONCENTRATIONS AT REGIONAL STATIONS 2500 PM10 Concentration µg/m :00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27 Brawley FEM Niland FEM Indio (Jackson St) FEM) Palm Springs Fire Station FEM Torres-Martinez Reservation FEM Yuma AZ Supersite FEM Fig 2-14: The graphical representation of the 96-hour relative PM10 concentrations at regional monitoring locations throughout Riverside, Imperial and Yuma counties. The elevated PM 10 concentrations at Brawley, Niland, Torres-Martinez Reservation, and Yuma, Arizona on April 25 and April 26 demonstrate that air quality monitoring sites over a wide area were impacted by the weather system and accompanying winds. Air quality data from the EPA s AQS data bank. [Intentionally left blank] 26

28 Historical Norm III III.1 Historical Norm Analysis While naturally occurring high wind events may occur seasonally and at times frequently and qualify for exclusion under the EER, historical fluctuations of the particulate concentrations provide insight into the frequency of events within an identified area. The following time series plots illustrate that PM10 concentrations measured at the Brawley monitor on April 25 and April 26, 2014, were unusual and in excess of normal historical fluctuations. The analysis also provides convincing evidence that the event affected air quality. Figure 3-1 shows the time series of available FRM and BAM 24-hr PM10 concentrations at the Brawley monitor for the four year period of January 1, 2010 through April 26, 2014, for a total of 1,577 sample run days. Note that prior to 2013, FEM BAM data was not considered regulatory from 2010 to However, this difference between local (pre-2013) and standard conditions (2013 and on) reporting does not substantially affect percentile rankings. In order to properly establish the intensity of the event as it occurred on April 25 and April 26, 2014, 24- hour averaged PM10 concentrations were compiled and plotted as a time series from January 1, 2010 to April 26, 2014 to provide a historical perspective of PM10 concentrations. 400 FIGURE 3-1 BRAWLEY HISTORICAL FRM AND FEM PM10 24-HR AVG. CONCENTRATIONS JANUARY 1, 2010 TO APRIL 26, 2014 PM 10 Concentration ug/m /26/ /25/ Brawley FEM Brawley FRM Fig 3-1: A historical comparison demonstrates that the April 25 and April 26, 2014, measured concentrations of µg/m 3 and µg/m 3 were outside the normal historical measurements. Air quality data from the EPA s AQS data bank. 27

29 Historical Norm The time series Figure 3-1 for Brawley includes a total of 1,832 credible samples, measured by either FRM or FEM monitors between January 1, 2010 and April 26, Overall, the time series illustrates that of the 1,577 sampling days between January 1, 2010 through April 26, 2014, a total of 24 exceedances occurred. Of the 24 exceedances only two days experienced an individual FRM exceedance with no corresponding FEM exceedance. One of the individual FRM exceedances occurred during the first quarter while the second FRM exceedance occurred during the second quarter. For FEM BAM and/or a combination of FRM/FEM measurements during the same time period there were 22 measured exceedances. Of the 22 measured exceedances only eight were recorded during the second quarter (April through June). The other 12 exceedances occurred during the first, third and fourth quarters. No exceedances of the standard occurred during As mentioned above, FEM BAM data was not considered regulatory from 2010 to FIGURE 3-2 BRAWLEY SEASONAL COMPARISON PM10 24-HR AVG. CONCENTRATIONS APRIL THROUGH JUNE, /26/ PM 10 Concentration µg/m /25/ Brawley FEM Brawley FRM Fig 3-2: The seasonal historical comparison using the months of April through June for the years 2010 through 2014 (ending April 26, 2014) supports that the measured exceedances at the Brawley monitor on April 25 and April 26, 2014 were outside the normal historical norm. Air quality data from the EPA s AQS data bank. Figure 3-2, for Brawley illustrates the seasonal pattern between April and June for the years 2010 through Of the 454 credible samples measured only nine exceedances occurred during the April to June time period between 2010 and April 26, That represents just 1.9 percent of all samples. 28

