HOMELAND SECURITY NOTIFICATION
September 2017 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Area Survey
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has hired a contractor to conduct aerial surveys in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area from September 12 thru September 20, 2017. The helicopter that is being used for these surveys is red (Tail Number: N342LS) and the word “PATROL” is visible on the underside.
The helicopter is equipped with a specialized infrared camera that can image volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other hydrocarbons invisible to the eye. VOC are a class of compounds present in common things like gasoline and solvents. VOC can combine with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to form ground-level ozone.
The helicopter will perform surveys over and around industrial facilities. During these surveys the helicopter may hover and fly a path over and around a facility or area multiple times in a manner that allows for the collection of images and other information on potential emission sources. The helicopter may fly a non-grid style search pattern over
some areas to avoid tall structures. At times the helicopter may fly or hover at an altitude as low as 250 feet above ground.
The helicopter flights will conclude by September 20, 2017.
TCEQ Region 12 (Houston) contact: Andy Goodridge, telephone (713) 767-3609, Andy.Goodridge@tceq.texas.gov
Technical and logistical information contacts: Adam Bullock, telephone (512) 239-5155, Adam.Bullock@tceq.texas.gov or Kevin Cauble, telephone (512) 239-1874, Kevin.Cauble@tceq.texas.gov.
Media contact: Andrea Morrow, telephone (512) 239-5011.
9/8/2017