Recommended Monitoring Plan Checklists
When you have and use in-house procedures, checklists, QA/QC plans, and other organizational aids, you can achieve greater consistency and perform your tasks more efficiently. They also serve as an important reminder to perform infrequent but repetitive tasks and activities. Use our guidelines and helpful checklists to make sure you are prepared.
Must-have Air Emissions Monitoring Compliance Procedures
Working in an environmental group at a facility is challenging. You face many responsibilities that pull you in different directions, and all require incredible attention to detail. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” When you have and use in-house procedures, checklists, QA/QC plans, and other organizational aids, you can achieve greater consistency and perform your tasks more efficiently. They also serve as an important reminder to perform infrequent but repetitive tasks and activities.
Protect Your Facility by Planning Ahead
We recommend several activities and their frequencies that you should use for efficient and effective air emissions compliance monitoring at your facility. Having standardized workplace procedures in place keeps you in compliance and out of trouble with auditors.
Data Review Checklists
Use the following Data Review Checklists to stay organized and prepared.
- Data Review Checklist for Full CEM Systems
- Data Review Checklist for Appendix D CEM Systems
- Data Review Checklist for Appendix E CEM Systems
- Data Review Checklist for LME (Low Mass Emitting) Monitoring Systems
Additional Activities For Review
- Quarterly Linearities: Before attempting a linearity check, make sure you have enough gas (> 500 psi) in each cylinder to complete the linearity. Review the last couple of daily calibration checks to ensure the monitors are responding within normal expectations.
- Routine Maintenance Equipment Supplies: Typically, routine maintenance is performed on a monthly schedule. Make sure you have the time set aside to perform the maintenance and the extra equipment and supplies on hand you may need to minimize the amount of downtime that you might encounter. It is an excellent practice to keep spare equipment in case of emergency and have a plan in place for unexpected situations.
- Gas Cylinder Supplies: It is essential to track your inventory of gas cylinders because of the long ordering lead time. Once the gas cylinder vendor receives your order, the process of preparing Protocol I gas cylinders takes at least 28 days before the cylinders can be shipped. If you are down to your last set of linearity or daily gas cylinders, order at least two more sets immediately. There is no need to worry about the shelf life of gas cylinders. The certification sheets show the cylinders will be good for at least seven years.
- Compliance Reports: These reports are critical and need to contain particular types of information. There is a range of requirements for different programs: reports can be required quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Using a checklist helps you prepare them consistently, accurately and ensure they contain all the requirements, which include:
- Quarterly acid rain files, plus review documents and submission records
- Quarterly air permit excess emissions, downtime, and performance summary reports for each of your reporting system for state or local air quality agencies
- Semi-annual monitoring status reports for your operating permit
- Annual compliance reports for your operating permits
- Reports for Management Review: Frequently, the management team at your facility needs to know how the unit is operating to remain ready to address issues, including maintaining staff and supply levels. Make sure you have the following information prepared for management review:
- Unit/Turbine/Generator Performance Reports
- Fuel Consumption Reports
- Generation Reports
- Multiple Unit Operating Reports
Monitoring Compliance Procedures Conclusion
Having a set of previously developed procedures and other support documents like those mentioned above will help manage the burden created by these obligations. In the case of turnover, they will also help new staff understand their responsibilities and ensure a smooth transition from one person to the next.
The StackVision DAS is a valuable tool in helping you collect, organize and collate your data for review. For example, the “QA Test Deadline Report” keeps track of activities on a schedule. Once set up, this report will keep track of when your next linearity or cylinder gas audit is due, how many days remain before the end of the quarter, and how many days have occurred since the last audit occurred. This report can be scheduled to print or email automatically, or you can configure it to generate an alarm when a warning deadline has occurred. This report is a powerful tool to help you avoid overlooking periodic quality assurance tasks, like linearities, RATAs, audits, annual fuel flow meter calibrations or even NOx Correlations testing, which must occur every five years.
Not using StackVision? Please contact us for a demo. Need help setting up QA Test Deadline Reports? Contact Customer Support for assistance.
