Great Lakes Regional Toxic
Air Emissions Inventory
Steering Committee Conference Call Minutes
Participants
Illinois: Buzz
Asselmeier
Indiana:
Michigan: Dennis
McGeen, Jim Lax and Allan Ostrander
Minnesota: Dan
Steber and Chun Yi Wu
New York: Carlos
Mancilla and Ron Stannard
Ohio:
Tom Velalis
Ontario: Cong
Doan
Pennsylvania:
Wisconsin: Orlando Cabrera-Rivera
GLC:
Jon Dettling and Pete Giencke
EPA:
Other:
Mark Young
Technical issues: Powerbuilder software and source
code
Mark
has obtained the latest source code so that this is not an issue.
Mark
is looking for a version of Powerbuilder 6.0 or 6.5 enterprise. The states
should check to see if they have a copy of this at their agencies that they
could let Mark use. As a fall-back a vendor has been identified that sells this
software online.
RAPIDS redesign update - Mark Young
Mark
has begun work on a data flow diagram to describe the current software and the
future version of RAPIDS. Mark is working in Visio and will be sending Word
documents with this information. The diagrams might be customized for each
state, showing differences in data flows. States can use these to also add
comments about how they might like their data flow to change under a new
scenario. This will provide a good background for identifying what the needs
are.
Tom
noted that if a software update were not to be done, each of the states would
probably have a different vision of how they would end up entering data in the
future. For example, Ohio
would probably create NEI files and import those to RAPIDS. Mark mentioned that
one possibility would be to rely more heavily on the NEI format if many states
are using that. Allan noted that there have often been some discrepancies
between data that is imported and the same data when it gets exported.
PostgreSQL Database discussion
Allen
mentioned that LADCO is designing their new open emissions model using
PostgreSQL. Some of the MDEQ staff have used that system and have been
impressed with the capabilities, stability and so on.
Chun
Yi asked whether there are any disadvantages. Pete noted that for a much bigger
application, Oracle would be preferred. But for an application the size of
RAPIDS, PostgreSQL will work fine.
There
were some questions about speed. The current repository can often be slow in
responding to queries. The general opinion is that the combination of having a
faster server and a redesigned more current software should speed things up
considerably rather than make them slower. Mark would like to emphasize
performance in this version of RAPIDS, which was not the case always in the
past.
State Updates - b(a)p revisions
IL
- Buzz is just back from vacation; no new updates
MI
- Has done estimates for some of the source types
MN
- got HAP emission data from NEI and has been looking at what EPA added. If
there is anything very valuable, Chun Yi will let the other states know what
she finds. Chun Yi has used primarily emission factors from NEI. If the
emission factors are not in the NEI guidance, Minnesota will not have the emission
estimates.
NY
- Carlos has been on vacation and prior to that was doing some other tasks. He
will now be devoting much of his attention to this task
OH
- Does not foresee making any changes to their database. They will provide a
rationale for this for each of the cases that have been identified. Tom is
still investigating the reason for the error in the Non-road inventory. He has
compared the PM10 data, from which the b(a)p is speciated, and there is not a
major discrepancy.
ON
- no updates
WI
- Finished with point sources and the differences were extremely small. These
will be added to the database. The two area sources that were flagged were fire
places and crematories. For the fireplaces, Orlando has contacted MARAMA and obtained a
draft document that contains their emission factors for these sources.
Jon
mentioned that he has been putting together an initial draft report that he can
circulate.
Orlando
mentioned fireplace and crematories. These source types have been flagged for
many states as missing emissions data. However, there are some questions
regarding the emission factors for these. Orlando
already mentioned fireplaces. For Crematories, the emission factor in FIRE may
have some problems and was not included in the NEI.
GLC update - MOAs and invoices
Jon
mentioned that he will be sending draft MOAs to all the states for phase 13
within the next month or so. If there are any states that would like to switch
their travel arrangement to have the GLC reimburse them directly, they should
let the GLC know within the next few weeks. A few states currently do this and
it appears to be more convenient for getting travel approval, at least for
them. Jon also mentioned that there is a general trend of states lagging behind
the associated timeframe for sending their invoices for a given phase. We are
know about 3/4 of the way through the timeframe for phase 12 and many states
have not submitted any invoices for phase 11. While some delay is not a big
problem, anything more than a year's delay could cause a problem down the road.
Jon will update each state on their invoicing status.
Next Meeting
Michigan has
been approved. Illinois
plans to go. Minnesota
has submitted requests and is waiting. Ohio
doesn't see a problem. New York and Orlando have applied. Pennsylvania said
previously that they can't make it.
Next
call will be on the 16th of August, 2pm EST.