Executive Summary
Montrose partnered with Phillips 66 to address regulatory and public safety challenges at their facility
through an advanced fenceline monitoring solution. Leveraging open path technology and a bilingual
public-facing website, Montrose enabled real-time tracking and transparent reporting of hazardous
compounds, achieving compliance while fostering community trust. This solution met regulatory requirements
and set an industry benchmark for proactive, accessible environmental monitoring that prioritizes public
health and environmental stewardship.
Challenge
Phillips 66 Pipeline Denver Terminal was one of four facilities required to implement a fenceline monitoring
program due to Colorado’s House Bill 21-1189 (HB21-1189). The bill mandates real-time fenceline monitoring
of hazardous air toxics like benzene, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrogen cyanide. Although Phillips 66 Denver
Terminal does not store or emit hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide, the law required implementing
optical remote sensing technology to monitor air quality. It also required they report data publicly every
5 minutes. If an exceedance is detected, Montrose must validate the data within one hour and report it to
regulatory agencies. Following this, the state decides whether to activate the Integrated Public Alert and
Warning System (IPAWS), which sends emergency text alerts to all residents within a five-mile radius,
notifying them of the incident and its location.
Compliance with regulations mandating fenceline monitoring was crucial to prevent exceedances of toxic
compounds and ensure accurate, real-time emissions reporting. Public health and safety were also top
priorities, with continuous monitoring to capture pollutant levels that impact nearby communities. As
regulatory bodies set stricter requirements for emissions and pollutant monitoring, companies like Phillips 66
are tasked with ensuring air quality transparency and safety at their facilities, while remaining accountable to
regulatory authorities.
The Solution
Customized Open Path Technology Setup
Montrose implemented a tailored open path monitoring system, utilizing UV Differential Optical Absorption
Spectroscopy (UV-DOAS) and Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) to provide continuous,
real-time detection of hazardous compounds (e.g., benzene, hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide) at
multiple points around the facility. Equipment height was calibrated to ensure data accurately reflected
community exposure, while pathways were optimized to avoid obstacles.
Enhanced Data Transparency with Real-Time Monitoring
Sensible EDP provided a bilingual website for public and regulatory access, providing real-time pollutant
levels, weather data, and quarterly reports. Interactive features allowed users to view specific compounds,
understand health impacts, and access exceedance notifications promptly.
Rapid Response and Compliance Reporting
Montrose Air Quality services implemented the Sensible Environmental Data Platform to identify, flag, and
report exceedances to regulatory agencies within 1 hour, complete with a detailed incident analysis. In case of
an exceedance, Montrose immediately schedules a meeting with the Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment (CDPHE) to discuss next steps, regardless of the time of day. Montrose’s Denver team is
available 24/7 for emergency response, taking immediate action to address potential issues. This rapid
response capability helps clients maintain compliance and minimize risks to both the environment and
surrounding communities.
Outcomes
Regulatory Compliance and Community Trust
Phillips 66 met all regulatory fenceline monitoring requirements, achieving transparency that strengthened
community trust and demonstrated corporate responsibility.
Comprehensive Data Reporting
Real-time fenceline monitoring data for hazardous compounds was displayed publicly in an interactive,
bilingual format, ensuring 100% regulatory compliance. This included emergency exceedance notifications and
detailed quarterly reporting, further supporting transparency and accountability.
Enhanced Safety Data and Public Health Awareness
Real-time updates and weather-influenced pollutant tracking enabled prompt action on exceedances,
contributing to a safer environment for nearby residents. By making pollution data readily available to the
public, Montrose empowered Phillips 66 and community members with information on air quality, fostering
heightened environmental awareness and engagement.
Value Added Services
Montrose distinguished itself by integrating multiple value-added services that went beyond basic regulatory
compliance:
24/7 Support and Incident Reporting
Continuous backup and data redundancy, alongside fast exceedance notifications, ensured that both the
client and community remained informed and compliant.
Multilingual Accessibility
The bilingual, public-facing website expanded the reach to a broader demographic, meeting local and state
requirements for inclusivity and transparency.
Comprehensive Health Impact Information
Each compound monitored was accompanied by health and safety information, reinforcing the client’s
commitment to community welfare.
Montrose Business Lines/Service Divisions Involved
Montrose Air Quality Services (MAQS) — Denver, CO
Sensible EDP
Dates Started and Completed
Project start: July 1st 2024
Project Completion: Ongoing, with quarterly data updates. CDPHE evaluates the need every 5 years.
About Sensible EDP
Sensible EDP™ is an online platform for aggregating, calibrating, and visualizing real-time environmental data. It provides agnostic data acquisition for seamless connectivity with any emission data collection device, including mobile or fixed sensors, satellites, flyovers, OGI surveys, and more. Sensible EDP™ displays data in real-time—in a single dashboard—while built-in automatic analysis delivers actionable insights and advanced visualizations, enabling instant trend monitoring and issue identification.
Have a similar project in mind? Let’s create a customized monitoring solution for your facility.
Contact us at info@sensible-edp.com