Airshed Management Planning in the Cariboo

1. Airshed Management Planning in the Cariboo By Norm Zirnhelt, RPBioHead, Environmental Quality Section and Earle Plain Air Quality Meteorologist Cariboo Region, MWLAPJanuary 2003

2. Airshed Management Planning (AMP) in the Cariboo • Initiated in November of 1999 as a way to improve air quality in the communities of Williams Lake and Quesnel. • Goal is to tackle all sources of air pollution from back yard residential burning to large industrial sources. • Important to note that airshed planning process is a community initiative, and is not being led by MWLAP. • Ministry role is to provide financial, administrative, and technical support to the process.

3. Airshed Management Planning in the Cariboo • Quesnel continues to experience some of the poorest air quality (PM10) in the province. • Williams Lake remains in the top five poorest (to the end of 1999) in spite of the phase-out of the woodwaste burners in 1995. • It was therefore determined that the AMP process should begin in Quesnel, with a 1-year lag until initiation of the Williams Lake process. • We have benefited from and built on WLAP’s experience with airshed planning in Prince George.

4. Some Unique Aspects of the AMP Process in the Cariboo • This is a 6-year project aimed at producing Airshed Management Plans for both communities, and also implementing the recommendations while maintaining jobs. • The AMP process is community driven in both cities and is funded through partnerships between BC Environment (WLAP), the City of Quesnel, the City of Williams Lake, the Cariboo Regional District, the Ministry of Health, and Human Resources Development Canada.

5. Financial Contributions

6. Funding Covers • Air technician salary • Instruments • Modelling • Specialized air quality analysis (particle speciation) • Brochures • Other air quality assessment needs e.g. woodstove survey if required

7. Funding Does Not Cover • Permittee monitoring for ambient and emissions • Source characterization / speciation for industry • Existing Cariboo Region Air Quality Program

8. Air Quality Roundtable • Quesnel and Williams Lake have committees known as the Quesnel / Williams Lake Air Quality Roundtables that guide the development of the airshed plan in each city. • These roundtables have a detailed outline of how the process will proceed that has been agreed to by all funding parties. • A formal, written agreement has been signed by the funding partners. • The project is currently on track with the timelines outlined in this document.

9. Accomplishments • Hired an Air Resources Officer for the region, which enhanced our air monitoring capability. • Initiated Air Quality Index (AQI) reporting to the public, via fax to the media each morning, in both Quesnel and Williams Lake. • Issued Air Quality Advisories when the AQI is >50 ug/m3 and the weather forecast predicts a continued build-up of pollutants. • Obtained very good local press coverage that has resulted in enhanced awareness of air quality issues.

10. Monitoring Enhancements in Quesnel • Purchased and installed one PM10 and three PM2.5 analyzers to help quantify combustion source contributions to PM10 levels. • Quesnel particulate monitoring capacity now at four collocated continuous PM10/2.5 stations • Installed a webcam to assist with assessment of source contributions

11. Quesnel Monitoring Station Locations

12. Monitoring Enhancements in Williams Lake • Purchased and installed two PM2.5 analysers and one PM10 analyzer • Additional meteorological station installed in early 2002, as well as an additional PM10/2.5 station • Brings the fine particulate monitoring capacity up to three continuous collocated PM10/2.5 stations

13. Williams Lake Ambient Monitoring StationLocations

14. Accomplishments • Developed brochures on Airshed Management Planning for distribution to the public (also available electronically on City of Quesnel, City of Williams Lake, Cariboo Regional District, and WLAP Cariboo Region web pages). • Held a public open house on Airshed Management in Quesnel. The open house was well received and local press coverage was good.

15. Accomplishments • Completed a report for the Quesnel Roundtable titled Air Monitoring and Assessment Strategy for Quesnel, BC 2000-2005, which outlines the objectives of the air quality assessment and steps to be taken over the next five years (refer to handout). • Reviewed historical and recent fine particulate data to determine trends for peak levels. Recent continuous PM2.5 data supports road dust and fugitive dust as significantly affecting PM10 levels during the “spring melt” period.