30 Historical Norm Figure 3-3 and Figure 3-4 show percentile rankings for the historical and seasonal periods. For the combined FRM and FEM historical 2010 through June 2014 Brawley dataset, the FEM concentration of µg/m 3 is in excess of the 98 th percentile ranking. The concentration of µg/m 3 falls in excess of the 99 th percentile. Seasonal percentile rankings show that the April 25 concentration of µg/m 3 was in excess of the 97 th percentile. The April 26 concentration of µg/m 3 was in excess of the 99 th percentile. Looking at the annual time series concentrations, the seasonal time series concentrations, and the percentile rankings for each period, the April 25 and April 26, 2014 measured exceedances of µg/m µg/m 3 are clearly in excess of normal historical fluctuations, with seasonal exceedances of the NAAQS not occurring frequently FIGURE 3-3 BRAWLEY HISTORICAL PM10 24 HR FRM & FEM CONCENTRATIONS JANUARY 2010 THROUGH JUNE th Percentile 99th Percentile 400 Count of Days /25/ /26/ PM 10 concentration µg/m 3 Fig. 3-3: The 24-hr average annual PM 10 concentrations measured at the Brawley monitoring site demonstrates that the April 25 exceedance was in excess of the 98th percentile, and that the April 26 exceedance was in excess of the 99th percentile. 29

31 Historical Norm 160 FIGURE 3-4 BRAWLEY SEASONAL PM10 24 HR FRM & FEM CONCENTRATIONS APRIL THROUGH JUNE, YEARS Count of Days th Percentile 99th Percentile /25/ /26/ PM 10 Concentration µg/m 3 Fig. 3-3: The 24-hr average seasonal PM 10 concentrations measured at the Brawley monitoring site demonstrates that the April 25 exceedance was in excess of the 97th percentile, and that the April 26 exceedance was in excess of the 99th percentile. III.2 Summary The information provided above by the annual and seasonal time series plots and the percentile rankings, illustrate that the PM10 concentration and excess wind speeds observed on April 25 and April 26, 2014 occur infrequently. When comparing the measured PM10 levels on April 25 and April 26, 2014 and following USEPA EER guidance, this demonstration provides supporting evidence that the measured exceedances measured at the Brawley monitoring site were outside the normal historical fluctuations. This historical concentration data and the demonstration found under the clear casual relationship supports that the measured exceedances on April 25 and April 26, 2014 were an exceptional event and that it affected air quality. 30

32 IV Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable IV.1 Background Inhalable particulate matter (PM10) contributes to effects that are harmful to human health and the environment, including premature mortality, aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, decreased lung function, visibility impairment, and damage to vegetation and ecosystems. Upon enactment of the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) amendments, Imperial County was classified as moderate nonattainment for the PM10 NAAQS under CAA sections 107(d)(4)(B) and 188(a). By November 15, 1991, such areas were required to develop and submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions providing for, among other things, implementation of reasonably available control measures (RACM). Partly to address the RACM requirement, ICAPCD adopted local Regulation VIII rules to control PM10 from sources of fugitive dust on October 10, 1994, and revised them on November 25, USEPA did not act on these versions of the rules with respect to the federally enforceable SIP. On August 11, 2004, USEPA reclassified Imperial County as a serious nonattainment area for PM10. As a result, CAA section 189(b)(1)(B) required all BACM to be implemented in the area within four years of the effective date of the reclassification, i.e., by September 10, On November 8, 2005, partly to address the BACM requirement, ICAPCD revised the Regulation VIII rules to strengthen fugitive dust requirements. On July 8, 2010, USEPA finalized a limited approval of the 2005 version of Regulation VIII, finding that the seven Regulation VIII rules largely fulfilled the relevant CAA requirements. Simultaneously, USEPA also finalized a limited disapproval of several of the rules, identifying specific deficiencies that needed to be addressed to fully demonstrate compliance with CAA requirements regarding BACM and enforceability. In September 2010, ICAPCD and the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) filed petitions with the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals for review of USEPA s limited disapproval of the rules. After hearing oral argument on February 15, 2012, the Ninth Circuit directed the parties to consider mediation before rendering a decision on the litigation. On July 27, 2012, ICAPCD, DPR and USEPA reached agreement on a resolution to the dispute which included a set of specific revisions to Regulation VIII. These revisions are reflected in the version of Regulation VIII adopted by ICAPCD on October 16, 2012 and approved by USEPA April 22, Since 2006 ICAPCD had implemented regulatory measures to control emissions from fugitive dust sources and open burning in Imperial County [Intentionally left blank] 31

