For US-based developers, site remediators, and environmental consultants, particularly those working on the East Coast, a practical understanding of regulation DER-10 is essential.

Established by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and administered by the Division of Environmental Remediation (DER), regulation DER-10 outlines an extensive set of requirements for brownfield remediation projects. Across 225+ pages, DER-10 outlines detailed procedures for every stage of the remediation process, from initial site assessment to monitoring, post-project cleanup, and everything in between.

Central to achieving DER-10 compliance is the creation of a Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP). A DER-10 CAMP requires continuous air quality monitoring during “ground intrusive” activities, including the demolition of structures and the remediation of contaminated or potentially contaminated soil. Continuous monitoring is required at upwind and downwind locations at the perimeter of the site. Upwind measurements are used to determine a background level of emissions. The difference in emission levels between upwind and downwind monitors is then used to determine an appropriate mitigation response, as set out in Appendix 1A of the regulation.

Depending on the nature of known or potential contaminants at the site, most qualifying projects will require continuous monitoring of both volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM₁₀). Some sites may only require particulate monitoring (e.g., where a site is known to be contaminated with heavy metals alone), while others may require additional parameters (e.g., where radiological contamination is a concern) to be determined in consultation with NYSDEC staff.

Air quality monitoring requirements under a DER-10 CAMP are intended to protect off-site receptors (including residences and businesses) from airborne emissions caused by site activities. A successful CAMP also equips site operators with credible proof that work activities did not spread airborne contamination off-site.

The following table provides a summary of action levels and mitigation measures under DER-10.

Aeroqual’s integrated hardware and software monitoring solutions have been specifically developed to help consultants and site operators streamline compliance requirements for key regulations such as DER-10.

The Aeroqual AQS 1 simultaneously measures VOCs and particulate matter in real time. By pairing the AQS 1 with Aeroqual OneView, our remediation monitoring software, operators can automate upwind and downwind calculations. This reduces the need to manually relocate monitors as wind direction changes, while speeding up deployment and increasing accuracy. Aeroqual OneView also contains built-in regulation templates, including DER-10, generating automatic regulator-ready reports at the click of a button.

With remote monitoring access and two-way communication, operators are able to gather data, manage alerts, and troubleshoot on the go. This reduces site visits, saving time and money and empowering users to get on top of a potential exceedance before it becomes a problem.

Langan was tasked with deploying an air quality monitoring system to maintain DER-10 CAMP compliance during a $1.2 billion multi-phase build in East New York. The Alafia Development, providing locals with 2,400 affordable homes, involved the remediation of a 27-acre decommissioned public site. When soil sampling detected methane at levels of concern, methane monitoring was added to the CAMP, along with standard PM10 and VOC monitoring. Aeroqual’s solution enabled Langan to “automate data reporting, simplify deployment, and allow less frequent calibrations without compromising data quality”.

Langan again chose an Aeroqual solution, in partnership with Specto Technology, during an $850 million brownfield remediation project in Manhattan’s Seaport Historic District. Here, the Aeroqual AQS 1 was integrated with Jerome analyzers, creating a real-time system capable of monitoring PM10, VOCs, mercury vapor, and wind. Aeroqual’s compact, plug-and-play solution reduced daily setup, breakdown, and reporting time by half, minimizing potential exposure and reassuring community stakeholders, resulting in “major time and cost savings over the project”.