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Re: FW: Draft Minutes - Jan. 10th, 2006
Jon,
The NEI pollutant code table uses the CAS number when available for
HAPs. For HAPs that do not have a CAS number, the NEI uses a three
digit code. CAPs in the NEI pollutant code use abbreviations.
EPA data standards require that the NEI pollutant codes be mapped to
EPA's Substance Registry System (SRS). The SRS contains CAS numbers
with dashes as well as other data fields.
I have recently updated the NEI pollutant code table to include
requests from the GLC to add PCB homologues to NEI codes. This table is
included in the NEI Look-up table in the point source documentation
section of CHIEF. I have also recently posted a file that maps NEI
pollutant codes to the SRS. This file is also posted in the point
source documentation section.
anne
Jon Dettling
<dettling@glc.or
g> To
Sent by: airtoxics@great-lakes.net
owner-airtoxics@ cc
great-lakes.net
Subject
FW: Draft Minutes - Jan. 10th,
01/25/2007 10:48 2006
AM
Please respond
to
dettling@glc.org
Great Lakes Regional Toxic Air Emissions Inventory
Steering Committee Conference Call Minutes
January 10, 2006
Participants
Illinois: Buzz Asselmeier
Indiana:
Michigan: Dennis McGeen and Allan Ostrander
Minnesota: Chun Yi Wu
New York: Carlos Mancilla
Ohio: Tom Velalis
Ontario: Cong Doan and Peter Wong
Pennsylvania: John Hulsberg and Karen Gee
Wisconsin: Orlando Cabrera-Rivera
GLC: Jon Dettling
EPA:
Other: Mark Young
Programming language
Mark has been reorganizing some of the data elements in the prior
version of the design. He's been paying particular attention to
computation issues and is working on finding an ideal location for
some of the elements that are not in NIF, but are needed for
computation. He's also looked into the issue of defining time
periods as entities rather than using just start and end dates.
Mark will show this during the Chicago meeting and would like to
get feedback as to whether people think the approach will work.
Mark has also begun looking at the prior set of reference tables
from RAPIDS 2.X for inclusion in the new data model.
Orlando asked whether is would make sense to have some data, such
as for particularly complex sources, to see how they would be
represented in the current data model. Mark has been using some of
the RAPIDS test data, but this is somewhat old and may not be
ideal. If people have other data that might be useful for purposes
of mapping how it fits into the framework.
Tom asked whether the NEI reference tables would be a sensible
starting point. Mark stated that these will be used in addition to
the current RAPIDS reference tables. A combination of these will
likely be used, depending on the particular type of data and how
it is handled in the new data model. In some cases a combined
table might be made to assist in conversions. For example, the
pollutant code table could contain the original RAPIDS code, the
NEI code, the CAS number and other information that might be used
elsewhere.
The group may need to make a decision whether they would like to
begin using the NEI numeric pollutant codes as a primary key or
whether they would like to keep the RAPIDS codes, with the
capability of mapping to the NEI codes.
Mark also suggested that there are other types of data elements,
such as control efficiencies and rule effectiveness that it would
be helpful if he had some "real world" data to use to examine the
mappings and relationships of these data types.
Carlos suggested that the CAS codes could be used for the
pollutant codes. John Hulsberg added that the EPA has developed a
"decimal CAS" system or something similar where some issues around
the potential for duplication due to the hyphens are resolved.
PDEP uses this system in many of their databases. Orlando pointed
out that one issue with using CAS is that there are some cases
where CAS numbers don't exist for pollutants or groups. This would
need to be addressed. Mark pointed out that the NEI codes are a
hodge-podge of different things; some are CAS numbers (minus the
hyphens), some are based on something entirely different.
Tom said that the OEPA has just adopted the NEI table as it is for
reasons of not having to maintain the table themselves, but just
adopting EPA updates when they are available.
Orlando suggested adding a field to the RAPIDS' Material Table for
the NEI numeric pollutant code. This field is already included in
the Rap_Conversions Table.
Cong asked whether the Web-FIRE database should be incorporated
directly in some way. It may be worth including this information
directly. The group will also likely need to do periodic updates
of its own to that data. Tom noted that OEPA is developing an
approach to include Web-FIRE. He can distribute to the group any
documentation they have on this. This will probably include some
kind of a reviewed update, where the system detects new records
and asks the user if they want to make the additions and
replacements.
Design issues to discuss at Chicago meeting
In Chicago, Mark is intending to show the data model as it stands.
Mark would also like to discuss data storage issues and determine
the most efficient way to handle certain types of information,
particularly the items that are currently handled in the
activities table. Orlando asked Mark to prepare and send in
advance a list of items he plans to address. Mark will do so. Jon
noted that Pete has been working on the issue of integrating the
database design with PostGIS standards for handling of geographic
information and can present this to the group. Jon will check on
the room location and will send it to the group.
RAPIDS Programming Language
Following the last call, Jon and Pete compiled a listing of what
they saw as the advantages and disadvantages of both Java and .Net
as a language for the RAPIDS application. This was sent to the
group in December. They made an effort to include reference to the
issues and concerns that others have raised over this issue.
Following this, Chun Yi has sent some email correspondence from
within their agency discussing the implications of the language
choice on their companion software, MIRROR. After examining the
issue, it appears that the only case in which use of Java would
present a constraint on the MPCA (who's IT personnel program in
.Net exclusively) would be if MPCA desired to make direct
modifications to the RAPIDS code. Programming stand-alone
companion software (such as MIRROR) in another language will not
be a problem. Other states were asked whether that had other
outstanding issues or concerns and what there preference was for
the programming language.
IL: No preference
MI:No preference
MN:No preference
NY:No preference
OH:No preference
ON: prefer Java
PA: prefer Java
WI: No preference
GLC: prefer Java
Based on this, it was agreed that Java would be chosen as the
language to use.
Server Issue
Jon summarized the progress in recovering the server that crashed
over Thanksgiving weekend. It had been sent to an outside
contractor who specializes in Sun servers. The contractor returned
the server saying they had gotten the error fixed. However, the
GLC was able to access only 2 of 6 partitions when the server was
re-mounted. The contractor has been contacted again to reexamine
the problem and restore full functionality. GLC is waiting for
their response.
Chun Yi expressed a concern over the date of the last backup and
would like to see a system in place for more frequent backing-up
of the repository databases. Jon concurred that this was needed
and committed to addressing it in the near future.
Benzo(a)pyrene
Jon will send a revised version of the b(a)p report by next week
so that the group has adequate time to review it prior to the
meeting. He has been working with Jon Bates to update the
information of Coke Oven Gasses and has been including some other
changes the group discussed previously and/or that have been sent
by email. At the meeting, he would like to devote 30-60 minutes to
discuss developing a "qualitative" assessment of a 10-15 year
trend in b(a)p emissions for the region by examining what we know
about certain source categories. Other comments on the report can
also be discussed in Chicago, with the intention of having a
finalized version sometime in February. A final dataset will also
be compiled for release with the report and a downloadable file.
Chun Yi, Jon and Orlando have prepared and submitted abstracts
regarding the b(a)p reassessment for both the June AWMA Annual
conference and the May EPA Emissions Inventory conference. For
each, a shortened version of the b(a)p report will be prepared and
submitted for the conference proceedings.
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