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Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires

Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires. “Interim”?. Issues not addressed by policy in May 1998: Agricultural Burning Policy currently under development Collaboration with USDA Regional Haze Impacts Guidance under development

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Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires

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  1. Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires

  2. “Interim”? Issues not addressed by policy in May 1998: • Agricultural Burning • Policy currently under development • Collaboration with USDA • Regional Haze Impacts • Guidance under development • The policy is final for air quality impacts from wildland and prescribed fires managed for resource benefits.

  3. Policy Goals • Protect public health and welfare • Mitigate AQ impacts from smoke • PM NAAQS indicator for health • Visibility impairment indicator of welfare • Allow fire to function in natural role • Maintenance of healthy ecosystems

  4. Applicability • Fires used to achieve resource benefits in the wildlands • Public, Private & Indian lands • NOT TO open burning • Residential, commercial, industrial sites • Land clearing or construction waste • Agricultural waste, crop residue, CRP

  5. Principles for Implementing Policy • Promote good wildland mgt. practices • Treat sources equitably • Encourage collaborative relationships • Give flexibility to States & Tribes • Expect all stakeholders to act in good faith • Hold all stakeholders accountable

  6. Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires • Air Quality Managers (AQM) and Federal Land Managers (FLM) collaborate • Smoke impacts from prescribed fires and wildland fire use count • States/Tribes should implement Smoke Management Programs

  7. Basic Smoke Management Program • Authorization mechanism • Document actions to minimize emissions • Smoke management components of prescribed fire plans • Public education and awareness • Surveillance and enforcement • Program evaluation

  8. Smoke Management Components of Burn Plans • Document actions to minimize emissions • Evaluate smoke dispersion • Identify smoke sensitive areas • Specify dispersion criteria, model impacts • Set test fires • Public notification & exposure reduction • Air quality monitoring

  9. EPA encourages FLMs to: • Work with State AQMs on fire mgt. plans, Regional visibility plans • Include smoke management components in each prescribed fire plan

  10. Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires Available at: • www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1pgm.html • Contact: Charlene Spells • (919) 541-5255 • E-mail: spells.charlene@epa.gov

  11. For More Information • Overall Fire Issues Coordinator • Sharon Nizich, OAQPS, 919/541-2825, nizich.sharon@epa.gov • Agricultural Burning • Larry Elmore, OAQPS, 919/541-5433, elmore.larry@epa.gov • Fire Emissions • Tom Pace, OAQPS, 919/541-5634, pace.tom@epa.gov • Wildland and Prescribed Fire • Charlene Spells, OAQPS, 919/541-5255, spells.charlene@epa.gov • Natural Events • Larry Wallace, OAQPS, 919/541-0906, wallace.larry@epa.gov

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