Ted Strauss Resource Conservationist Air Quality, Climate Change, Energy

1. Agriculture Improving Air QualityAsian Pacific Islander Organization 2009 Annual Training Conference, Sacramento August 21, 2009 Ted Strauss Resource Conservationist Air Quality, Climate Change, Energy

2. Welcome to California US Most Air Polluted Cities #1 Los Angeles #2 Bakersfield #3 Visalia #4 Fresno #5 Houston #6 Sacramento #7 Dallas-Fort Worth #8 Charlotte #9 Phoenix #10 El Centro #11 Hanford #12 Las Vegas #13 San Diego (Ozone) 2009 Rankings - American Lung Association

3. California has a serious air pollution program… Annual health impacts from California air pollution • 8,800 premature deaths • 7,700 hospitalizations • 210,000 respiratory illnesses • Including asthma • 1,400,000 lost workdays • 4,700,000 lost school days 2007 California Air Resources Board & American Lung Association

4. Impacts on agriculture • Estimate $300 million annual crop losses in California • ($270 million in San Joaquin Valley) • Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 39% of Jeffery and ponderosa pines show some visible ozone damage Photo Source: National Park Service

5. Air Quality is Improving!

6. What Contributes to Air Pollution? • Geography • Mountains and valleys • Meteorology • Thermal inversions • Atmospheric pressure • Transport winds • Social/Land Use • Population growth • Many emission sources • 7th largest economy in the world Modis Rapid Response System December 12, 2005

7. Sources of Air Pollution • Combustion Engines, boilers, heaters, open burning • Evaporative Paints and coatings, solvents, gasoline, pesticides, fertilizers, lagoons, vegetation, etc. • Fugitive Dust Unpaved roads and traffic areas, earthmoving, material handling, open areas, wind events, etc. Monolith Portland Cement Co, circa 1968

8. Criteria Air Pollutants • Ozone (O3) • Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5) • Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) • Carbon monoxide (CO) • Oxides of Sulfur (SOx) • Lead (Pb) 60 years ago - Donora, Pennsylvania

9. Kyoto Greenhouse Gases • Methane (NH4) • Carbon dioxide (CO2) • Nitrous oxide (N2O) • Sulfur hexafloride (SF6) • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) • Perflourocarbons (PFC)

10. NRCS Recognized Pollutants • Ozone & its precursors • Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) • Particulate Matter • Respirable Particulate Matter (PM10) • Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) • Odors • Greenhouse Gases • Methane (NH4) • Carbon dioxide (CO2) • Nitrous oxide (N2O)

11. Agricultural practices that emit pollutants • Combustion – Engines, boilers, dehydrators • Livestock and livestock wastes • Fertilizers and pesticides • Gasoline storage and dispensing • Unpaved roads and traffic areas • Open areas • Earthmoving • Solvents • Open burning

12. How much air pollution is from Agriculture? California Emissions Inventory (CARB 2006) Estimated Annual Average Emissions (Tons/Day) (Excludes Biogenic Sources)

13. How much GHG contribution is from Agriculture? • California GHG Inventory (CARB 2008) • 2002-2004 Annual Average – (Excludes Biogenic Sources) • (Million Tons CO2 Equivalent: MMTCO2E)

14. How is air quality to improve? By reducing emissions at the source through • Education • Conferences, brochures, face-to-face • Deploying innovative technologies and conservation practices • Voluntary incentives • 2008 Farm Bill • EQIP, CIG (b) • Rules and Regulations

15. Energy efficiency and renewable energy • Biomass • Solar Energy • Wind Energy • Better energy efficiency • Other technologies • Find and encourage alternative energy use that is economical and does not result in negative impacts to other resources

16. Agricultural Improvements NRCS offers conservation assistance • Conservation planning • Financial assistance for implementing conservation practices • Environmental Quality Incentive Program • “It’s about conservation on the land.” • Soil, Water, Air, Plants, Animals, and Human Life

17. Conservation Management Practices • SJVAPCD Rule 4550 • Over 6,000 plans • 32 million acres • 35.2 tons/day PM10 reductions • National recognition • EPA Region IX “2005 Environmental Award for Outstanding Achievement” • SJV achieved attainment status for PM10

18. CMP Categories • Reduce soil and manure disturbances • Soil protection from wind erosion • Equipment modifications to physically reduce PM10 emissions • Treat unpaved roads and surfaces

19. 2008 Farm Bill EQIP CIG (b) Air Quality Initiative • Sets aside $37.5 million for air quality • For 2009, $16.9 million for California • NAAQS nonattainment counties • 36 California counties • Implement accepted Air Quality Practices

20. CIB (b) Air Quality Practices • Conservation Tillage Residue Management • Dust Reduction from Unpaved Roads • Chipping Almond & Walnut Pruning, and Chipping Orchards & Vineyards • Manure Injection • Integrated Pest Management • Precision Pest Control Application • Treated Wood Stake Disposal • Combustion System Air Emissions Management

21. Fact Sheets • Eligible conservation programs • Summarizes requirements & specifications • Payment schedules • Contract terms

22. Some Challenges Finding and using the best technologies and practices that reduce emissions to the benefit of our natural resources • Cost effectiveness • Emissions inventory • Regulations and deadlines • Economic and social conditions • Balance between air quality pollutants and greenhouse gases

23. Questions Ted Strauss State Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Coordinator 559-252-2191 x110 ted.strauss@ca.usda.gov