1. 1 Defining Airsheds for British Columbia Prepared for EPPC Subgroup on Definition of Airsheds Draft – For Discussion Only

2. 2 Airshed Management in BC Support in BC dates back to early 1990’s Based on realization that point sources not only major influence on local air quality, and that other agencies or stakeholders have role to play Particularly relevant to BC given complex terrain and the large influence that local sources have on local air quality Not used as way to manage certain source sectors but as process to manage range of point, area and mobile sources within particular geographic area Local airsheds delineated based on location of sources, common meteorological influences and geography, local support and local authority to act

3. 3 Airshed Management in BC [2] Under Environmental Management Act: –Minister has authority to require area-based management plans (including airshed plans) –Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) has delegated air management authority –Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) has delegated air planning authority through Order-in-Council To-date, airshed planning in BC has been based voluntary, with plans developed for: –Metro Vancouver (GVRD)- FVRD –Whistler- Sea-to-Sky (draft) –Merritt- Okanagan (3 regional districts) –Williams Lake- Quesnel –Prince George- Bulkley Valley-Lakes District PM management is primary focus (although ozone also concern in GVRD/FVRD, Sea-to-Sky and Okanagan)

4. 4 British Columbia Emissions [Based on 2000 Emission Inventory]

5. 5 British Columbia PM2.5 concentrations based on CWS metric (2004-2006)

6. 6 British Columbia Ozone concentrations based on CWS metric (2004-2006)

7. 7 British Columbia Factors influencing transport/dispersion Trans-Pacific transport from Asia Very complex terrain that influences local-to-regional scale dispersion of pollutants Coastal sites: –Boundary layer meteorology –Seabreeze/landbreeze –Upslope/downslope –Summer stagnation/winter inversions Interior sites: –Upslope/downslope –Valley effects –Capping inversions Northeast sector: –Separated from rest of province by Rocky Mountains

8. 8 British Columbia Preliminary Regional or Macro Airsheds Based on consideration of source regions and influence of topography/meteorology, following regional or macro airsheds identified: –Georgia Basin –Coastal BC (excluding Georgia Basin) –Interior BC –Northeast BC

9. 9 NE Sector Interior BC Georgia Basin Coastal BC Potential Regional Airsheds Boundaries preliminary only

10. 10 British Columbia Georgia Basin Includes coastal areas of BC along Georgia Strait and Juan de Fuca Strait Largest population area in province (incl. Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo) Previously characterized as part of Border AQ Study Home to several coastal pulp mills + cement plants In Lower Fraser Valley (LFV), transportation sector (incl. marine) also large source of emissions Includes following regional airsheds: –LFV (Metro Vancouver/FVRD) –Whistler/Sea-to-Sky Corridor

11. 11 British Columbia Coastal BC outside of Georgia Basin Includes west coast of Vancouver Island and north coast (including port of Prince Rupert) Along with Georgia Basin, may comprise BC part of potential Sulfur Emission Control Area Aluminum smelter in Kitimat also within this area

12. 12 British Columbia Interior BC (excluding NE sector) Area east of Coast Mtns and west of Rocky Mtns Very complex terrain Includes a number of local airshed management areas (e.g. Prince George, Quesnel, Williams Lake, Bulkley Valley-Lakes District and Okanagan) Home to a number of pulp mills, OSB plants, plywood mills, a refinery, a Pb-Zn smelter and several mines Any management approaches, including cap-and- trade programs, applied to this region will require further consideration of impacts on local airsheds

13. 13 British Columbia Northeast BC Comprised of area to the northeast of Rocky Mountains Major O&G producing area of province Major SOx emissions area More in common with airshed containing NW Alberta than with rest of BC

14. 14 Final Considerations Need to be clear how definition of airsheds within federal regulatory framework complements or differs from existing airsheds such as identified in BC (they should be complementary) In areas of complex terrain or with local airshed management approaches already in place, sub- regional scale implications of proposed federal approaches should be considered