Summary of May 20, 1998 EPA Activities Regarding Response to Mexican and Central American Fires

Jim Yarbrough-EPA, Region 6, Dallas, Texas

May 20, 1998

Hazy conditions prevailed in much of the eastern part of the 5-state (Texas-New Mexico-Oklahoma-Arkansas-Louisiana) EPA-Region 6 area on May 20. Visibilities generally were lower than on May 19. Visibilities at 3:00 p.m. local time included 7 miles at Dallas-Fort Worth, 6 miles in Houston, 4 miles in Galveston, 10 miles at El Paso, 4 miles at Shreveport, 4 miles at Oklahoma City, 10 miles at Albuquerque but 35 miles at Las Vegas, New Mexico. The State of Texas has extended its health alert for the entire State through Memorial Day.

 

The EPA has obtained additional fine particulate (PM-2.5) data from sampling conducted May 17-18 and May 18-19 at four separate locations in Texas. The data collected to date from this special sampling are the following:

 
 

(May 16-17)

(May 17-18)

(May 18-19)

Dallas

55.7 ug/m3

30.8 ug/m3

32.5 ug/m3

San Antonio Site 1

43.7 ug/m3

39.3 ug/m3

27.5 ug/m3

San Antonio Site 2

49.6 ug/m3

43.4 ug/m3

27.4 ug/m3

Brownsville

41.3 ug/m3

32.5 ug/m3

31.7 ug/m3

Galveston

34.5 ug/m3

30.0 ug/m3

27.5 ug/m3

 

These numbers should be compared with the U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM-2.5, which is 65 ug/m3 for a 24-hour period and 15 ug/m3 for an annual average.

 

Additional PM-2.5 data will be reported by EPA as they are received.

 

Data on total suspended particulate (TSP), and trace metals for the May 16-17 period at Brownsville and Mission were received on May 20 and are under review by EPA, the Centers for Disease Control, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, and the Texas Department of Health. Data on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pesticides from these two sites for the May 16-17, May 17-18, and May 18-19 periods are expected later this week.

 

TSP, trace metals, PAH, and pesticides data collected at Galveston in the May 16-19 period should be delivered to EPA later this week or early next week. Eight-hour integrated hydrocarbon samples from Brownsville are being analyzed by the contractor laboratory and should be available later this week.