FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday,  September 11,  2006

Contact: Ron Smolinski, Public Information Officer
Phone: (702) 455-1618
Cell: (702) 280-5592
E-mail: smolinski@co.clark.nv.us 

Road Dust Study Nears Completion

SCAMPER, TRAKER Vehicles to be on Display

The Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management (DAQEM) is investigating alternative methods to estimate paved road dust (PM ₁₀) emissions.  The DAQEM in 2004 began a comprehensive research program to demonstrate that vehicle-based mobile sampling systems can be used as an alternative to traditional paved road silt sampling. The department contracted with the University of California at Riverside (UCR) and the Desert Research Institute (DRI) to develop protocols and partner towards gaining EPA approval for using these mobile sampling systems to measure paved road dust. UCR designed and built SCAMPER (System of Continuous Aerosol Monitoring of Particulate Emissions from Roadways); DRI designed and built TRAKER (Testing Re-entrained Aerosol Kinetic Emissions from Roads). Both units will be operational during this demonstration in order to compare their measurement accuracy against each other and against EPA-recommended calculations.

Boulder City will host the weeklong study, which begins Monday, Sept 11. The study site is a portion of Veterans Memorial Drive, a four-lane divided highway, half of which will be cordoned off to minimize travel disruptions.

A media event is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. at the study site on the west side of Veterans Memorial Drive, south of the Boulder Creek Golf Club clubhouse. EPA representatives will participate in the study, and study participants will be available to answer questions. Clark County Television (CCTV) Channel 4 will videotape portions of the study and the media event on Wednesday,

The data collected from this study could have wide-reaching implications throughout the Western states. Other Western air quality districts are using the same EPA-recommended calculations that may not accurately define the paved road dust emissions. This study has the potential to offer more accurate data for future air quality programs and for more accurate future planning.

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