Lakes Environmental e-Newsletter
In this issue:
- News & Events
- Upcoming Courses
- Modeling Tip: Modifying Model Output Units in CALRoads View
- Articles
- Upcoming Conferences & Trade Shows
News & Events
Happy Holidays from Lakes Environmental!
Lakes Environmental Wishes you a Joyous Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year!
With the holiday season upon us, we wish to take this opportunity to specially thank you, our subscribers and customers, for reading our newsletter throughout the year. Your continued feedback and suggestions enable us to provide you with the most relevant information in your field of expertise. Thank you once again. We look forward to working with you in 2017!
Please find below the holiday schedule for Lakes Environmental’s Waterloo and Dallas offices:
Sales Inquiries: sales@webLakes.com. Support Inquiries: support@webLakes.com. |
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Recent US EPA Activities
Last month, the US EPA held their annual Regional, State, and Local Modelers’ Workshop in New Orleans. Designed to allow members of the regulatory modeling community the opportunity to interact, the Workshop was open to industrial representatives and consultants on November 15th. Public discussion centered on status of the forthcoming updates to the Guideline on Air Quality Models (40 CFR Part 51 Appendix W). At the time, the rule was still under review of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). It subsequently cleared that review process on November 30th.
Presentations from the Workshop are available for review on the 2016 RSL Workshop website. Highlights include a summary of upcoming updates to the AERMOD and AERMET model executables.
The working version number of these updates is 16216, and they will be published once the new Appendix W has been finalized and signed by the EPA Administrator. Lakes Environmental will begin the process of updating AERMOD View to incorporate the new models as soon as they are available.
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The US EPA has also released some draft guidance documents for public review and comment:
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Lakes Environmental & APCAS CALPUFF Course in Montreal – Jan 23-24, 2017
Lakes Environmental will be in Montreal, Quebec, for two days of CALPUFF training from January 23 to 24, 2017.
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This course will be hosted by APCAS (Association pour la prévention de la contamination de l’air et du sol). Presentation of the course as well as all course materials (presentation slides, course notes, etc) will be in English. Pre-book your spot in this course today by contacting APCAS at apcas@apcas.qc.ca. Course: CALPUFF (Jan 23-24, 2017) |
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AERMOD & CALPUFF Courses in Toronto – Online Registration Open!
Lakes Environmental will hold four days of AERMOD and CALPUFF training in Toronto from February 27 – March 2, 2017.
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The AERMOD portion of this course will feature a special section and case study regarding the dispersion modeling requirements of Ontario Regulation 419/05: Air Pollution - Local Air Quality. Register online now to guarantee your spot! Early Registration Ends: January 27, 2017 Course: AERMOD (Feb 27-28, 2017) |
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Lakes Environmental Announces 2017 AERMOD & CALPUFF Training Courses
Lakes Environmental is pleased to announce the 2017 Global AERMOD and CALPUFF Training Course Schedule.
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Course dates and locations for the first half of the year are listed below and can also be found by visiting our website. Join us for training with our world class team of senior level air quality experts!
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Online registration is open! Start making plans now to attend one of these courses. Early registration discounts are available for a limited time!
Upcoming Courses
Date |
Course |
Location |
Registration |
Jan 23-24, 2017 |
Montreal, QC |
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Feb 27-28, 2017 |
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Mar 20-21, 2017 |
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Apr 3-4, 2017 |
Registration |
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May 1-2, 2017 |
For more information on the above courses, including registration information, location, and course outlines, please visit our web site: https://www.weblakes.com/courses.html.
Modeling Tip
Modifying Model Output Units in CALRoads View
CALRoads View is an air dispersion modeling package for predicting air quality impacts of pollutants near roadways. It integrates three dispersion models: CALINE4, CAL3QHC, and CAL3QHCR. The original design of the models accounted for carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM) only, so Lakes Environmental implemented support for other inert gases.
One limitation of the model code is that CO and Inert Gases are hard-coded to output results in parts per million (ppm) using the equation below which converts volumetric results using molecular weight.
Where: MW = molecular weight [g/mol] and Concentration is given in micrograms per cubic meter [µg/m3]
Using this equation, we can then produce output results in µg/m3 by using a molecular weight of 0.02445 such that the conversion factor reduces to 1.
To do this in CALRoads View:
- Open the Job Options window.
- The options to change are all located on the Job Options tab of the Options window. First, change the Pollutant Type to “Inert Gases”.
- The Molecular Weight input in the Job Parameters group will switch from a hard-coded value to a user input text field. In the Molecular Weight field, enter 0.02445.
- Run the model.
- After running the model, the Contours legend will indicate that the results are displayed in ppm. Go to the Graphical Options and select the Contours | Color Ramp settings. Change the Label Unit to µg/m3 to reflect the new data units.
