ERG Informs Regulators and Industry on Promising New Technology

ERG is at the forefront of efforts to develop a national protocol to apply optical gas imaging (OGI) technology to better regulate air emissions. OGI cameras exploit the electromagnetic properties of chemical vapors to make invisible gases visible and enable users to detect fugitive emissions. ERG's Tracey Footer authored EPA's only comprehensive document on OGI, which explains OGI technology, provides background information, describes technical analyses, and offers experimental results to support regulatory development of an OGI protocol. This technical support document was recently published in the Federal Register(PDF). Over the coming year, ERG will continue to lend its expertise to EPA to develop a protocol to govern OGI use for leak detection and repair or other work practice standards.