AUDIT COMMITTEE SUMMARY
January 29, 2019
Audit of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Air Monitoring Programs
Report Issued November 15, 2018
Audit Objective
Determine if Public Center for Environmental Health (PCEH) Air Monitoring Programs are effective and adequately managed.
Background
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health) is the public health agency responsible for providing public health programs in San Antonio and unincorporated areas of Bexar County. Metro Health’s PCEH is responsible for monitoring the air in and around San Antonio.
The City of San Antonio is contracted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to assist in the analysis of air quality to identify small particles that could cause respiratory problems for small children, the elderly and the general public. The TCEQ contract also requires the City to operate and maintain continuous air monitoring stations that measure gaseous air pollutants including ozone.
A City Ordinance was established in 2015 to assist in the identification of local businesses that contribute to air pollution. The Ordinance requires businesses that emit air pollution to register with Metro Health and pay an annual registration fee of $200. This registration process helps to identify local sources of air pollutants and develop steps to lower emissions and improve air quality for residents.
Audit Scope & Methodology
Our audit scope was October 2017 through August 2018 and included ordinance compliance, air monitoring equipment, performance measures, TCEQ report deliverables, grant reimbursement requests, training requirements, and physical security.
Our methodology included conducting interviews and walkthroughs with key Metro Health personnel to gain an understanding of the air monitoring programs and to establish criteria for our test work.
Audit Conclusions
The PCEH Air Monitoring Programs are effective and adequately managed to ensure that ambient air is monitored on a daily basis. We determined that Metro Health has adequate controls to ensure equipment is secure and maintained and staff training requirements are met. Additionally, we determined that grant reimbursement requests were accurate and reporting was submitted timely to TCEQ.
However, there are opportunities to improve the outreach and education efforts to businesses that contribute to air pollution as well as the identification of air pollution sources. We recommend that Metro Health Management increase the resources and equipment dedicated to engaging businesses contributing to air pollution and identifying new sources of air pollution.