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SERPPAS Update

SERPPAS Update. May 23, 2012 Air Directors Meeting. SERPPAS. SERPPAS = Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability Partnership of State Environmental and Natural Resource Officials with the Department of Defense and other Federal Agencies

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SERPPAS Update

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  1. SERPPAS Update May 23, 2012 Air Directors Meeting

  2. SERPPAS SERPPAS = Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability Partnership of State Environmental and Natural Resource Officials with the Department of Defense and other Federal Agencies Includes States of NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS http://serppas.org/

  3. Longleaf Pine Restoration

  4. SERPPAS Smoke Management and Air Quality Subcommittee Activities • Smoke Management Recommendations and Prescribed Fire Tracking Document (POC-Carol Kemker, Jac Capp, Rick Gillam) • Pocket Guide • Fire Activity and Emissions Tracking System (FAETS) (POC-Rick Gillam) • Communication and Outreach • POC-Myra Reece, SC Focus Group • PM Emissions Factor Workshop • Held Feb 2012-POC-Scott Davis, Rick Gillam

  5. Pocket Guide (Draft)

  6. Fire Activity and Emissions Tracking System (FAETS) • SERPPAS partnering with State Forestry Agencies to develop a fire activity and emissions tracking system • Effort being lead by NC Forestry Commission, in collaboration with GA, TN, LA, and SC Forestry Agencies • Grant from US Forest Service funding project • Evaluating existing tracking systems (e.g., FL, SC, GA) • Goal is to have a web-based system that will track fires (prescribed and wildfires) and important parameters (e.g., date of burn, size, location, PM emissions, etc.) • Have 2 years to complete project (target for end of 2013)

  7. SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Workgroup • Broad Focus on Prescribed Fire - covers all issues associated prescribed burning • e.g., resources, availability of certified burners, training needs, liability issues, smoke management and air quality • Synthesis Document – Completed in April 2012 • Summarizes challenges facing prescribed fire and actions to address them • Comprehensive Strategy • Currently being developed – Plan to finalize by July 2012 • Will be used to help target specific areas for longleaf restoration efforts • See Conceptual Diagram on Next Slide

  8. Goal: 8 million acres of longleaf pine We need to burn 3.2 - 4 million acres annually Unknown: How much is currently being burned Key Question: What limits our ability to burn these acres? Factors limiting available burn days* Factors limiting burning on available days* • Agency Authorization • Air Quality and Smoke Management • Lack of good weather for smoke dispersal • Local ordinances • NAAQS violations/non-attainment • State laws • Lack of good “burning days” • Poor burning conditions to achieve objectives within burn prescription • Timing/season • Unwilling/Unfamiliar Landowners • Agency Prioritization • Capacity • Shortage of equipment • Shortage of qualified practitioners • Shortage of training programs • Funding • Landowner incentives • For Rx burns Agency Coordination Fire Science Land Use Liability Public Perceptions Suburbanization Urbanization Intervening Variables* * Listed alphabetically, not in order of importance/priority

  9. Daily (24 hr) PM2.5 Monitor Data

  10. EPA Smoke Management Policy 1998 Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires Attempts to Integrate 2 Public Policy Goals: To allow fire to function in its natural role in maintaining healthy wildland ecosystems To protect public health and welfare by mitigating the impacts of air pollutant emissions on air quality and visibility Available on the following website: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t1/memoranda/firefnl.pdf

  11. Update of 1998 Interim Policy EPA is currently in the process of revising and updating 1998 Interim Policy to: Consider current burning practices Address changes to Clean Air Act rules (e.g., revised PM2.5 and ozone standards and General Conformity Regulations) Be consistent with the requirements of the 2007 Exceptional Events Rule Address agricultural burning Protect Air Quality and Human Health & Welfare Ecological and Resource Benefits

  12. Update of 1998 Interim Policy EPA sent the Draft Updated Policy Document to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and other Federal Agencies for review in the Spring of 2010 Based on comments received during the Federal Interagency Review process, EPA is currently revising the updated document EPA hopes to have a revised Draft available for public review in Summer/Fall 2012 A 60-day public comment period will be held to accept comments on the Draft Prescribed Fire Policy

  13. Questions? Contacts: Carol Kemker, Deputy Dir. APTMD 404-562-8975 kemker.carol@epa.gov Scott Davis, Chief Air Planning Branch 404-562-9127 davis.scottr@epa.gov Rick Gillam Environmental Engineer 404-562-9049 gillam.rick@epa.gov http://s2.hubimg.com/u/116245_f260.jpg

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