33 FIGURE 4-1 REGULATION VIII GRAPHIC TIMELINE DEVELOPMENT Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable IV.1.a Control Measures Fig. 4-1: Regulation VIII Graphic Timeline A brief summary of Regulation VIII which is comprised of seven fugitive dust rules is found below. The complete set of rules can be found in Appendix D. ICAPCD s Regulation VIII consists of seven interrelated rules designed to limit emissions of PM10 from anthropogenic fugitive dust sources in Imperial County. Rule 800, General Requirements for Control of Fine Particulate Matter, provides definitions, a compliance schedule, exemptions and other requirements generally applicable to all seven rules. It requires the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM), United States Border Patrol (BP) and DPR to submit dust control plans (DCP) to mitigate fugitive dust from areas and/or activities under their control. Appendices A and B within Rule 800 describe methods for determining compliance with opacity and surface stabilization requirements in Rules 801 through 806. Rule 801, Construction and Earthmoving Activities, establishes a 20% opacity limit and control requirements for construction and earthmoving activities. Affected sources must submit a DCP and comply with other portions of Regulation VIII regarding bulk materials, carry-out and trackout, and paved and unpaved roads. The rule exempts single family homes and waives the 20% opacity limit in winds over 25 mph under certain conditions. Rule 802, Bulk Materials, establishes a 20% opacity limit and other requirements to control dust from bulk material handling, storage, transport and hauling. Rule 803, Carry-Out and Track-Out, establishes requirements to prevent and clean-up mud and dirt transported onto paved roads from unpaved roads and areas. 32

34 Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable Rule 804, Open Areas, establishes a 20% opacity limit and requires land owners to prevent vehicular trespass and stabilize disturbed soil on open areas larger than 0.5 acres in urban areas, and larger than three acres in rural areas. Agricultural operations are exempted. Rule 805, Paved and Unpaved Roads, establishes a 20% opacity limit and control requirements for unpaved haul and access roads, canal roads and traffic areas that meet certain size or traffic thresholds. It also prohibits construction of new unpaved roads in certain circumstances. Singlefamily residences and agricultural operations are exempted. Rule 806, Conservation Management Practices, requires agricultural operation sites greater than 40 acres to implement at least one conservation management practice (CMP) for each of several activities that often generate dust at agricultural operations. In addition, agricultural operation sites must prepare a CMP plan describing how they comply with Rule 806, and must make the CMP plan available to the ICAPCD upon request. IV.1.b Additional Measures Imperial County Natural Events Action Plan (NEAP) On August 2005, the ICAPCD adopted a NEAP for the Imperial County, as was required under the former USEPA Natural Events Policy, to address PM10 events by: Protecting public health; Educating the public about high wind events; Mitigating health impacts on the community during future events; and Identifying and implementing BACM measures for anthropogenic sources of windblown dust. Smoke Management Plan (SMP) Summary There are 35 Air Pollution Control Districts or Air Quality Management Districts in California which are required to implement a district-wide smoke management program. The regulatory basis for California s Smoke Management Program, codified under Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations is the Smoke Management Guidelines for Agricultural and Prescribed Burning (Guidelines). California s 1987 Guidelines were revised to improve interagency coordination, avoid smoke episodes, and provide continued public safety while providing adequate opportunity for necessary open burning. The revisions to the 1987 Guidelines were approved March 14, All air districts, with the exception of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJAPCD) were required to update their existing rules and Smoke Management Plans to conform to the most recent update to the Guidelines. Section of Title 17 specifies the special requirements for open burning in agricultural operations, the growing of crops and the raising of fowl or animals. This section specifically 33

