proposed new provincial air quality criteria for pm2.5 prepared for meeting of bc lung clean air...
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Jared Hobbs Ian Routley Paul Saso 3 What are Air Quality Criteria? Limits on the presence of contaminants in the atmosphere (not at the source) Established to protect human health and the environment Various terms used, but Air Quality Objectives (AQO’s) are primary management tools in B.C.TRANSCRIPT
Proposed New Provincial Air Quality Criteria for PM2.5
Prepared for Meeting of
BC Lung Clean Air Network
February 12, 2008
Jare
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obbs
Ian
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Pau
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Purpose
• Clarify purpose and application • Summarize ministry’s intentions • Discuss implications• Address questions
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What are Air Quality Criteria?
• Limits on the presence of contaminants in the atmosphere (not at the source)
• Established to protect human health and the environment
• Various terms used, but Air Quality Objectives (AQO’s) are primary management tools in B.C.
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How are They Used?
• Gauge current/historical air quality
• Guide decisions around assessments and approvals
• Calculate the Air Quality Index (AQI)
• Guide decisions around advisories
• Guide airshed planning efforts• Guide regulatory development
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Need for Provincial AQO’s
• Presently no PM2.5 objective to guide day-to-day air management in B.C.
• Ongoing reliance on:−PM10 objective−Canada-wide Standards for PM2.5
• Provincial AQO’s needed to support approvals, advisories and airshed planning
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Process to Establish AQO’s
• Review of science and regulatory approaches elsewhere
• Early consultations• Ministry intentions paper• Consultation• Implementation
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Proposed Framework• 24-hour average objective
−To address day-to-day management issues (e.g. burn bans) and guide approvals
• Annual average objective−To support overall reduction in exposure−To facilitate reporting and guide approvals
• Planning goal−Voluntary long-term goal to support
continuous improvement and airshed planning
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Proposed Criteria
• 24-hour AQO25 ug/m3
• Annual AQO 8 ug/m3
• Planning Goal 6 ug/m3
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Implications of Proposed Air Quality Objectives
• Most areas well below proposed AQO’s
• Between 2004-2006, areas exceeding proposed objectives included: −Prince George - Vanderhoof−Quesnel - Williams Lake−100 Mile House - Valemount−Revelstoke - Kamloops (wildfires)
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Implications of Proposed Air Quality Objectives [2]
• Frequency of advisories may increase in woodsmoke impacted areas
• May trigger more frequent bans on burning
• Additional factors to consider in decisions on assessments and approvals
Implications of Proposed 24-hour PM2.5 Objective(based on 2004-2006 PM2.5 data at TEOM sites)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Kitimat Riverlodge
Terrace Nanaimo Whistler Powell River Victoria RRU
Abbotsford Fort Nelson
Hope
Burnaby SouthBurnaby Kens.Crofton South
Vancouver Kitsilano
Langley
Victoria TopazPort Moody
Vancouver Air;port
Chilliwack Pitt Meadows
Nelson Kamloops
Quesnel W.CorrelieuGolden Hospital
W. Lake CRD Golden Townsite
Vernon Smithers
W. Lake Columneetza
W. Lake Skyline Houston Firehall
Kelowna
PG Gladstone PG Plaza 400Osoyoos
Quesnel Sr SecQuesnel Maple
Annual 98th Percentile PM2.5 Concentration (
÷g/m
3 ) 2004
2005
2006
Proposed Objective
Note : Only those sites that had valid date for 2006 are included (for a total of 34 sites)
Implications of Proposed Annual PM2.5 Criteria(based on 2004-2006 PM2.5 data at TEOM sites)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Kitimat Riverlodge
Terrace Powell River
Hope Nanaimo Whistler
Victoria RRUFort Nelson Burnaby Kens.Burnaby South
Nelson
Crofton SouthVancouver Air;port
Pitt Meadows Kamloops
Langley Osoyoos Kelowna
Vancouver KitsilanoQuesnel W.Correlieu
Port Moody Victoria TopazW. Lake CRD
Vernon
Houston FirehallW. Lake Skyline Golden TownsitePG Gladstone
W. Lake Columneetza
Smithers
Golden HospitalQuesnel Maple PG Plaza 400Quesnel Sr Sec
PM2.5 Concentration (
÷g/m
3 )
2004
2005
2006
Proposed Objective
Proposed Planning Goal
Note : Only those sites that had valid data for 2006 are included (for a total of 34 sites).
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Implications of Proposed Planning Goal
• Approx. 50% of sites equal or exceed planning goal
• Encourage communities to maintain good air quality and improve where possible
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Initiatives to Reduce PM2.5 Emissions
• Provincial air initiative:−Cleaner buses and diesel vehicles−Beehive burner phase-out−Cleaner woodstoves−Cleaner industry
• Review of Open Burning Smoke Control Regulation
• Airshed planning
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Monitoring Challenges• TEOMs known to under-measure • Will be upgraded or changed out over
time & reference samplers added• May result in higher measurements
at some sites • Other provinces have same challenge• Province will use best available data
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Summary• 24-hour and annual AQO’s
proposed to support day-to-day air management
• Planning goal proposed to support continuous improvement and airshed planning
• Supported by provincial air initiative and community efforts in airshed planning
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Comments?
• Intentions paper and response form available online at: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/air/airquality/
• Please send comments to [email protected] by Feb. 29, 2008