Note that the model output file will still indicate that the results are in ppm, so take care when reviewing the text output.
Submit Your Modeling Tips Today!
We are currently accepting submissions for the Monthly Modeling Tip section that appears in our newsletters. If you have a modeling tip that may benefit our readers, please send it to us at support@webLakes.com. Your name and the name of your organization will appear below the tip providing you with an opportunity for increased exposure.
Articles
Car Emissions: Commission Opens Infringement Procedures Against 7 Member States for Breach of EU Rules
December 8, 2016 - The European Commission is today acting against 7 Member States on the grounds that they have failed to fulfil their obligations under EU vehicle type approval legislation.
The Commission is taking action against 7 Member States for failing to set up penalties systems to deter car manufacturers from violating car emissions legislation, or not applying such sanctions where a breach of law has occurred.
The European Commission decided today to act against the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom on the grounds that they have disregarded EU vehicle type approval rules.
EU on Track to Meet 2020 Renewable Energy Target, Report Shows
December 1, 2016 - EU countries are on track to meet their 2020 targets for renewable energy and emissions cuts but could fall short of ambitious longer-term goals, the European Environment Agency (EEA) said on Thursday.
“The EU’s 2020 targets on energy and climate are now well within reach,” EEA executive director Hans Bruyninckx said.
“But certain trends are alarming, in particular for transport. In that sector, renewable energy use remains insufficient and greenhouse gas emissions are rising again,” Bruyninckx added.
Robust Technical Analysis Supports Leaving Carbon Pollution Standards for Cars and Light Trucks in Place Through 2025, EPA Administrator Finds
November 30, 2016 - WASHINGTON - Based on extensive technical analysis that shows automakers are well positioned to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for model years 2022-2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy today proposed leaving the standards in place, so the program that was established in 2012 will stay on track to nearly double fuel economy, dramatically cut carbon pollution, maintain regulatory certainty for a global industry, and save American drivers billions of dollars at the pump.
“Given the auto industry’s importance to American jobs and communities and the industry’s need for certainty well into the future, EPA has reanalyzed these clean car standards and sought further input,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “It’s clear from the extensive technical record that this program will remain affordable and effective. This proposed decision reconfirms our confidence in the auto industry’s capacity to drive innovation and strengthen the American economy while saving drivers money at the pump and safeguarding our health, climate and environment.”
Liberals Present Plan to Phase Out Coal-Powered Electricity by 2030
November 30, 2016 - The federal government is speeding up the plan to phase out coal-fired electricity by 2030 as part of its comprehensive plan to make Canada a leader in green energy.
But Nova Scotia has received an exemption to continue its use beyond that deadline under a so-called "equivalency agreement."
In announcing the plan today, federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said about 80 per cent of Canada's electricity currently comes from clean sources such as hydroelectric power, nuclear, wind and solar. The goal is to make 90 per cent of electric power generation free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Upcoming Conferences & Trade Shows
Jan 5-7, 2017 |
IAFOR International Conference on Sustainability, Energy & the Environment |
Honolulu, HI, USA |
Jan 16-19, 2017 |
World Future Energy Summit |
Abu Dhabi, UAE |
Jan 22-26, 2017 |
American Meteorological Society (AMS) 97th Annual Meeting |
Seattle, WA, USA |
Feb 8-10, 2017 |
Energy, Utility & Environment Conference (EUEC) 2017 |
San Diego, CA, USA |
Feb 23-24, 2017 |
19th International Conference on Air Pollution and Control |
Paris, France |
Mar 21-23, 2017 |
Americana 2017 |
Montréal, QC, Canada |
Apr 2-4, 2017 |
2nd International Conference on Air, Water, and Soil Pollution and Treatment (AWSPT'17) |
Barcelona, Spain |
May 2-3, 2017 |
CANECT 2017 |
Mississauga, ON, Canada |
May 25-26, 2017 |
19th International Conference on Air Pollution and Control |
London, UK |
Jun 5-8, 2017 |
110th Air & Waste Management Association's Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) |
Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
About this Newsletter
This newsletter contains information gleaned from various sources on the web, with complete links to the sources cited. Organizations cited are in no way affiliated with Lakes Environmental Software.
Lakes Environmental Software is a leading environmental IT company that offers a complete line of air dispersion modeling, risk assessment, emissions inventory, and emergency release software as well as training and custom software services. With satisfied users located around the globe, Lakes Environmental Software will continue to revolutionize the environmental software field.
For more information please visit our web site at: www.webLakes.com. You may also contact us by phone at (519) 746-5995 or by fax at (519)746-0793.
All comments and suggestions are welcome. You can e-mail us at: support@webLakes.com.