Community Monitoring for Air Toxics on Colorado’s Front Range

A new community monitoring program to aid in the regulation of air toxics was implemented by Colorado Air Toxics Act (HB21-1189). The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment Air Pollution Control Division (CDPHE-APCD) hired Air Resource Specialists to perform monitoring for benzene, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide in disproportionately affected communities. 

ARS implemented four tripod-based community monitoring stations located in the Commerce City and Pueblo areas along Colorado’s Front Range. ARS designed and constructed these mobile stations to incorporate benzene, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide samplers as well as meteorological instrumentation including wind speed, wind direction, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation sensors.

Our team used topographic factors, proximity to VOC emission sources, and CDPHE’s EnviroScreen tool to locate sensors within disproportionately impacted communities. Solar-powered sampling stations were designed for mobility and installation at any location, regardless of existing infrastructure. ARS staff manage sample changes, equipment calibrations, meteorological data collection/validation and reporting. Our team is well-versed in approved benzene, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen cyanide measurement methods and maintains working relationships with accredited laboratories performing Method 325B and 6010 sample analysis. Our field technicians adhere to a stringent sampling schedule and are specifically trained in sampling procedures including proper storage and Chain of Custody documentation. Meteorological measurements for this project followed QA procedures consistent with Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Air Monitoring.

The overall goal of this project was to supplement CDPHE’s Colorado Air Toxics (CAT) mobile laboratory measurements to expand the Air Toxic Acts Community Monitoring Program. ARS is proud to work toward this goal by offering streamlined solutions for air toxic monitoring projects – from siting and project design, instrumentation integration and installation, facilitating connections with partner laboratories, and providing the highest quality data to our clients.