CEMA NOxSO2 Management Working Group Work Plan & Budget Update Program Manager: Nicole Walsh Chairs: Calvin Duane, Kim Eastlick and David Spink, TEEM-NSMWG Meeting January 24, 2008

NSMWG Work Plan Elements The objective of NSMWG is to develop management plans to address potential issues related to NOX and SO2 emissions There are 3 issues being addressed in this workplan Acidification Ground level ozone Nitrogen Eutrophication

Acidification/Eutrophication/Ozone Work ? ? Ozone formation NH3? O3? ? ? (Effects and Management/Protection Levels- ???) Source: www.physicalgeography.net

Potential Impacts of Acidification Trembling aspen canopy floor before and after soil acidification due to elemental “S” dust deposition. Note the change in the understory (From S. Krupa but originally courtesy of A.H. Legge)

Acidification Work Key Task: Key Outcome: 1. Complete work necessary to fully implement the Acid Deposition Management Framework adopted by CEMA in 2004 Key Outcome: 1. A time to effect acid deposition model to be used in assessing and managing the impact of proposed/planned projects

Acidification Work (cont.) 2008 Acidification Projects: 1. Complete transition from Stage 1 to 2 of the Acid Deposition Management Framework ($100k - being lead by Alberta Environment) Development of the regional acid deposition effects dynamic model: Ongoing research grant programs (4) ($360k) Complete sensitive soils sampling program with QA/QC ($175k) 2 workshops with NSMWG and TEEM researchers to ensure work on schedule and to identify gaps or new issues (May 7/8 in Calgary and Oct. 15/17 in Banff ($75k). Improve deposition model input data Regional leaf area index (LAI) issues and determination ($25k)

Eutrophication Work Terrestrial Systems Nutrient loading can cause: Source: http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:j8SM_hH5LpgJ:www.mnp.nl/cce/Images/Ericson Nordin_tcm42-19748.pdf+annika+nordin+lars+ericson&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10 Nutrient loading can cause: biodiversity changes = more tolerant or non-native species/communities may replace more sensitive or natives ones

Eutrophication Work Key Tasks: Key Outcome: 1. Develop an Interim Eutrophication (nitrogen) Management Framework (almost done) Implement Interim Framework Workplan to develop regional critical and target loads for nitrogen deposition (2008-2012?) Develop a final Eutrophication (nitrogen) Management Framework for the region and possibly combine with the Acid Deposition Management Framework(2012/13) Key Outcome: 1. A critical/target nitrogen load based system for assessing and managing the impact of proposed/planned projects

Eutrophication Work (cont.) 2008 Eutrophication Projects: 1. Commence the monitoring and research needed to support reliable assessment of eutrophication risk, including improvement in the reliability of nitrogen deposition estimates and establishment of region-specific critical loads of eutrophying nitrogen. Conditional time averaged gradient (COTAG) measurements with TEEM ($25k) To be determined (possibly start N challenge experiments -$150k) Will talk about in more detail this afternoon

Ozone Injury on Plants

Ozone Framework Work Key Task: Key Outcome: 2007 Ozone Projects: 1. Complete work necessary to fully implement the Ozone Management Framework adopted by CEMA in 2006 Key Outcome: 1. A CMAQ model run in 2008 to determine status of region relative to the Framework 2007 Ozone Projects: 1. None but: Wrote to Alberta Environment providing a recommended approach and criteria for managing ozone effects on vegetation in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Wrote to WBEA recommending expanded ozone monitoring in non-urban/remote areas (part of TEEM’s planned expanded monitoring program?)

Ozone Framework Work 2008 Ozone Projects: None currently in budget. Proposed preparing and updating the emissions inputs in 2008 ($50k) for the next regional modeling of ozone formation potential/forecasts in 2009 by Environment Canada but this will likely now be done in 2009.

2008 Work Plan Various Air Theme Integration Joint WBEA (TEEM, AATC) & CEMA (NSMWG, TMAC) Air Theme Workshop (May 6/7 in Calgary) (no NSMWG budget) . Collaboration of organizations researching and monitoring air issues in the oil sands region to review and discuss issues, priorities and cooperation/coordination opportunities TEK Aboriginal Involvement TMAC-NSMWG Community Meetings ($ 10k) Many public stakeholders do not view air issues in isolation, hence a more integrated approach between TMAC and NSMWG may better address concerns and present more complete or holistic information

A Lot Happening and Need to Co-ordinate/Integrate