Interested in learning more about regulations and staying in compliance? Read our Definitive Guide to Air Emissions Regulations.
Must-have Air Emissions Monitoring Compliance Procedures
Working in an environmental group at a facility is challenging. You face many responsibilities that pull you in different directions, and all require incredible attention to detail. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” When you have and use in-house procedures, checklists, QA/QC plans, and other organizational aids, you can achieve greater consistency and perform your tasks more efficiently. They also serve as an important reminder to perform infrequent but repetitive tasks and activities.
Protect Your Facility by Planning Ahead
We recommend several activities and their frequencies that you should use for efficient and effective air emissions compliance monitoring at your facility. Having standardized workplace procedures in place keeps you in compliance and out of trouble with auditors.
Data Review Checklists
Use the following Data Review Checklists to stay organized and prepared.
- Data Review Checklist for Full CEM Systems
- Data Review Checklist for Appendix D CEM Systems
- Data Review Checklist for Appendix E CEM Systems
- Data Review Checklist for LME (Low Mass Emitting) Monitoring Systems
Additional Activities For Review
- Quarterly Linearities: Before attempting a linearity check, make sure you have enough gas (> 500 psi) in each cylinder to complete the linearity. Review the last couple of daily calibration checks to ensure the monitors are responding within normal expectations.
- Routine Maintenance Equipment Supplies: Typically, routine maintenance is performed on a monthly schedule. Make sure you have the time set aside to perform the maintenance and the extra equipment and supplies on hand you may need to minimize the amount of downtime that you might encounter. It is an excellent practice to keep spare equipment in case of emergency and have a plan in place for unexpected situations.
- Gas Cylinder Supplies: It is essential to track your inventory of gas cylinders because of the long ordering lead time. Once the gas cylinder vendor receives your order, the process of preparing Protocol I gas cylinders takes at least 28 days before the cylinders can be shipped. If you are down to your last set of linearity or daily gas cylinders, order at least two more sets immediately. There is no need to worry about the shelf life of gas cylinders. The certification sheets show the cylinders will be good for at least seven years.
- Compliance Reports: These reports are critical and need to contain particular types of information. There is a range of requirements for different programs: reports can be required quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Using a checklist helps you prepare them consistently, accurately and ensure they contain all the requirements, which include:
- Quarterly acid rain files, plus review documents and submission records
- Quarterly air permit excess emissions, downtime, and performance summary reports for each of your reporting system for state or local air quality agencies
- Semi-annual monitoring status reports for your operating permit
- Annual compliance reports for your operating permits
- Reports for Management Review: Frequently, the management team at your facility needs to know how the unit is operating to remain ready to address issues, including maintaining staff and supply levels. Make sure you have the following information prepared for management review:
- Unit/Turbine/Generator Performance Reports
- Fuel Consumption Reports
- Generation Reports
- Multiple Unit Operating Reports
Monitoring Compliance Procedures Conclusion
Having a set of previously developed procedures and other support documents like those mentioned above will help manage the burden created by these obligations. In the case of turnover, they will also help new staff understand their responsibilities and ensure a smooth transition from one person to the next.
The StackVision DAS is a valuable tool in helping you collect, organize and collate your data for review. For example, the “QA Test Deadline Report” keeps track of activities on a schedule. Once set up, this report will keep track of when your next linearity or cylinder gas audit is due, how many days remain before the end of the quarter, and how many days have occurred since the last audit occurred. This report can be scheduled to print or email automatically, or you can configure it to generate an alarm when a warning deadline has occurred. This report is a powerful tool to help you avoid overlooking periodic quality assurance tasks, like linearities, RATAs, audits, annual fuel flow meter calibrations or even NOx Correlations testing, which must occur every five years.
Not using StackVision? Please contact us for a demo. Need help setting up QA Test Deadline Reports? Contact Customer Support for assistance.
Interested in learning more about regulations and staying in compliance? Read our Definitive Guide to Air Emissions Regulations.
