Air Quality Monitoring

Our program will end the speculation that is caused by lack of transparency and uncertainty, and replace it with measured data that dispels any misconception that we are not operating within acceptable standards. CNX began with the NV110 producing well pad and has expanded the enhanced monitoring program to incorporate compressor stations and well pads in the construction, drilling, and completions phases of development through approximately 6 months of production, i.e. once the gas well begins producing gas and significant activity at the site ends. Monitoring includes continuous monitoring of particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM_2.5) and Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene, collectively referred to as BTEX compounds. PM_2.5 is produced by diesel exhausts, smoke from fires and various other everyday sources such as unpaved roadways and farm fields.

All data is collected by and reviewed for quality assurance by Clean Air Engineering, whose activities are governed by their Ambient Monitoring Quality Management Plan (QMP), which details their quality control program for ambient air quality monitoring services. The QMP was audited by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2017, and the company was approved for the operation of State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) as a Primary Quality Assurance Organization. All data is provided unabridged directly to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and to CNX Resources.

CNX is measuring concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM_2.5) following the strict methodology established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by installing two air quality monitoring devices, one upwind and another downwind of each well pad. PM_2.5 data is presented in hourly and 24-hour average concentrations via a dashboard on this website. The project data is compared to data reported by the regional air quality monitoring network maintained by the DEP and compared to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

To complement the data generated by each PM_2.5 monitor, each site includes an integrated meteorological measurement system to record wind speed and wind direction via a compact sonic anemometer. Wind and other meteorological data are recorded on a local data logger and transmitted to Clean Air Engineering’s secure environmental data management platform for easy access and visualization.

Natural gas may contain low levels of various volatile organic compounds (VOC), including BTEX. To demonstrate our low VOC levels, CNX is incorporating EPA Reference Method 325 that has been established to measure VOC in air by exposing sample tubes to air for a period of 14-days. CNX analyzes the samples for BTEX compounds, which are absorbed by the material within the sampling tube. Results are compared to established health-based standards such as Minimum Risk Levels (MRLs) for inhalation exposure. Should any elevated levels of BTEX be encountered, CNX will conduct verification sampling using the EPA TO-15 methodology to review a larger suite of compounds.

Clean Air Engineering has developed a Quality Assurance Project Plan that dictates all aspects of the project, including monitoring, equipment maintenance, and data handling.

DISCLAIMER

The data displayed in the CNX transparency tool is collected, recorded, and provided by a third party indicated as the data source and not by CNX. For many or all of the data, the data is by its nature considered a field estimate and as initially recorded may contain errors introduced by equipment malfunction or other inaccuracies introduced by the data provider(s). The data as initially posted is subject to review and quality assurance and control conducted by the third party and may be corrected or otherwise edited or deemed null according to standard quality assurance/control procedures.