SUBJECT:
Title
Air Quality Monitoring Discussion
Body
DEPARTMENT: Environmental Services
Department
PRESENTER(S): David Frank, Director of Environmental Services
Detlev Helmig, Boulder AIR
Brent Buck & Morgan Frazier, Ajax Analytics
First Name Last Name, Title
TIME ESTIMATE: 45 minutes
only required for non-consent items
POLICY ISSUES:
To enhance and supplement monitoring provided by the State, the Town implemented this program four years ago. The data from the program has been valuable in helping identify impacts from oil and gas operations and other emission sources both inside Erie’s boundaries and from outside. These data have enabled Town staff to provide compelling information to State regulatory agencies, making the industry more aware of their impact on air quality in Erie, and promoting more effective responses to minimize pollution.
Having collected data for four years, it is time to assess the scope of the program and refine operations to provide more focus. Staff recognizes the budgetary impacts of the program and anticipates a reduction of scope, should this reflect current Council priorities, while minimizing impacts on the effectiveness of the program. Thus, several potential options are here provided to Council for discussion and consideration.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff would appreciate policy guidance from Council to determine the form and scope of the Air Quality Monitoring Program for the second half of 2025 and beyond. All options have both positive and negative aspects for Council to consider, and staff looks forward to a discussion about the programs goals and costs to ensure that a fiscally responsible path is found that best serves the residents of Erie.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
In May 2021, the Board of Trustees for the Town of Erie approved funding for two contracts enabling the deployment of Air Quality Monitoring stations to be operated by Boulder AIR and Ajax/CSU which would gather data regarding air quality in Erie. This monitoring is intended to compliment and coordinate with air quality monitoring programs conducted by the City and County of Broomfield, City of Longmont, and Boulder County. The initial contracts included monitoring through the calendar year 2023, and updated contracts have continued the program through June 2025 with negligible changes.
Following four full years of data collection, the Town may consider scaling back the program to better fit Town Council priorities. It is not feasible nor economically wise to continue large scale data collection on air quality when much of the data is representative of regional data collected by the State of Colorado and other adjacent local governments.
The current 2025 Budget includes $93,336 in appropriated funds for continuation of portions of the program from July through the end of the year. This study session is intended to analyze the effectiveness of the program’s elements to date and what portions of the program should continue to determine overall funding and second half 2025 and 2026 contract(s).
The combined program for Erie using both contractors consist of the following elements:
• An Anchor Site operated by Boulder AIR providing reference grade continuous monitoring of Ozone, specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs), Methane, particulates, and meteorological variables. View reporting from Boulder AIR’s AirLive Combined Northern Colorado Front Range website and includes data from the Erie Community Center station: <https://www.bouldair.com/erie.htm> Archived data are available at: <https://bouldairtools.com/interactive/>
• Ten apis sensors operated by Ajax/CSU deployed at locations across Town, with sensors located west of Kenosha Farms, two north of the Colliers Hill neighborhood near the Mae J/Papa Jo/Yellowhammer pads, three around the Front Range Landfill and near the Coyote well pad, and near Red Hawk Elementary School. These monitors provide continuous monitoring of relative total VOCs and auto-triggered quantitative canister sampling if total VOCs exceed specified levels. These stations also provide continuous monitoring of particulates and NO/NO2. Ajax/CSU also operates a mobile plume tracking vehicle that can be deployed to identify and track specific emission plumes. Finally, Ajax/CSU also supplies the Town with up to two grab canisters per month to deploy in other locations and analysis of samples taken with those canisters. The Ajax data are available at https://app.ajax-analytics.com/p/program-overview#program=Erie <https://app.ajax-analytics.com/p/program-overview> with quarterly reports at <https://trello.com/b/3zmnSBUG/erie-air-quality-event-reports>.
The apis total volatile compound (TVOC) sensors detect increases and decreases of a group of more than 900 volatile organic compounds. This indicator measurement does not identify which compounds are in the air, nor exactly how many parts per billion (ppb) are in the air at any given point. What these sensors do show are how VOC levels change on a minute-by-minute basis during different types of activities happening in an area. If the TOVC Indicator detects total VOCs above certain levels, it triggers a sample that is then analyzed for specific compounds at the ppb level.
COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
ü Engaged and Diverse Community
ü Safe and Healthy Community
ü Effective Governance
ü Environmentally Sustainable
ü Fiscally Responsible
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Staff Presentation
2. Boulder AIR Presentation
3. Ajax Analytics Presentation
4. Bouder AIR Anchor Station Cost Proposal
5. Boulder AIR Dispersed Summa Canister Sampling Network Cost Proposal
6. Ajax Analytics Dispersed Summa Canister Sampling Network Cost Proposal