16. Accomplishments • Identified that spring road dust should be immediately addressed. A technical sub-committee was formed to review current traction material application and cleanup procedures and recommend action to the Roundtable for this winter period. • Gina Layte of the City of Prince George gave the subcommittee a presentation on dust mitigation in Prince George. • Completed an airshed emissions inventory for the City of Quesnel.

17. Accomplishments • In October 2001, the Cariboo Region Air Resources Officer attended a national meeting on PM10/2.5 monitoring (requested and funded by Victoria Air Resources Branch). A number of key recommendations put forward by the Cariboo Region are being adopted nationally. • Prepared a background report on the current status of air quality in the City of Quesnel. Prepared the input files for the CALPUFF dispersion model (contract with Levelton).

18. Current Activities • Initiated a Cariboo-wide woodstove swap program to be held in April and May of 2002. This program allows consumers a 15% discount when they exchange an old woodstove for an appliance that is CSA/EPA emission certified. • CALPUFF dispersion modeling underway in Quesnel. • Completing a background report on the current status of air quality in the City of Williams Lake

19. Williams Lake Process • Initiated November 1, 2000. • Initial meetings dealt with the study area boundaries, committee composition, and the development of a communications plan. • Officially “kicked-off” the process in February, 2001 with a press release from the Roundtable. • We are finding a number of efficiencies having Williams Lake lag Quesnel. • Completed an Emissions Inventory for Williams Lake • Prepared a report for the Williams Lake Air Quality Roundtable titled Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment Strategy for Williams Lake BC 2001-2006

20. Some Future Steps • Summarize all air quality assessment information into a Quesnel Airshed Planning Air Quality Assessment report to form the scientific basis for the development of the airshed plan in Quesnel. • Revise Ambient Monitoring Programs to ensure equitable contributions from all parties. • Develop an Airshed Management Plan for Quesnel. • Undertake CALPUFF dispersion modeling in Williams Lake in 2003

21. Cariboo Air Quality References • Plain, E. 2002 Inventory of Common Air Contaminants Emitted in the Williams Lake Airshed. Environmental Protection, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Williams Lake, BC. http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/car/p2/air_quality_reports/monitoring_assessment_plan3.pdf • Plain, E. and N. Zirnhelt 2002 Air Quality Monitoring and Assessment Strategy for Williams Lake BC 2001-2006 Environmental Protection, Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Williams Lake, BC. http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/car/p2/air_quality_reports/monitoring_assessment_plan3.pdf

22. Cariboo Air Quality References • Christiansen, G. 2001. Observation of PM2.5 TEOM Operational Problems in the Central Interior of British Columbia. Pollution Prevention, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC. • Plain, E. 2001. Quesnel Airshed Management Planning Background Air Quality Report. Pollution Prevention, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Williams Lake, BC.. Draft report. • Plain, E. 2001. Inventory of Common Air Contaminants Emitted in the Quesnel Airshed. Pollution Prevention, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Williams Lake, BC. Draft report.

23. Cariboo Air Quality References • Plain, E. and N. Zirnhelt. 2000. Air Monitoring and Assessment Strategy for Quesnel BC, 2000-2005.Pollution Prevention, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Williams Lake, BC.http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/car/p2/air_quality_reports/monitoring_assessment_plan3.pdf • Plain, E. 2000. The Effects of Wood Waste Burner Phase-out on Air Quality in Williams Lake, BC. Pollution Prevention, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Williams Lake, BC.

24. Cariboo Air Quality References • Zirnhelt, N. and E. Plain. 1999. Framework Outline for Airshed Management Planning in Quesnel and Williams Lake. Document prepared for the Quesnel Air Quality Roundtable. Pollution Prevention, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Williams Lake, BC.http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/car/p2/air_quality_reports/Framework4.pdf • Plain, E. 1998. Quesnel Air Quality 1997. Pollution Prevention, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Williams Lake, BC.http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/car/p2/air_quality_reports/aq1997.pdf

25. Cariboo Air Quality References • Plain, E. and V. Carmichael. 1998. Inhalable Particle Characterization During a Late Winter Period in Quesnel British Columbia. Pollution Prevention, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Williams Lake, BC.http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/car/p2/air_quality_reports/final.pdf • Plain, E. and T. Tripp. 1995. Air Quality (PM10) at Pinecrest School - Quesnel, BC 1990-1992. Environmental Protection, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Williams Lake, BC.