"Understanding Air Quality Data in the Bay Area" - An Interview With Michael Flagg of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District

by Samantha Dvorin, Archie Williams High School 

Michael Flagg is a principal air quality specialist at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) in the Ambient Air Quality Analysis Office Section. Prior to working at BAAQMD, Flagg worked at the EPA’s Region 9 Air Quality Analysis for 10 years where he was a national expert on air monitoring, quality assurance and control, and data analysis regarding federal policy decisions. He has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. On Wednesday, October 12, 2022, Flagg presented “Understanding Air Quality Data in the Bay Area" at the Marin Science Seminar. We asked him some questions about what he does.

1. How does air quality monitoring using professional high-tech equipment differ from monitoring with air sensors that any person can purchase?

The main difference is the purpose of the monitoring. The high-tech equipment the Air District uses in its air monitoring sites is used to track air quality over time, ensure compliance with health-based air quality standards, and provide accurate information to the public. Air sensors are typically used for collecting air quality data in lots of different places. Community groups use these networks to determine where air quality may be higher and use that information to advocate for a reduction in emissions. Also, the high-tech equipment is very expensive and takes full-time employees to run every day, while sensors are relatively cheaper and easier to operate.

2. What does a day at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District look like for you?

A typical day starts with checking my email for any new incoming requests for data analysis, input on different projects, or answering questions about air quality and air monitoring. Generally, I try to look a the most recent air quality data every day to stay informed about what is happening in the Bay Area. Most of my time is working on specific projects, like data analysis, working with community groups on air monitoring, or reviewing documents.

Image from Flagg's San Francisco Chronicle Article

3. Why do you think air quality and pollution management are so important?

Breathing clean air is a basic human right and the Air District's mission is to reduce air pollution for all Bay Area residents. This is especially important in communities of color that have experienced decades of environmental racism and are exposed to higher levels of pollution than other groups.

4. How has the world of air quality management changed since the emergence of new air monitoring technology?

It really has made collecting air quality data easier, which empowers people to understand the air quality in their neighborhoods and advocate for changes.

5. How is air pollution not only an environmental problem but also a social/equality issue?

Through policies like redlining, communities of color live in close proximity to more sources of air pollution than other groups. These communities experience disproportionate levels of exposure to poor air quality and as an agency need to work toward reducing air quality in the Bay Area in an equitable way - meaning we should be working to reduce air pollution in the worst areas first.

6. How can people get involved with improving air pollution and advocating for a cleaner world?

Engaging with all levels of government and advocating for clean air or working with community-based organizations to raise awareness about air quality and how to get local improvements are a few examples.

7. What advice would you give to a young person interested in environmental protection and air quality work?

Learn about air quality in your area and connect with like-minded people that are passionate about environmental protection, whether that be a group of friends or a local organization.

8. Are there any projects you are working on right now?

I am working on quite a few different projects, but right now I am working on a program called the Bay Air Center that provides technical support on air monitoring and air quality to local community groups that are interested in collecting data with air sensors or advocating for cleaner air in their community.

Learn More:

• https://www.baaqmd.gov/ 

• https://marinscienceseminar.com/understanding-air-quality-data-in-the-bay-area/ 

• https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2022/outer-sunset-air-quality/

"Transportation Research Panel" - An Interview with En-Ya Zhang from the MSEL Transportation Team

by Shoshana Harlem, Terra Linda High School

En-Ya Zhang is a Sophomore at Terra Linda High School. She is part of MSEL's Transportation Team. In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Marin County, En-Ya and her team advocate for people to use public transportation.

1. What made you interested in learning about transportation?

When choosing our topics, all of us saw some improvements that could be made in the transportation system in our community, especially since some of us have ridden MarinTransit or SMART before. In the United States, transportation - cars, buses, trains, planes, trucks, and more - account to the majority of greenhouse gas emissions in the country ( about 29% .) Our overall goal was to try to influence these emissions and make an impact in our community. We wanted to learn about the history of public transit in Marin and use this information to boost public transportation ridership in our community. All of us have had our own experiences riding public transit, in Marin and outside Marin, and these experiences definitely made the topic of transportation more appealing to us. Our exposure to transit system gave us the ability to analyze the faults and disadvantages within agencies in Marin, and brainstorm our own solutions to them. 

2. What interesting facts have you found about transportation?

Overall, our group learned a multitude of interesting facts about transportation, whether it be local or global information. We learned that the Bay Area alone has 27 different transit agencies that do their best to hold up the transportation systems. At one point, there were plans to introduce a high speed rail into California, but these plans fell through due to a lack of sufficient funding and sponsors. MarinTransit, which runs the buses in Marin, has only two electric buses due to their high prices. Originally, Marin County was included in the plans for BART, however, these plans fell through due to a great deal of controversy. Not only did Marin feel like it lacked funding, but many were worried about the idea of setting the tracks under the Golden Gate Bridge, which they believed would ruin the historical landmark. When it comes to more global information, we learned that recently, Luxembourg made all public transit free to its citizens, and Norway's electric vehicle benefits have fueled high buyer rates within the country. 

3. What projects are you currently working on involving transportation research? 

The main project our group focussed on was a policy that we plan to introduce in this community. Throughout the project, we brainstormed a series of different ideas and finally settled on a couple of free fare days that would fall on April 22 (Earth Day), and Election Day. Our group has attended a couple of meetings to plan and finalize this policy, and we have already communicated with MarinTransit. The final task would be for us to present our policy proposal to the MarinTransit Board of Directors, and a meeting date was scheduled. Unfortunately, this presentation has been postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown, and a new date has yet to be decided. However, we are confidant that we may be able to introduce out policy into the community and have it in action by November of 2020. 

4. How can people utilize transportation in a way that will protect the environment? 

Public transportation is inevitably the most environmentally-friendly transit choice, as it diminished the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per rider. This would include buses, trains, subways, planes, and a few other methods of transit. Agencies try to integrate each mode to make public transportation as efficient and helpful as possible, but its nearly impossible to satisfy the needs of every rider in an entire community. In addition to this, public transportation can sometimes be pricey, or it simply isn't the most reasonable choice to make. For those who are in such a situation and would like to make an impact on emissions, we would suggest carpooling, biking, or walking. Obviously, biking and walking would produce the fewest emissions, however they aren't always the optimal choice, and in that case, carpooling would still reduce the emissions per person, although no significantly.

5. How can we encourage people to walk and bike more to places?

We learned from Norway's electric vehicle policy that oftentimes, the most effective way to influence the public's decisions is to provide them with benefits. For many, walking and biking from Point A to Point B isn't worth the extra time of the extra effort. That is by far the biggest obstacle when it comes to promoting such habits and transportation methods, especially when it comes to commuters that have to travel miles everyday. Such people would benefit more from riding public transportation, as it fits better with their daily schedules and needs. However, in school zones, there is much to be done to increase the use of bikes and the number of walkers. Many schools already have special days set aside to promote these modes of transport, and encourage it by handing out prizes. However, increasing the sizes of the bike lanes could make it more prominent in our community, as many parents might be worried about the safety of their children. This would provide bikers with more space, and could increase the number of students that ride their bike to school instead of private vehicles.