Transcript CITIZEN CANISTER PROGRAM

Cory R. Chadwick, Director
Hamilton County DOES (HCDOES)
October 5, 2011
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Complainants, environmental groups, and
citizens have historically voiced two main
concerns:
• What is in the air I am breathing
• Odor no longer present when investigator arrives
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Started in the City of Cincinnati in 1999
Expanded by HCDOES in 2002 to all four
counties in SW Ohio
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Fifteen – 6L canisters utilized in four
county area
Citizen keeps evacuated canister
and takes sample as needed
(outdoor only)
Citizens trained how to take sample,
record weather information, and use
chain of custody
Take sample when odor is strongest
After taking sample, complainant
calls hotline
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Hotline call initiates field investigation
Inspector picks up canister and
arranges for canister to be shipped to
approved lab
Samples typically analyzed using US
EPA Method TO-15
Additional analysis if particular
compound of concern (CO, Methane,
Sulfur, etc.)
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Canisters used for both
instantaneous and 24-hr samples
Program also uses real time
monitoring (stand alone or in
conjunction with canister program)
• Photo Ionization Detector (PID) – ppb
level of VOCs
• Multi-Rae – ppm range VOCs, CO, H2S,
LEL and Oxygen
• Flame Ionization Detector (FID) – ppm
Methane and VOC
PID
Multi-Rae
FID
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Complainants call in less, stop calling, or
even decide not to take sample (waiting for
really bad odor)
Gives the complainant some control in
evaluating the odor present
Communication of sampling results very
important
Toxicologist review if needed (none on staff)
Not a tell all – just tool in our toolbox
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Canisters cost approx. $500 per can
Analysis is around $250 per can, more if
special compounds requested
Average cans used per year is 10 -12
Analysis cost $2,500 to $3,000 per year
Penalty dollars used to purchase cans
Analysis costs covered by penalty and
regular budget
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INEOS (chemical plant 10 miles west of
Cincinnati on the Ohio river
• Complaints about
chemical odors
(35 to 45 minutes
from our office)
• Canister sample found
81 ppb of 1,3 butadiene
1.5 miles from facility
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Rumpke (Sanitary Landfill 15 miles NE of
Cincinnati)
• Subsurface landfill fire
since 2009
• Combination of real time
data and canister data
has calmed fears of
citizens
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For additional information please visit
our Website at www.hcdoes.org or call
Kerri Castlen, our complaints supervisor,
at (513) 946-7738