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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lubbock, Texas » Cropping Systems Research Laboratory » Cotton Production and Processing Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #211801
Title: Emission factors for cattle feedlots in Texas based on particle size

Author
item LANGE, J - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item Wanjura, John
item SKLOSS, S - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
item PARNELL, JR., C - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2007
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cattle feedlots in Texas are often assumed to be large sources for particulate matter (PM) emissions. Previously, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) used the Industrial Source Complex – Short Term version 3 dispersion model (ISCST3) to estimate downwind concentrations for permitting purposes. Furthermore, researchers have used ISCST3 to back calculate emission factors from cattle feedlots using concentration and meteorological data collected at the source. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required all state regulatory agencies to switch to the AMS/EPA Regulatory Model (AERMOD). EPA transitioned to AERMOD as the new regulatory model because it incorporates newer science into the Gaussian dispersion model to describe pollutant dispersion in the planetary boundary layer. As such, AERMOD requires more model input data to describe meteorological conditions and terrain features than the older ISCST3. However, previous research has shown that significant differences exist between the concentrations estimated by ISCST3 and AERMOD using identical emission factor and meteorological data. Therefore, the emission factor data used in ISCST3 must be updated for use in AERMOD in order to appropriately estimate the downwind influence of PM emissions from a source. The objective of this work is to determine updated PM10 emission factors for cattle feedlots in Texas using concentration measurements from multiple feedlots in Texas between 2002 and 2005 for both ISCST3 and AERMOD.