Prescribed Fire Smoke Management Gulfport, Mississippi Nov 29 Dec 3, 2004

1. Prescribed Fire Smoke Management Gulfport, MississippiNov 29 – Dec 3, 2004 Cindy Huber and Bill Jackson Region 8 Air Specialists

2.  Air quality & air regulations: how they affect your job as burn boss Smoke management tools: Using smoke models in planning Monitoring smoke Smoke from Rx fire has been managed primarily to avoid nuisance conditions objectionable to the public or to avoid traffic hazards caused by smoke drifting across highways. While these objectives are still valid, new air quality regulations are influencing today’s smoke management programs. New demands have emerged as a result of Federal CAA requirements that include regional haze regulations and revisions to the NAAQS on particulate matter. Implementation of the National Fire Plan will require our attention to air quality, possibly in new ways. Smoke from Rx fire has been managed primarily to avoid nuisance conditions objectionable to the public or to avoid traffic hazards caused by smoke drifting across highways. While these objectives are still valid, new air quality regulations are influencing today’s smoke management programs. New demands have emerged as a result of Federal CAA requirements that include regional haze regulations and revisions to the NAAQS on particulate matter. Implementation of the National Fire Plan will require our attention to air quality, possibly in new ways.

3. Two of these criteria pollutants, hydrocarbons and Nitrogen Oxides combine in the presence of sunlight to form another criteria pollutant, ozone, which is a respiratory hazard and can damage plant tissues. However, particulate matter a major component of smoke, is of great concern, and we will focus this. Two of these criteria pollutants, hydrocarbons and Nitrogen Oxides combine in the presence of sunlight to form another criteria pollutant, ozone, which is a respiratory hazard and can damage plant tissues. However, particulate matter a major component of smoke, is of great concern, and we will focus this.

4. Fine particulates are deposited deep in the lungs in the alveoli where the body’s defense mechanisms are ineffective in removing them.Fine particulates are deposited deep in the lungs in the alveoli where the body’s defense mechanisms are ineffective in removing them.

5. We are all familiar with the effects of smoke on the respiratory system, but new research indicates that fine particulate is also associated with cardiovascular illnesses. We are all familiar with the effects of smoke on the respiratory system, but new research indicates that fine particulate is also associated with cardiovascular illnesses.

6. 70% of the particulate in smoke is fine particulate 70% of the particulate in smoke is fine particulate

7. Nonattainment and General Conformity WHY and HOW IS OUR SMOKE MANAGEMENT JOB CHANGING? Well, we have several air quality regulations that we must be aware of. In the past we have dealt with ground-level smoke in the vicinity of the burn block through dispersion. However the dispersed smoke has to go somewhere. Smoke aloft or Dispersed smoke can add pollution to downwind areas….transport of pollutants from Rx fires can affect attainment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone. We have NAAQS, and within the last several years EPA has promulgated a new PM2.5 standard and a new eight-hour standard for ozone. Both of these new standards are more stringient than the old. New ozone nonattainment designations have been released, the new PM2.5 nonattaiment designations are expected to be made in Dec this year. If want to burn near areas that are close to nonattainment, we will have to be part of the solution. States are developing Smoke Management Programs that have procedures for managing and minimizing the Air Quality impacts from Smoke. States typically develop these with participation from stakeholders. It is important for us to be innvolved in this process. We also have the Regional Haze Rule, which was implemented to reduce the amount of haze forming pollutants; our emissions from Rx fire will be considered in looking for places to reduce PM emissions. With all these regulations in place, it may seem we can’t put smoke anywhere, however EPA recognizes our need to do burning and developed the Interim air Quality policy which provides an avenue to burn as long as we show we have no alternative and we are progressively improving our smoke management programs. It is also important for us to be able to accurately quantify our emissions as they will be included in as a piece of the emissions pie for SIP and regional haze emission inventories, and to show that we understand where our smoke is going. We have several tools to help us meet the smoke management demands, Modeling and smoke monitoring, (Difficult to model cumulative impact….so watch the monitors to see how our smoke is affecting localities.) WHY and HOW IS OUR SMOKE MANAGEMENT JOB CHANGING? Well, we have several air quality regulations that we must be aware of. In the past we have dealt with ground-level smoke in the vicinity of the burn block through dispersion. However the dispersed smoke has to go somewhere. Smoke aloft or Dispersed smoke can add pollution to downwind areas….transport of pollutants from Rx fires can affect attainment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone. We have NAAQS, and within the last several years EPA has promulgated a new PM2.5 standard and a new eight-hour standard for ozone. Both of these new standards are more stringient than the old. New ozone nonattainment designations have been released, the new PM2.5 nonattaiment designations are expected to be made in Dec this year. If want to burn near areas that are close to nonattainment, we will have to be part of the solution. States are developing Smoke Management Programs that have procedures for managing and minimizing the Air Quality impacts from Smoke. States typically develop these with participation from stakeholders. It is important for us to be innvolved in this process. We also have the Regional Haze Rule, which was implemented to reduce the amount of haze forming pollutants; our emissions from Rx fire will be considered in looking for places to reduce PM emissions. With all these regulations in place, it may seem we can’t put smoke anywhere, however EPA recognizes our need to do burning and developed the Interim air Quality policy which provides an avenue to burn as long as we show we have no alternative and we are progressively improving our smoke management programs. It is also important for us to be able to accurately quantify our emissions as they will be included in as a piece of the emissions pie for SIP and regional haze emission inventories, and to show that we understand where our smoke is going. We have several tools to help us meet the smoke management demands, Modeling and smoke monitoring, (Difficult to model cumulative impact….so watch the monitors to see how our smoke is affecting localities.)