35 Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable requires the ICAPCD to have rules and regulations that require permits that contain requirements that minimize smoke impacts from agricultural burning. On a daily basis, the ICAPCD reviews surface meteorological reports from various airport agencies, the NWS, State fire agencies and CARB to help determine whether the day is a burn day. Using a four quadrant map of Imperial County allowed burns are allocated in such a manner as to assure minimal to no smoke impacts safeguarding the public health. Finally, all permit holders are required to notice and advise members of the public of a potential burn. This noticing requirement is known as the Good Neighbor Policy. On April 25 and April 26, 2014 the ICAPCD declared no burn days (Appendix A). No complaints were filed for agricultural burning on April 25 and April 26, IV.1.c Review of Source-Permitted Inspections and Public Complaints A query of the ICAPCD permit database was compiled and reviewed for active permitted sources throughout Imperial County and specifically around Brawley during the time of the April 25 and April 26, 2014 PM10 exceedances. An evaluation of all inspection reports, air quality complaints, compliance reports, and other documentation indicate no evidence of unusual anthropogenicbased PM10 emissions. April 25 and April 26, 2014 were officially designated as No Burn days. No complaints were filed on April 25 and April 26, 2014 related to agricultural or waste burning or fugitive dust. IV.2 Forecasts and Warnings The National Weather Service Phoenix and San Diego offices issued forecasts predicting high winds from the San Diego mountains and deserts eastward to the southwest desert area of Arizona near the communities of Dateland, Tacna, and Wellton. Multiple wind advisories for the region were also issued by both offices (see Appendix A). Warnings of blowing dust were included in some of the wind advisories. Wind advisories on both April 25 and April 26, 2014, warned of the potential for strong winds with wind speeds of between 20 to 35 mph, wind gusts of up to 45 mph, and reduced visibilities due to windblown dust in Imperial County. Air Quality indices were issued by the ICAPCD. The web-based air quality index for Brawley reached the orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups level (PM to 150) at 9 p.m. on April 25. By 7 a.m. on April 26 the AQ index had climbed to the red or Unhealthy level (PM ). At 4 p.m. air quality entered the purple or Very Unhealthy range (PM ) and remained there until 7 p.m. While the AQI is in the Very Unhealthy range, there is a risk that Pollution levels trigger a health alert signifying that everyone may experience more serious health effects. 3 3 The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. EPA calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health. Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country. 34

36 IV.3 Wind Observations Not Reasonably Controllable or Preventable Wind data during the event were available from airports in eastern Riverside County, southern San Diego County, southwestern Yuma County (Arizona), northern Mexico, and Imperial County. Imperial Airport (KIPL) recorded five hours of winds over 25 mph on April 25, with peak gusts of 40 mph. On April 26 the airport reported one hour of winds over 25 mph, with a peak gust of 40 mph. El Centro NAF (KNJK) reported six hours of winds over 25 mph, with a peak gust of 49 mph on April 25. On April 26 the airfield recorded nine hours of winds at or above 25 mph with a peak gust of 52 mph. Wind speeds of over 25 mph are normally sufficient to overcome most PM10 control measures. During the April 25 and April 26, 2014 event wind speeds were above the 25 mph threshold overcoming the BACM in place. IV.4 Summary The weather and air quality forecasts and warnings outlined in this section demonstrate that strong winds associated with a strong low pressure system entrained dust and caused an uncontrollable PM10 exceedance on two sequential days. The BACM list as part of the control measures in Imperial County for fugitive dust emissions were in place at the time of the event. These control measures are required for areas designated as "serious" non-attainment for PM10, such as Imperial County. Thus, the BACM in place at the time of the event were beyond reasonable. In addition, surface wind measurements upstream and at surrounding areas to the north and south of the Brawley station during the event were high enough (at or above 25 mph, with wind gusts over 40 mph) that BACM PM10 control measures would have been overwhelmed. Finally, a high wind dust event can be considered as a natural event, even when portions of the wind-driven emissions are anthropogenic, as long as those emissions have a clear causal relationship to the event and were determined to be not reasonably controllable or preventable. This demonstration has shown that the event that occurred on April 25 and April 26, 2014 was not reasonably controllable or preventable despite the strong and in force BACM within the affected areas in Imperial County. This demonstration has similarly established a clear causal relationship between the exceedances and the high wind event timeline and geographic location. The April 25 and April 26, 2014 event can be considered an exceptional event under the requirements of the exceptional event rule. 35

37 Clear Causal Relationship V Clear Causal Relationship V.1 Discussion Meteorological observations identified high winds associated with a strong low pressure system that affected a large portion of southern California as the cause for the exceptional event on April 25 and April 26, The weather system brought gusty westerly winds across the mountains and deserts of southeastern California and eastward into portions of southwestern Arizona. Dust entrained and transported into Imperial County by the powerful winds was directly responsible for the exceedance recorded at the Brawley monitoring station on April 25 and April 26, Figure 5-1 is a collected of surface analysis maps that show low pressure building over southern Nevada and into California. A packing of the pressure gradient over southeastern California led to high winds in the region. FIGURE 5-1 SURFACE ANALYSIS COMPOSITE Fig 5-1: Surface analysis maps show the passage of a frontal system and the tightening of the pressure gradient that led to the high winds. Top from left: 01:00; 10:00; 16:00; 19:00 on April 25. Bottom from left: 22:00 April 25; 02:00 April 26; 04:00; 07:00. All times LST. The gradient was tightest at 22:00 on April 25. This was the period Imperial Airport recorded winds of 29 mph with gusts of 39 mph. NWS Weather Prediction Center Surface Analysis Archives. 36

