Idaho DEQ Smoke Management Program Mary Anderson Smoke Management - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Idaho DEQ Smoke Management Program Mary Anderson Smoke Management Program Coordinator Idaho Department of Environmental Quality

Air Quality Rules  Outdoor Open Burning Rules  Prohibited items  11 categories of allowable open burning  Must be in a category to be allowable  Air Pollution Episodes  All outdoor open burning is prohibited

Categories of Open Burning  Recreational/warming  Prescribed burning  Weed control  Dangerous materials  Training  Infectious waste  Residential  Crop residue  Landfill disposal  Industrial flares  Orchard

Prescribed Burning  Burning permit or burn plans  Interagency agreement – ensure permits/burn plans adequately control smoke  Smoke Management Plan  When no permit/burn plan is required  Directs DEQ to develop and implement  DEQ definition includes slash pile burning

Smoke Management Plan Current  MT/ID Airshed Group  State, federal, Tribal, and private burners  Large burners – manage over 5,000 acres and use fire as management tool  Voluntary membership  North Idaho – 1990, South Idaho – 1999  Operating Guide has been considered SMP  Emergency Episode Rule  Control small burners

Smoke Management Plan Future  Based on EPA’s Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires (April 1998)  Developed through a stakeholder process  Not much change for MT/ID Airshed Group  Bring in large non-member burners  Small burners  Address all prescribed burning in Idaho, outside the 5 Indian Reservation boundaries  Continue to use FETS

Elements of SMP  Authorization to burn  Minimizing air pollutant emissions  Use non-burning alternatives  Public education and awareness  Explain use and importance of fire for ecosystem  Implications on public health and safety  Goals of SMP  Surveillance and enforcement  Program evaluation

Elements of SMP  Smoke management components of burn plan  Actions to minimize fire emissions (e.g., reduce residual smoke)  Evaluate smoke dispersion  Public notification and exposure reduction procedures  Air quality monitoring (visual or monitors)  Contingencies for smoke intrusions

General Timeline  Draft SMP – Fall/Winter 2014  Stakeholder meetings – Winter 2014/2015  Finalize – summer 2015  Implement – Fall 2015  Will address all prescribed burning  MT/ID Airshed Group members  Large non-member burners  Small burners

Questions?