Progress

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FALL LINE AIR QUALITY STUDY

• Progress
• and Plans
• Report to the
• Bibb County
• Commission
• July 24, 2001

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What is the Fall line Air Quality Study?
In cooperation with the Georgia EPD, GRTA, the US
Dept. of Defense, and all local stakeholders,
over the next 3 years (2000-2002), the FAQS
will assess urban and regional air pollution,
identify the sources of pollutants and pollutant
precursors, and recommend solutions to realized
and potential poor air quality in the Augusta,
Macon, and Columbus, Georgia metropolitan areas.
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Who is directing the Study?
With funding from the State of Georgia, the study
is being conducted by researchers at Georgia Tech
with oversight provided by a 9-member coordinating
council Ron Methier, Chair GA EPD Catherine
Ross GRTA George Carellas US DoD Jack
Ellis City of Macon Bob Fountain Bibb
County Scott MacGregor Augusta Chamber Bill
Price DSM Chemicals Art Cleveland Columbus
State U. Billy Turner Columbus Water Works
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Georgias historical AQ problem Atlanta
GA EPD ozone monitoring site
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EPD Macon ozone monitor est. 1997
But what about other areas?
of Unhealthy Air Days in Macon (Old Standard)
1997 1 1998 2 1999 5 2000 3 2001 0...
of Unhealthy Air Days in Macon (New Standard)
1997 12 1998 18 1999 18 2000 17 2001 4...
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Georgias air quality problem now Atlanta,
Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Leslie.
Home grown pollution?
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Georgias air quality problem now Atlanta,
Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Leslie.
Or Big City Transport?
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Georgias air quality problem now Atlanta,
Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Leslie.
Or Regional Scale?
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Georgias air quality problem now Atlanta,
Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Leslie.
Or Combination?
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Ground-level Ozone Formation

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Ozone (O3) Smog
Fuels, Paints, Solvents, Vegetation
Combustion Processes
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What is the FAQS doing to figure out the causes
of poor air quality in Macon?
1. Enhanced Monitoring what is really in Macons
air? Upwind? Downwind? 2. Emission Inventories
what activities (local and distant) are ongoing
that may be affecting Macons air? 3. Computer
Modeling to what degree are any of the above
activities affecting Macons air and what is the
most effective and efficient means to lessen
those impacts?
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Initial Impressions from FAQS Phase I 2000-2001
Atlanta and Macon share an airshed that is
capable of generating significant ozone
independent of the region.
Columbus and Augusta, are more closely related
to the larger regional airshed, but also may be
responsible for a small but significant amount of
local ozone production.
Leslie??
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Initial Impressions from FAQS Phase I 2000-2001
Production of ozone (smog) in Macon is probably
limited by availability of NOx.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Ozone (O3) Smog
Fuels, Paints, Solvents, Vegetation
Combustion Processes
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Additional Information?
http//www.cure.gatech.edu/faqs.asp Michael E.
Chang, Ph.D. FAQS Principal Investigator School
of Earth Atmospheric Sciences Georgia Institute
of Technology Atlanta, GA 30332-0595 voice
404-385-0573 fax [phone] email
chang_at_eas.gatech.edu