Local air monitoring: Difference between revisions

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* [[:File:Daily Press 1956 12 12 Page 3.pdf|C&O to Install Costly Equipment for Control of Air Pollution in NN, ''Daily Press'', December 12, 1956]]
* [[:File:Daily Press 1956 12 12 Page 3.pdf|C&O to Install Costly Equipment for Control of Air Pollution in NN, ''Daily Press'', December 12, 1956]]
* [[:File:Daily Press 1956 12 18 Page 3.pdf|Council Gets Air Pollution Control Plan, ''Daily Press'', December 18, 1956]]
* [[:File:Daily Press 1956 12 18 Page 3.pdf|Council Gets Air Pollution Control Plan, ''Daily Press'', December 18, 1956]]
* [[:File:Coal Study-January 1987 21391318.pdf|Control of Fugitive Emissions from Open Coal Storage in Newport News, Virginia, 1987]]


* [[:File:NS-Lamberts Point PM10 Monitoring Q4-Annual data report DEQ.pdf|Annual PM<sub>10</sub> Monitoring Data Report for Norfolk Southern’s Coal Pier – Lambert's Point, Norfolk, Virginia, October 11, 2016]]
* [[:File:NS-Lamberts Point PM10 Monitoring Q4-Annual data report DEQ.pdf|Annual PM<sub>10</sub> Monitoring Data Report for Norfolk Southern’s Coal Pier – Lambert's Point, Norfolk, Virginia, October 11, 2016]]

Revision as of 17:57, 14 January 2026

Southeast Newport News Atmospheric Pollution Survey, 1956

In the mid-1950's, the City of Newport News hired Froehling and Robertson Inc., a Richmond-based chemical engineering firm, to quantify the amount of coal in airborne particles. The study was in response to a coal dust-related complaint to the Newport News City Council by the Garden-Shores Civic League.[1][2] Froehling and Robertson Inc. installed ten dust collection stations in Southeast Newport News. Each station consisted of two-foot square glass plates coated with a neutral paper and mounted on outdoor platforms. Every few days, technicians removed the paper coatings to analyze the settled particles in a laboratory for the presence of coal. Samples were collected for 30 days.[3]

The study produced evidence that coal was prevalent in airborne particles, with as much as 45% of airborne dust being un-combusted coal in one measurement period at the station located at 15th Street and Wickham Avenue.[4][5] City Manager J. C. Biggins reported to Newport News City Council that some stations were destroyed during the study period.[4]

These results compelled the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railroad Company to install equipment to create a water fog over the coal piers to suppress dust.[5] A second outcome was that City Manager J. C. Biggins presented a draft local ordinance designed to control air pollution sources, including the coal terminals, to the Newport News City Council for approval.[6]

Control of Fugitive Emissions from Open Coal Storage in Newport News, Virginia, 1987

In January 1987, the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) published a study on coal dust emissions from the terminals in Southeast Newport News: Control of Fugitive Emissions from Open Coal Storage in Newport News, Virginia. As part of this study, researchers developed a mathematical formula relating meteorological conditions, PM10 concentrations, and concentrations of un-combusted coal in particulate matter. The study is the basis for the water sprinkler dust suppression system, developing specific guidelines for when sprinklers must be turned on and how much water should be applied. To read more about the results of this study, see Particulate Matter and Coal Dust and Wet Dust Suppression.

Air Permit-Related Monitoring

(coming soon)

Voices Network: Voices Organizing In opposition to Coal dust with Environmental Sensing

The VOICES Network: Voices Organizing In opposition to Coal dust with Environmental Sensing has measured PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 across Southeast Newport News and Lambert's Point since October 2024. The monitors are maintained by the Repair Lab as part of the Coal Dust Kills campaign.

(More coming soon)[7]

Documents

References