38 Clear Causal Relationship Figure 5-2 depicts key wind speeds at upstream sites over the two-day event along with two HYSPLIT back-trajectories (see also Figure 2-12 and Figure 2-13). Strong, gusty winds that started during the afternoon of April 25 continued through April 26. Both El Centro NAF and Imperial Airport experienced multiple hours of winds (and gusts) above the 25 mph threshold. The Fish Creek Mountains also experienced multiple hours of gusts 30 mph and above. The HYSPLIT trajectory shows how wind shifted slightly during the two-day event. This is reflected in Imperial Airport (KIPL) reporting several hours of WNW winds on April 26, as opposed to WSW on April 25. This shift in wind direction took winds over a different fetch of arid soils than the previous day, providing a new source of soils susceptible to entrainment. The Fish Creek Mountains experienced six hours of gusts over 40 mph, with a peak gust of 47 mph on April 26. Three of these hours came prior to Brawley recording its peak concentration of µg/m 3. FIGURE 5-2 TIME SEQUENCE ANALYSIS - APRIL 25, 2014 Fig 5-2: Key wind speeds as depicted at two local airfields and at the Fish Creek Mountains. HYSPLITS depict the path of air flow over the two-day period. The April 25 HYSPLIT is an 8-hour back-trajectory ending at 19:00, the hour of peak concentration on that day. The April 26 HYSPLIT is a 12-hour backtrajectory ending at 12:00, the hour of peak concentration on that day. Red line is air flow at 10 meters AGL. Blue is 25 meters. Generated through NOAA s Air Resources Laboratory. 37

39 Clear Causal Relationship Strong, gusty winds began impacting the Imperial Valley around noon on April 25 and increased through the day (see Figure 5-2). El Centro NAF (KNJK) experienced winds of 21 mph and gusts of 29 mph at 12:56. By 15:56 winds climbed to 26 mph and gusts reached 38 mph. Dust was observed at the airfield from 14:46 through 16:56. Visibility dropped to 1.25 miles at 20:56. At 21:16 winds reached 38 mph with a peak gust of 49 mph. El Centro NAF experienced six hours of winds above 25 mph with two consecutive hours of winds clocked at 38 mph. Additionally, the airfield experienced eight hours of gusts >= 38 mph. Imperial Airport (KIPL) also saw a jump in wind speed during the afternoon of April 25. At 13:53 winds were 20 mph with gusts at 30 mph. By 15:53 winds had climbed to 26 mph and gusts reached 37 mph. By 19:37 visibility had dropped to 1.75 miles. Imperial Airport recorded five hours of winds above 25 mph and 10 hours of gusts >= 31 mph. During two hours it recorded gusts of 40 mph. The strong winds entrained and transported dust downstream to the Brawley monitor. Between 13:00 and 14:00 PM10 concentrations at the Brawley monitor spiked from 60.8 to µg/m 3. By 19:00 PM10 concentrations reached a 24-hour hourly maximum of µg/m 3. This resulted in the FEM monitor recording an exceedance of the PM10 NAAQS. The strong winds continued into April 26, promoting a second consecutive day of exceedance of the PM10 standard at the Brawley monitor site (see Figure 5-2). At 00:56 winds at El Centro NAF were 26 mph with gusts of 36 mph. By 03:21 winds reached 40 mph while gusts reached a 24- hour peak of 52 mph. The airfield experienced nine hours of winds >= 25 mph, with 14 hours of gusts >= 31 mph. From 10:56 through 13:56 blowing dust was observed at the airfield. Imperial Airport recorded its peak wind of 29 mph, along with a peak gust of 40 mph at 07:53. The airport had 10 hours of gusts >= 31 mph during April 26. Between 01:00 and 02:00 Brawley s hourly PM10 concentration jumped from 77.9 µg/m 3 to 347 µg/m 3. An hour later it had climbed to µg/m 3. By 12:00 the FEM monitor reached a 24-hour hourly maximum of µg/m 3. The dust lofted by strong winds on April 26 was added to the dust suspended on April 25. This is supported by the Brawley FEM monitor recording a 41 percent higher PM10 concentration on April 26 than on April 25. An additional contributing factor was the high winds recorded at the Fish Creek Mountains on April 26. The site was almost directly upstream (west) of Brawley. On April 26 the Fish creek Mountains recorded 17 hours of wind gusts >=30 mph, with a peak gust of 47 mph. A summary of maximum winds, peak wind gusts, and wind direction at monitors in Imperial County, Riverside County, Yuma, Arizona (Arizona), and Mexicali (Mexico) is shown in Table 2-2. For detailed meteorological station graphs see Appendix B. Figure 5-3 contrasts two satellite images of southeastern California captured on April 25 and April 26. The top image is a Terra MODIS image (~10:30 LST) showing only clouds over the Imperial Valley. This was before high winds were recorded on April 25. An Aqua MODIS image (~13:30 LST) captured on April 26 shows plentiful dust being transported from near the San Diego- Imperial County border (see Figure 5-2) across Imperial County. The path of the dust cloud is similar to the trajectory of the HYSPLIT in Figure 5-2. This supports that high winds lofted dust that resulted in elevated PM10 concentrations at Imperial County air quality monitors. 38

