Air quality at the Richmond Field Station is generally very good due to the proximity to San Francisco Bay with on-shore prevailing winds transporting clean air from the Pacific Ocean. Remediation activities, including excavation of soils and sediments, mixing of stabilizing materials (such as limestone, activated carbon and lime), loading of trucks and hauling clean soils in and contaminated soils out have the potential to release pollutants or dust in nuisance levels. Emissions from these activities are controlled through construction best management practices, such as using spray water to suppress dust and avoidance of loading in windy conditions.
To ensure that remediation project activities at the RFS and neighboring Zeneca sites are not adversely impacting air quality, oversight agencies require regular air monitoring during work periods. In addition to this air monitoring, the campus Office of Environment, Health & Safety monitors indoor and outdoor air when concerns are raised.
RFS Remediation and Restoration Project
Air quality monitoring plans and results for the first three phases of remediation work at the RFS are presented in the three phase implementation reports in sections presented below. Future air monitoring results will be posted as available.
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Section 4, Tables 7 & 8, Appedices H and I of the following report:
Supplemental Air Monitoring Reports
October 2007: Time Critical Removal Action at former Forest Products Laboratory Wood Treatment Laboratory
As described in the Soil Confirmation and Perimeter Air Monitoring Plan, air was monitored using a MIE Personal Data Real-time Aerosol Monitors (PDR) which have a particle size maximum range of response of 0.1 to 10 micrometers (μm) and a lower detection limit of 0.001 mg/ m3. Data is presented in tables for each work day. A corresponding figure shows the locatoin of the PDRs.
- October 2, 2007: TCRA Air Monitoring Data and PDR Location Map
- October 3, 2007: TCRA Air Monitoring Data and PDR Location Map
- October 4, 2007: TCRA Air Monitoring Data and PDR Location Map
- October 5, 2007: TCRA Air Monitoring Data and PDR Location Map
- October 12, 2007: TCRA Air Monitoring Data and PDR Location Map
October 2014: Bulb Exploratory Excavation Dust Monitoring
December 2018: Air Monitoring: Mercury Fulminate Area Excavation Pilot
January 2020: Air Monitoring: Mercury Fulminate Area Removal Action
As described in Attachment D: Air Monitoring Plan of the 2014 Final Removal Action Work Plan, air was monitored for dust using real-time aerosol monitors (MIE Personal Data Rams (PDR) which have a particle size maximum range of response of 0.1 to 10 micrometers (μm) and a lower detection limit of 0.001 mg/ m3. In addition real-time mercury vapor was monitored using a Lumex RA-915. The Lumex RA-915 meter has a detection limit of 0.002 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) for mercury. Data is presented in tables for each day and is uploaded as it is made available. Blank results in the Lumex data are from the machines self-calibrating.
- January 8, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 9, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 10, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 13, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 14, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 15, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 16, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 17, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 18, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 20, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 21, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 22, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 23, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 24, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 27, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- January 28, 2020 Lumex Data; PDR Data
- Lumex and PDR Location Maps
November 2020: EPA North Meadow Removal Action
Air was monitored for dust using real-time aerosol monitors (MIE Personal Data Rams (PDR) which have a particle size maximum range of response of 0.1 to 10 micrometers (μm) and a lower detection limit of 0.001 mg/ m3.
- November 9, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- November 10, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- November 11, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- November 12, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- November 13, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- November 16, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- November 17, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- November 18, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- November 19, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
- December 3, 2020: EPA North Meadow PDR Air Monitoring Data
Zeneca Remediation
Information on air quality monitoring data for the Zeneca site is found at the Department of Toxics Substances Control website at: https://www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report?global_id=07280002
Daily Marsh Cleanup Air Monitoring at the Zeneca site is posted on the Campus Bay Forward(a.k.a. Zeneca) website at: www.campusbayforward.com
Pollen Counts
American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immmunology Pollen and Spore Levels- Western Region