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Smoke Management and Air Quality Tools of the Trade Trent Wickman

Objectives  Discuss why you must consider smoke management as part of your burn operations.  Identify tools available to help you plan for, and communicate the impacts of smoke.

Particulate Matter A large portion of smoke particles are very small < PM 2.5 microns PM microns > PM 10 microns 70.0% 20.0% 10.0%

> 100 microns

Particulate & the Respiratory Tract Larger Particles Smaller Particles > 10 microns 5 microns Alveolar Diffusion 2-3 microns 1 micron <0.1 microns

Sulfates, nitrates, and organic aerosols are key manmade pollutants adversely affecting visibility and other resources on forests nationwide. What are the particulates made of?

Why is smoke taken more seriously in different areas of the country?

as of 2002

…….. in Class I Areas

Why Plan and Communicate the Impacts of Smoke? “What air quality issues will prohibit me from burning?” “How will I know if I’ve exceeded some air quality threshold?” “How will smoke affect me?” “How will it affect the local community?”

Why Plan and Communicate the Impacts of Smoke? Meet national and state ambient air quality standards (and other processes or rules) Be sensitive to public concern –e.g. Air Quality Index Retain relationships with air quality “partners” –Regulators, public, other land managers

Because we have to… States establish strategies to achieve the Clean Air Act goals through a State Implementation Plan (SIP) approved by EPA. State Smoke Management Plans (SMPs) are parts of the overall state SIP. Remember – State air quality agencies are acting as EPA!!

Tools of the Trade Weather-related predictions Smoke Modeling Smoke Monitoring

When? NEPA  Burn Plan  Day of Burn

Atmospheric Dispersion Index (ADI) (this form Generally Used in SE) Table 9.2 from Smoke Guide ADIInterpretation 1-6Very poor dispersion 7-12Poor dispersion 13-20Generally poor dispersion 21-40Fair dispersion 41-60Generally good dispersion Good dispersion >100Very good dispersion Generally burning not allowed

FCAMMS 2001 – January – The National Fire Plan establishes FCAMMS – Fire Consortia for Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke.2001 – January – The National Fire Plan establishes FCAMMS – Fire Consortia for Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke.

Atmospheric Dispersion Index 9-24-Rx410-EP

Tools of the Trade Weather-related predictions Smoke Modeling Smoke Monitoring

Pre-modeling Questions What do you want to do with the results? –NEPA document? –Burn Plan? –Burn Permit? –Threshold levels? –Adaptive Management –Documentation? –Go/No-Go Decision? What state are you in? What is agency policy? Where are your sensitive areas? Cumulative effects of other burns?

Types of Smoke Models Emissions Production/Lookup Tables –Mass (e.g., tons of particulate/acre); Dispersion –Concentration (e.g., micrograms of particulate/ cubic meter of air)

Emissions Production/Lookup Tables Based on the acres &/or fuel load OR emissions are calculated directly based on this info (e.g. FOFEM) THEN determine the distance to sensitive receptors Also similar screening techniques available using maps

What is Dispersion Modeling? A well defined system for communicating the impact of smoke on ambient air quality (which can include visibility). Takes the emissions generated from the land and using meteorology “disperses” them in the atmosphere.

Dispersion Modeling NEPA  Burn Plan  Day of Burn –SASEM –V-SMOKE-GIS –V-Smoke –Smoke Impact Spreadsheet

Dispersion Modeling NEPA  Burn Plan  Day of Burn –Fire Consortia for Advanced Meteorological Modeling (FCAMMS) BlueSky PB-Piedmont The Southern High-Resolution Modeling Consortium (SHRMC)

FCAMMS 2001 – January – The National Fire Plan establishes FCAMMS – Fire Consortia for Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke.2001 – January – The National Fire Plan establishes FCAMMS – Fire Consortia for Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke.

Dispersion Modeling NEPA  Burn Plan  Day of Burn

Show EAMC animation

Smoke Modeling References –NWCG Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed and Wildland Fire (2001 Edition) –Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of Fire on Air (December 2002) –Smoke Management Techniques (Rx-410) (September 2003) Help –Regional/Zone Smoke or Air Quality Specialist –Fire Consortia for Advanced Modeling of Meteorology and Smoke (FCAMMS)

Tools of the Trade Weather-related predictions Smoke Modeling Smoke Monitoring

Photos Satellite photos Particulate monitors

Current Particulate Monitors History –1998 USFS Air Program began at MTDC Tasked to evaluate commercial, real-time PM 2.5 smoke monitors –Portable –Rugged –Easy-to-use –Cost –Accurate or correctable estimates?

Current Particulate Monitors History through 2001 –RMRS Fire Lab Tests –Field Tests (chasing Rx smoke in 1999, wildfire smoke in 2000) Outcome: –USFS purchased MIE DataRam for monitoring cache in Fort Collins Ease of use Correction Factor Portability Customer support

Current Particulate Monitors DataRam 4 –Reliability problems, frequent transport –Company bought out and moved twice –New correction algorithm needed to be developed

Current Particulate Monitors New “promising” monitors –E-Sampler Light scattering 1/3 price of DataRam (about $4.5k) –EBAM Technology the same as EPA- approved monitors for PM 10 Cost ~ $7.3k

Current Particulate Monitors E-BAM – USFS Region 5 Program –10 Portable E-BAMs –3 BAM 1020s

Current Particulate Monitors Interagency Real-Time Smoke Monitoring –

Particles (PM 2.5 ) - AQI

Trent’s Tips Establish and maintain relationships with key state air quality folks Implement an ongoing program to educate the public in likely impacted areas, –To gain their support for your burning program –So at-risk folks will remove themselves from dangerous situations Take existing air quality into account (AQI) Know your SMP/state regs/procedures

What does this show?

WFRA tips 1.Know if you are working in a Class I wilderness 2.Know if you are in an area of the country where smoke is a concern If 1) or 2) contact your local agency air resource specialist