40 Clear Causal Relationship FIGURE 5-3 TERRA AND AQUA MODIS SATELITES IMAGES APRIL 25 & 26 Fig 5-3: A Terra MODIS satellite image (top) before high winds struck Imperial County, and an Aqua MODIS satellite image (bottom) following high winds on the afternoon of April 25 (~13:30) and mid-morning (~10:30) of April 26. Dust is seen being transported across the valley in the bottom image. Images from AirNow Tech Navigator. Figure 5-4 combines Terra and Aqua MODIS satellite images showing the AOD (aerosol optical depth) over the region. Warmer colors indicate more intense AOD values. The top image was captured by a Terra satellite at ~10:30 on April 25 showing moderate AOD over the Imperial 39

41 Clear Causal Relationship FIGURE 5-4 TERRA & AQUA MODIS AOD SATELLITE IMAGES APRIL 25 & 26 Fig 5-4: Terra and Aqua MODIS satellite images combined with Aerosol Optical Depth over southeastern California on April 25 and April 26. Warmer colors indicate more intense AOD values. Source: NASA s Worldview satellite imagery, Valley. The following day (middle image) on April 26 the same satellite captured a stronger AOD over the valley and the southern portion of the Salton Sea. This was following increasing winds that started on the afternoon of April 25 and continued into April 26. The bottom image is an Aqua MODIS satellite image (~13:30) showing intense AOD values over Brawley and Imperial 40

42 Clear Causal Relationship County. Strong winds and gusts were being reported at Imperial Airport, El Centro NAF, and the Fish Creek Mountains just prior to this time. These images support that particulate matter was suspended over the area coincident with high winds. Figure 5-5 is an illustration of the wind speeds 4 throughout Imperial County, eastern Riverside County, southeastern San Diego County, Yuma, Arizona, and Mexicali, Mexico beginning with April 24 and ending April 27, The consistency for all stations is evident. For April 25, all stations recorded elevated wind speeds shortly after 12:00. Most stations saw winds remain elevated as the system moved through the region during April 26. Winds started to diminish during the early morning hours on April 27, For detailed meteorological station graphs see Appendix B. 60 FIGURE HOUR WIND COMPARISON OF NEIGHBORING SITES :00 03:00 06:00 Wind Speed (mph) 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27 IC Airport (KIPL) El Centro NAF (KNJK) Niland (English Rd) Calexico (Ethel St) El Centro (9th St) JC-Thermal Airport (KTRM) PS Airport (KPSP) T-M Reservation Yuma MCAS (KNYL) Campo Airport (KCZZ) Mexicali Airport (MMML) El Centro NAF (KNJK) Gusts Blythe Airport (KBLH) IC Airport (KIPL) Gusts Fig 5-5: Wind data collected from twelve sites within the Imperial, Riverside, San Diego, and Yuma counties over a four-day period from April 24 to April 27, all show a uniform spike in wind speed during the April 25 and April 26, 2014 exceptional event. Wind data from the NCEI s QCLCD data bank, the EPA s AQS data bank, the University of Utah s MesoWest data bank, and the Weather Underground. 4 National Weather Service; NOAA s Glossary Wind Speed: The rate at which air is moving horizontally past a given point. It may be a 2-minute average speed (reported as wind speed) or an instantaneous speed (reported as a peak wind speed, wind gust, or squall); 41

