FIRE STRATEGY

Fire Policy Update

Background

• Agricultural land is defined as forestland, rangeland, cropland and pastureland.

• Types of fires – Prescribed, wildfire• Land management agencies have increased their use of

prescribed fires to reduce hazardous fuel loads and manage forest/rangeland, plant health.

• Agricultural community uses fire as a management tool for crop production and rangeland management.

• Need to consolidate smoke management approaches and apply consistent set of criteria for the use of fire as a land management tool.

EPA Philosophy on Fires• EPA acknowledges use of fire as land management tool for:

• Maintaining health of fire-tolerant/dependent plant and animal ecosystems• Thermal treatment to promote seed germination and plant growth• Eliminating threat of plant and pest disease• Reducing risk of catastrophic wildfires.

• Emphasize the use of smoke management programs to minimize impacts of burning activities on air quality and visibility impairment, without regulating fires.

• Partnering with federal, state and private land managers to ensure equitable and appropriate use of fire while meeting air quality goals and standards.

• Emphasize notification of advisories for public health and safety

Multipollutant Impacts of Fires

• Particulate Matter NAAQS• Ozone NAAQS• Regional haze/visibility• Toxic pollutants• Health

Fire Management Strategy

• Several policies need to be updated/developed to ensure application of consistent approach.

• Need a nationally consistent approach that provides flexibility to account for regional differences.

• Strategy will encompass key fire policies:• Wildland• Prescribed (including WFU, Ag)• Exceptional Events

• Through interagency review process for Exceptional Events Policy, EPA committed to updating IWFP.

Exceptional Events Rule

Exceptional Events Rule was proposed on March 10, 2006 (See 71 FR 12592)

Agency’s goal is to finalize the rule by

March 1, 2007 Congress identified 5 principles to use in

developing the rule Proposed rule addresses “fire” but not

“agricultural burning”

Tons/yr/sq mi

0.0000512 - 0.00230

0.00231 - 0.00515

0.00516 - 0.0120

0.0121 - 0.0191

0.0192 - 0.0289

0.0290 - 0.0432

0.0433 - 0.0582

0.0583 - 0.103

0.104 - 0.273

0.274 - 1.80

2001 PM2.5 from Wildfires (Tons/Yr/Sq Mi)

Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires The policy is final for air quality impacts from wildland and

prescribed fires managed for resource benefits. Applies to:

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

Smoke impacts from wildland fire use and prescribed fires count.

Principles for Implementing Policy

Promote good wildland management practices through the use of Smoke Management Programs (SMPs)

Treat sources equitably Encourage collaborative relationships Give flexibility to States & Tribes Expect all stakeholders to act in good faith

Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires

Why is the policy “interim”? Key issues not addressed by policy in

May 1998: Regional Haze Impacts

Plan to address in FY2007 Agricultural Burning

Policy development planned for FY07-08 Collaboration with USDA