8. Many new areas do NOT meet the NAAQS for ozone and PM (next slide) As you can see, the air quality problem is greater in the east. Many new areas do NOT meet the NAAQS for ozone and PM (next slide) As you can see, the air quality problem is greater in the east.

10. Burning Near Nonattainment Areas Conformity Determinations Must be done for all prescribed burns planned within ozone or particulate nonattainment areas. Conformity determination requires calculation of emissions. We are not allowed to impede the state’s progress toward bringing an area back into attainment – per the Clean Air Act. AIR SPECIALISTS CAN HELP YOU As I mentioned previously the NAAQS for ozone and PM2.5 are new and more stringent. We will have more areas that are not meeting these more stringent standards. Because of this fire managers will need to be aware of the air quality in their area. If you want to burn near a non-attainment area, a conformity determination will be needed prior to approving the the burn plan. As a federal agency, we must show that our actions will conform to the states plan to bring an area back into attainment. In this region Conformity Determinations have been made in LA and Arkansas. This requires the calculation of emissions from our fires We are not allowed to impede the states progress. . . .We may be pressured to reduce the burning program as nearby areas get closer to NA status. While we will need to be sensitive to this, we also need to maintain needed fire program (even as an area might approach NA status) in order to retain a a piece of the emissions budget. Example Dave Wergowske uses: Vehicles…year 1, Ranger reduces his fleet to keep budget down; year 2, Supervisor asks all to cut back….now Ranger is cut to the bone. As I mentioned previously the NAAQS for ozone and PM2.5 are new and more stringent. We will have more areas that are not meeting these more stringent standards. Because of this fire managers will need to be aware of the air quality in their area. If you want to burn near a non-attainment area, a conformity determination will be needed prior to approving the the burn plan. As a federal agency, we must show that our actions will conform to the states plan to bring an area back into attainment. In this region Conformity Determinations have been made in LA and Arkansas. This requires the calculation of emissions from our fires We are not allowed to impede the states progress. . . .We may be pressured to reduce the burning program as nearby areas get closer to NA status. While we will need to be sensitive to this, we also need to maintain needed fire program (even as an area might approach NA status) in order to retain a a piece of the emissions budget. Example Dave Wergowske uses: Vehicles…year 1, Ranger reduces his fleet to keep budget down; year 2, Supervisor asks all to cut back….now Ranger is cut to the bone.

11. Now I want to talk about these regulations in more detail. As I mentioned on the previous slide, we have the Regional Haze Rule. The goal of this regulation is to nationally improve visibility conditions to what is considered natural background, or pre-industrial conditions. Emissions from wildland fires will be considered for a place to find reductions. We want to ensure we get a large enough slice of the emissions pie. At the same time remember that we are charged with protecting visibility at Class I areas….these should be included on your list of smoke sensitive areas, and you should try to avoid putting smoke into them. Now I want to talk about these regulations in more detail. As I mentioned on the previous slide, we have the Regional Haze Rule. The goal of this regulation is to nationally improve visibility conditions to what is considered natural background, or pre-industrial conditions. Emissions from wildland fires will be considered for a place to find reductions. We want to ensure we get a large enough slice of the emissions pie. At the same time remember that we are charged with protecting visibility at Class I areas….these should be included on your list of smoke sensitive areas, and you should try to avoid putting smoke into them.

12. Smoke Management Programs Tools to help you address these issuesTools to help you address these issues

13. Smoke Management Tools Modeling and Monitoring

14. Simple Method To Estimate Smoke Impact Dispersion index: An estimate of the capacity of the atmosphere to disperse smoke (DI >=30).

15. Low Visibility Occurrence Risk Index

16. Simple Dispersion Models VSMOKE-GIS: A simple screening model to show predicted downwind concentrations of particulate matter. For use in flat to gently rolling terrain, and steady wind conditions.

17. Another Smoke Dispersion Model VSMOKE: Level II model used to predict period by period particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and visibility estimates at 31 logarithmically spaced distances (0.06 - 62 miles).

18. PB Piedmont Nighttime smoke dispersion model when the windspeed is very low Meteorology data can be download to predict smoke movement for the next 24 hours.

19. Smoke Impact Spreadsheet Puff dispersion model used in a screening (simple) analysis for use in complex terrain.

20. The Southern High-Resolution Modeling Consortium (SHRMC) Coupled Prescribed Fire–Air Chemistry Modeling Framework – SHRMC-4S Modeling the smoke from numerous fires in a complex meteorological field and in flat or mountainous terrain.

22. Collision Between LawsClean Air Act vs Endangered Species Act A low-growing shrub, Hudsonia montana Nuttall is listed as an threatened species via the Endangered Species Act. H. montana depends on fire to survive. Largest populations of H. montana are found within and adjacent to the Linville Gorge Wilderness, a Class I area protected via the Clean Air Act.

23. Background for SHRMC-4S 1998+ Pressed between demands for increasing prescribed burning for forest management and decreasing smoke exposure to the general population, land managers Recognized a need to find more days favorable for burning in order to accomplish land management objectives Recognized a need to design burns to place smoke away from sensitive targets – managing smoke both horizontally and vertically

24. Background for SHRMC-4S 2001 – January – The National Fire Plan establishes FCAMMS – Fire Consortia for Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke.

31. Daysmoke Inject The Smoke Into CMAQ Atmospheric Model Plume time scale – plume changes during course of the burn Vertical distribution: How the smoke goes, Which levels the emissions are distributed, How much smoke is distributed at each level and when Daysmoke is actually four models

32. The first model of Daysmoke is an entraining turret model

33. The second model is a detraining particle trajectory model

35. The fourth model is a Relative Emissions Production Model

38. Emissions Profile

39. Emissions

40. Emissions

42. Emissions

43. What happens if the wind speed slows down?

44. http://shrmc.ggy.uga.edu/