43 Clear Causal Relationship Figures 5-6 demonstrates the spatial and temporal relationship between the high winds and the transported entrained dust affecting the Brawley monitor on April 25 and April 26, The relationship of hourly BAM 1020 data from the Brawley air monitoring station and the elevated wind speeds on April 25 and April 26, 2014 indicates that as wind speeds increased so did concentrations of PM10. The peak hourly PM10 concentrations occurred during the afternoon and evening hours on April 25, then fell briefly, before rising at 02:00 on April 26 as wind speeds increased at upstream sites. Appendix C contains additional graphs illustrating the relationship between the high PM10 concentrations and increased wind speeds from other monitoring sites within Imperial and Riverside counties on April 25 and April 26, PM 10 Concentration µg/m 3 FIGURE 5-6 BRAWLEY 48-HOUR CORRELATION OF PM10 CONCENTRATIONS & WIND SPEEDS :00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 April 25 April 26 PM10 Concentration KIPL Wind Speed KIPL Wind Gusts KNJK Wind KNJK Gusts FCM Wind FCM Gusts Fig 5-6: Brawley s elevated PM 10 concentrations show a relationship to increased wind speeds as the system passed through the area. Imperial Airport (KIPL), El Centro NAF (KNJK), and the Fish Creek Mountains were all upstream from Brawley. One gust at El Centro NAF reached 52 mph. Wind data from the NCEI s QCLCD data bank and the University of Utah s Mesowest data bank. Air quality data from the EPA s AQS data bank Wind Speed (mph) Figure 5-7 is a four-day depiction from April 24 through April 27, 2014, of the PM10 concentrations for the Brawley monitor and upstream wind speeds. For April 24 and the morning hours on April 25, the Brawley station showed lower levels of concentrations as winds remained light. However, as winds began to increase during the afternoon on April 25 concentrations also began to rise. A brief decrease in wind speeds at around 22:00 was followed by a likewise dip in hourly PM10 concentrations. As winds increased shortly after midnight on April 26 so did hourly concentration 42

44 Clear Causal Relationship levels. Hourly concentration levels stayed elevated throughout most of the day until normalizing after 20:00 when winds returned to moderately light conditions. PM 10 Concentration µg/m 3 FIGURE 5-7 BRAWLEY 96-HOUR CORRELATION OF PM10 CONCENTRATIONS & WIND SPEEDS :00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27 PM10 Concentration KIPL Wind Speed KIPL Wind Gusts KNJK Wind Speed KNJK Gusts FCM Wind FCM Gusts Wind Speed (mph) Fig 5-7: Brawley PM 10 concentrations rose as winds and gusts picked up on April 25. As winds returned to moderately light conditions on April 27, so did hourly concentration levels. Wind data from the NCEI s QCLCD data bank and the University of Utah s Mesowest data bank. Air quality data from the EPA s AQS data bank. In order to understand the totality of the regional impact and the impact to the Brawley monitor Figure 5-8 is a three day depiction, the day before, the days of the event April 25 and April 26, 2014, and the day after of the associated PM10 concentrations at stations located upwind of Brawley. For April 24 and the morning hours on April 25, all stations show lower level concentrations as winds are remain calm. However, as winds increased and peaked during the afternoon and evening hours on April 25, hourly concentrations at Brawley, Torres-Martinez Tribal, and Yuma Supersite show a similar increase. On April 26, concentrations at the Brawley and Niland monitoring stations in Imperial County, as well as the upstream site of Torres- Martinez and the downstream Yuma Arizona Supersite, remained elevated throughout much of the day. As winds returned to relatively calm conditions on April 27, so did concentrations. Figure 5-9 compares hourly PM10 concentrations and observed visibility at local airfields over a 96-hour period. Visibility dips during times when concentrations are at their highest. 43

45 Clear Causal Relationship 3000 FIGURE HOUR PM10 CONCENTRATIONS: REGIONAL SITES :00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 PM 10 Concentration µg/m 3 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27 Brawley FEM Niland FEM Indio (Jackson St) FEM) Palm Springs Fire Station FEM Torres-Martinez Reservation FEM Yuma AZ Supersite FEM Fig. 5-8: The Brawley monitor, as well as Niland, Torres-Martinez Tribal, and Yuma Supersite, all experienced increases in hourly concentrations as winds increased on April 25 and remained gusty throughout much of April 26. Air quality data from the EPA s AQS data bank FIGURE HOUR TIME SERIES PM10 CONCENTRATIONS AND VISIBILITY PM 10 Concentration µg/m Visibility :00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 00:00 03:00 06:00 09:00 12:00 15:00 18:00 21:00 April 24 April 25 April 26 April 27 Brawley FEM Niland FEM KIPL Visibility KNJK Visibility Fig. 5-9: Illustrates the observed visibility from Imperial County Airport (KIPL) and El Centro NAF (KNJK). Visibility dips during those hours when concentrations spike. Air quality data from the EPA s AQS databank. Visibility data from the NCEI s QCLCD system. 44

