The Air Monitoring Directive
Section 1: Quality Systems
Bob Myrick and Rob Bioletti
Alberta Environment
March 2006
Why is this Important?
Amendment to the 1989 Air Monitoring Directive (AMD)
– Title: “2006 Amendments to the Air Monitoring Directive,
1989 (AMD 2006)”
– Release date: April 1st, 2006
– Affects those who follow the AMD as required in their Approval,
Code of Practice or Registration and/or provides monitoring data
to AENV
Provides guidance for monitoring parties to collect and
report consistent quality data
– There is no use collecting data if it’s not valid!
Overview of Presentation
Background
– Concept and Goals of Monitoring and Reporting
Directives
– The Air Monitoring Directive and Quality Systems
Overview of the Current Amendment
– Section 1: Quality Systems
Next Steps
The Building Blocks
Monitoring and
Reporting Directives
Stack
AMD CEMS
Sampling
Section 2
Section 1
Ambient Air Section 2:
General
Section 1:
Monitoring
Technical Specifications
Requirements
Quality Systems
Requirements
Detection Limits
Electronic reporting
Calibration Methods
of CEMS data
Operating Methods
Goals of the AMD
Alberta Environment and other users rely on air quality data to:
– Assess the quality of air
– Assess trends
– Determine compliance with guidelines and standards
– Perform modeling for approval applications and review analysis
– Fulfill other environmental management functions
The goal of the AMD is to ensure that air monitoring data is
consistent, of high quality, and defensible
The first step is the creation of a Quality System
Intent of a Quality System
Outline the minimum requirements for the collection and
reporting of air monitoring data
Establish consistent Quality Assurance practices that:
– Ensure, and allow for verification of, the quality of air data
collected in Alberta
– Ensure data comparability among monitoring sites
Provide guidance and criteria to operators of monitoring
equipment, auditors, and other Alberta Environment staff on:
– Minimum quality assurance requirements
– Air monitoring and reporting requirements
How a Quality System Works
Requirements
Improve QAP +
Methods
Procedures +
Internal + Documentation
External Audit =QAP
Overview of the Current Amendment
Administrative Requirements
Document Control
Internal Audits
Non-Compliance, Preventative and Corrective
Action
Subcontracting
Purchasing of Services and Supplies
Technical Requirements
Reporting Requirements
Administrative Requirements
Provide resources
– People, money and equipment
Document responsibilities of the personnel
involved with the Quality System
Document Control
Ensure all documents can be located, reviewed,
revised and approved
Relevant documents must be available where
monitoring is being done
Document procedures for data validation
Maintain records of raw data, audits and
compliance with the AMD for at least three years
Retain final reports for at least ten years
Internal Audits
Ensure the Quality System is compliant
Should be conducted by an independent party
Document findings and corrective action
At least every three years
Non-Compliance, Preventative and
Corrective Action
Must have a plan for potential non-compliance
Conduct and document preventative actions
When non-compliance occurs:
– Corrective action to be taken immediately
– Notify Alberta Government when required by
regulation or law
– Provide corrected data to AENV
Subcontracting
Document all subcontractors conducting the
monitoring, reporting and/or maintenance
Ensure the subcontractor is capable of meeting
the requirements of the AMD!
The owner or approval holder is responsible for
the work done by subcontractors!
Purchasing of Services and Supplies
Ensure services and supplies that may affect
the monitoring quality comply with monitoring
requirements
Document why the services and supplies are
compliant
Technical Requirements
Ensure personnel are qualified and document their
qualifications
All monitoring equipment must be located where it will
work properly
All monitoring equipment must meet or exceed
performance requirements in the AMD
Equipment operation and maintenance procedures are
documented and located where the equipment is
Equipment should be in a secure location
Cont…
Technical Requirements Continued
Document all changes to equipment and monitoring
methods
Ensure all methods are documented in detail
Document measurement uncertainty
Meet calibration requirements
Document sampling plans and procedures
Have procedures for accepting or rejecting samples
Reporting Requirements
Submit monthly reports to AENV on time!
– Written or electronic with CD sent to AENV
Flag data that does not meet QA/QC requirements
Who, where, what, when, why and how
Statement of compliance/non-compliance
Corrections/amendments to previously submitted
reports must be approved by AENV
CEMS data shall be reported in electronic format
starting April 1, 2007
What All of this Really Means…
Air monitoring parties need to ensure their
monitoring and reporting activities are
compliant with the current amendment
– Develop a Quality System by April 1, 2007 and
implement the system by April 1, 2008
If your Environmental Management System
already includes QA/QC, this should not be a
big deal!
Stepping Forward
Development of Section 2 with the technical
multi-stakeholder group will continue
To reduce time requirements:
– Section 2 will be released chapter by chapter after
stakeholder review has been completed
– Chapters will be posted on AENV website for
comments for two months before release
And Finally…
Thank You!
Thanks also to our stakeholders from
Airsheds, industry and AENV staff for
participating in this process
Questions???