A complete on-demand mobile air monitoring system designed to help identify unknown emission sources that may be causing elevated fenceline concentrations of benzene and other regulated pollutants.

This monitoring practice is outlined in OTM 33 and 33A. The GMAP Unit provides a complete on-demand mobile air monitoring system equipped with an advanced data analysis and geospatial mapping program designed to measure ground-level concentrations of certain pollutants and to help identify upwind contributing emission sources. In response to this challenge and the growing focus on fenceline monitoring at petroleum refineries and chemical plants, TRICORD offers real-time ambient air monitoring using a portable (vehicle mounted) air monitor in combination with real-time meteorological monitoring, collectively referred to as a GMAP (Geospatial Measurement of Air Pollutants) Unit. However, it has also provided many challenges, such as often trying to find unknown onsite or off-site emission sources that may be causing elevated fenceline concentrations on a short-term basis. These fenceline monitoring programs have provided insights to each facility’s long-term impacts from emission sources towards concentrations of regulated pollutants, e.g. As additional fenceline monitoring data is collected and made public, the U.S.EPA and the DOJ’s focus on industrial fenceline monitoring is expected to continue to grow and with it, the use of real-time mobile monitoring by governing authorities as a screening tool for potential enforcement. Many of the major ethylene producers have recently entered into or are in the process of entering into Consent Decrees requiring routine fenceline monitoring, very similar to that required by the RSR. This focus has not just been on fenceline monitoring at petroleum refineries, but has expanded to chemical manufacturing facilities including, but not limited to ethylene production plants.

Since the promulgation of the Petroleum Refinery Sector Rule (RSR) and with it, the requirement to conduct routine benzene fenceline monitoring, there has been a growing focus on industrial fenceline monitoring by U.S.EPA, state and local authorities, and by non-government organizations.

Gmap tools