46 Clear Causal Relationship The NWS Phoenix office issued Wind Advisories 5 for Imperial County on April 25 at 02:06 MST and on April 26 at 02:08 MST. Both advisories warned of winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. The notices also cautioned that travel on Interstate 8 and Interstate 10 could be impacted by patchy blowing dust. Wind advisories were also issued for the lower Colorado River valley extending eastward to the west-central desert regions of Arizona near Tacna and Wellton. A high wind warning was issued by the NWS San Diego office for the San Diego County mountains and deserts north to the Coachella Valley in eastern Riverside County. The warning predicted west to southwest winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts reaching 70 mph in some areas. Winds were expected to be strong along mountain ridge tops and desert slopes and extend to the desert floor. These areas were directly upstream of Brawley during the wind event. Visibility was expected to be impacted due to blowing sand and dust. See Appendix A for weather notices. A Smoke Text Product identifying an area of blowing dust originating near the Salton Sea starting around 18Z (10:00 LST) on April 26 was issued by NOAA s Satellite and Information Service (see Appendix A). This was near the time of the MODIS image (Figure 5-3) and shortly following strong winds during the morning hours of April 26. The suspended dust and sand entrained by the strong winds was transported downstream to the Imperial Valley. Figures 5-10 and 5-11 are the resultant Air Quality Index (AQI) for April 25 and April 26, The Air Quality Index for April 25 was in the Moderate (51 to 100 PM10 µg/m 3 ) or Yellow category from 1 a.m. to 11 a.m. From 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. the AQI remained at the Good (0-50) or Green category. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. dipped back into the Moderate or Yellow category. From 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. the AQI rose into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups ( ) or Orange category. On April 26 from 1 a.m. through 6 a.m. the AQI continued to remain in the Orange category. At 7 a.m. the AQI climbed into the Unhealthy ( ) or Red category where it remained until 1 p.m. From 2 p.m. through 3 p.m. air quality was in the Very Unhealthy ( ) or Purple category, before entering the Hazardous (>300) or Maroon category from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. At 7 p.m. the AQI began to fall, first through Very Unhealthy until reaching Unhealthy at 11 p.m. 5 A wind advisory is issued when the following conditions are met for one (1) hour or longer: 1) sustained winds of 31 to 39 mph, and/or; 2) wind gusts of 46 to 57 mph for any duration. Source: NWS, 2016; 6 The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. EPA calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health. Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country. Source: 45

47 Clear Causal Relationship FIGURE 5-10 IMPERIAL VALLEY AIR QUALITY INDEX IN BRAWLEY APRIL 25, 2014 FIGURE 5-11 IMPERIAL VALLEY AIR QUALITY INDEX IN BRAWLEY APRIL 26, 2014 Figs and 5-11: The air quality indices during April 25 and April 26 as issued by the ICAPCD s web page. 46

48 Clear Causal Relationship V.2 Summary The preceding discussion, graphs, figures and tables provide wind direction, speed and concentration data illustrating the spatial and temporal representation of the steep pressure gradient accompanying the low pressure system that passed through the southern region of California during April 25 and April 26, The information provides a clear causal relationship between the entrained windblown dust and the PM10 exceedance measured at the Brawley monitor on April 25 and April 26, Furthermore, the advisories and issued air quality indices illustrate the affect upon air quality within the region extending from all of Imperial County and the southern portion of Riverside County and Yuma, Arizona. Large amounts of coarse particles (dust) and PM10 were carried aloft by strong westerly winds into the lower atmosphere. The area of origin was the western portion of the Sonoran Desert located in Imperial County. Combined, the information demonstrates that the elevated PM10 concentration measured on April 25 and April 26, 2014 coincided with high wind speeds and that strong winds were experienced over the southern portion of Riverside County, all of Imperial County, and southwestern Arizona. See Figure 5-12 for major points. 47

49 Clear Causal Relationship FIGURE 5-12 TAKE AWAY POINTS 48