Compliance and Enforcement Quick Finder

TAGA Unit in Texas (Houston Ship Channel Area)

Region 6 partnered with TCEQ, through the Regional Geographic Initiative (RGI) program, and conducted an atmospheric contaminant surveillance in the Houston Ship Channel area December 11-15, 2006, using the Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) unit. The TAGA unit is a self-contained mobile laboratory capable of real-time sampling and analysis in the low parts per billion level of outdoor air or emissions from various environmental sources and concerns. In addition, the TAGA has specialized sampling equipment for measuring indoor air and at remote locations.

Information collected during the investigation will be used to reduce air emissions from local facilities and to encourage the facilities to go beyond compliance with applicable regulations and achieve substantive environmental improvements in the Houston Ship Channel area.

A FLIR© ThermaCam GasFinderIR infrared camera was also used to identify potential sources of emissions that were detected by the TAGA. Targeted areas included the Manchester community, Galena Park, Battleground Park, and Bayport. Here are the results of the final report (PDF, 482 pp., 42Mb, About Adobe PDF)

For additional information contact:

Esteban Herrera, Chief
Toxics Enforcement
Compliance Assurance and Enforcement Division
U.S. EPA, Region 6
1445 Ross Avenue Ste. (6EN-AT)
Dallas, Texas 75202-2733

(214) 665-7348

TAGA unit results from past surveillance trips

2003

2005

Compliance and Enforcement Quick Finder

TAGA Unit in Texas (Houston Ship Channel Area)

Local Navigation