SMOKE MANAGEMENT USDA Forest Service Air Resource Management January 2008 Burner’s Proverb: My...

SMOKE MANAGEMENT

USDA Forest ServiceAir Resource Management

January 2008

Burner’s Proverb:

My Fire and My Smoke are My Problems, wherever they go.

(www.pfmt.org/fire)

Credits

• Thanks to the authors: This presentation was developed using slides from the Prescribed Fire Training Center in Florida, and from USDA Forest Service Air Resources Management training.


January 2008

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVESFL Certified Prescribed Burn FL Certified Prescribed Burn

Manger trainingManger training Learn major pollutants of smoke Understand and designate smoke sensitive areas and CRITICAL SSA Know the current legal requirements for managing smoke during rx burns Identify indicators that inversions may be likely, including DI (dispersion index) Identify ignition strategies to mitigate smoke Learn the smoke screening system

What Is Smoke?Water vapor combined with

gases and small particles

Flaming fire phase

(only about 25% of the smoke is

dispersed at ground level)

Smoldering fire phase- 2x smoke

of flaming phase…(poor

combustion and smoke

disperses down drainages)


January 2008

Smoke Emissions

Ozone(O3) +

• Carbon Dioxide (2200-3500 lbs per ton of fuel consumed)

• Water• Carbon

Monoxide• Hydrocarbons

(VOCs)• Nitrogen Oxides

• Particulate Particulate MatterMatter


January 2008

•Damages plant tissues•Key ingredient of smog•Bad for human health

Particulate MatterSmoke particles are relatively small

< PM 2.5 microns

PM 2.5-10 microns

> PM 10 microns

70.0%

20.0%

10.0%

(similar size to pollen)

(similar size to fly ash)

(similar size to dust)USDA Forest Service

Air Resource ManagementJanuary 2008

Fine Particulate, PM 2.5Fine Particulate, PM 2.5

PUBLIC CONCERNSPUBLIC CONCERNS

• 1. Nuisance Smoke1. Nuisance Smoke– Increasing Population

• Within WUI• Increased potential for

complaints of nuisance smoke

– Popular Recreation Areas

SMOKE: WHY BE CONCERNED?SMOKE: WHY BE CONCERNED?

• 2. Health Effects Related to Particulate 2. Health Effects Related to Particulate MatterMatter

• Increased Premature Deaths

• Aggravation of respiratory or cardiovascular illnesses

• Changes in lung function / structure / natural defense

SMOKE: WHY BE CONCERNED?SMOKE: WHY BE CONCERNED?



January 2008

SAFETY! Interstate 4: Florida (January 9, 2008)- FL Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

N


Interstate 4

Winds5-11 mphPredicted RH= 60%+LVORI?


January 2008

SAFETY

http://essentialpresence.blogspot.com/2008/01/one-foggy-florida-morning.html

Interstate 4: Morning of January 9, 2008)


January 2008

3. Safety- six burned vehicles, 4 fatalities, 38 injured. 70 cars/ trucks

damaged.

(AP Photo/Reinhold Matay) ( Reinhold Matay – AP)

3. Safety

http://wildfiretoday.com/2011/01/29/smoke-from-forest-service-prescribed-fire-causes-school-bus-crash/

Smoke from Forest Service prescribed fire causes school bus crash




SMOKE MANAGEMENT PLAN

OBJECTIVES

• Prevent public health and safety hazards!!

• Minimize amount of smoke entering sensitive areas

• Avoid significant deterioration of air quality

• Avoid NAAQS violations


January 2008


January 2008

Where are these objectives in your burn plan?

•Description of burn unit•Map of burn unit•Weather factors•Fuel conditions•Season and time of day•Smoke screening plan•Publicity•Firing plan/ ignitions•Control and mop-up


January 2008

SMOKE: WHY BE CONCERNED?

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS• CLEAN AIR ACT

• States, Tribes, local gov’t take the lead •State/Tribal Implementation Plans•Smoke Management Programs

• EPA•Sets limits on emissions / pollutants

•NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards)•Reviewed Every 5 years•Non-attainment and Maintenance Areas

•Approves States’ plans

NAAQS:NAAQS:Pollutant Primary Stds. Averaging Times Secondary Stds.

Carbon Monoxide 9 ppm (10 mg/m3)

8-hour(1) None

35 ppm (40 mg/m3) 1-hour(1) None

Lead 1.5 µg/m3 Quarterly Average Same as Primary

Nitrogen Dioxide 0.053 ppm (100 µg/m3) Annual (Arithmetic Mean)

Same as Primary

Particulate Matter (PM10)

150 µg/m3 24-hour(3) Same as Primary

Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

15.0 µg/m3 Annual(4) (Arith. Mean) Same as Primary

35 µg/m3 24-hour(5) Same as Primary

Ozone 0.075 ppm 8-hour(6) Same as Primary

0.12 ppm 1-hour(7) (Applies only in limited areas)

Same as Primary

Sulfur Oxides 0.03 ppm Annual (Arith. Mean) -------

0.14 ppm 24-hour(1) -------

------- 3-hour(1) 0.5 ppm (1300 µg/m3)

http://epa.gov/air/criteria.html#1%231

http://epa.gov/air/criteria.html#1%231


January 2008

SMOKE: WHY BE CONCERNED?

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

•Federal Agencies must comply with state and local regulations and procedures

•Burn permits•Others vary by state

•Visibility must be maintained•Class I Areas- e.g. National Parks >5000 acres

CLASS I AREASCLASS I AREAS

Native American Lands


January 2008

Legal requirements

KNOW THE NON-ATTAINMENT AREAS IN YOUR AREA

Areas that the State and EPA have determined exceed the NAAQS for specific pollutant(s).

Burning OR sending smoke into a Non-Attainment Area:

• May require Conformity Analysis• Completed with NEPA• Call your Air Specialist• Work with the state prior to the burn

http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/greenbk/mappm25o3.html


January 2008

TOOLS to help prescribed burners plan for compliance

•Weather-related predictions

•Smoke Modeling

•Smoke Monitoring

Atmospheric Dispersion Index

NASA Satellite Imagery of FiresNASA Satellite Imagery of Fires in Georgia: May 7, 2007in Georgia: May 7, 2007


January 2008

TOOLS FOR MANAGING SMOKE•Weather-related predictions


January 2008

TOOLS FOR MANAGING SMOKESmoke Modeling

FCAMMSFCAMMS

FireFire

Consortia Consortia

for for

AdvancedAdvanced

Modeling Modeling ofof

MeteoroloMeteorologygy

and and Smoke.Smoke.

TOOLS FOR MANAGING SMOKETOOLS FOR MANAGING SMOKESmoke Modeling


January 2008

• Burn PlanBurn Plan Day of Burn Day of Burn– SIMPLE SMOKE SCREENING– SASEM– V-SMOKE– V-SMOKE GIS– SMOKE IMPACT SPREADSHEET– HYSPLIT– PB-PIEDMONT– BLUESKY– Available: http://shrmc.ggy.uga.edu/smoke/

TOOLS FOR MANAGING TOOLS FOR MANAGING SMOKESMOKESmoke Modeling: V-SMOKE


January 2008

• VSMOKE: Level II model used to

predict period by period particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and visibility estimates at 31 distances (0.06 - 62 miles).

• http:// 216.48.37.155/vsmoke

• Primary contact: – Bill Jackson 828-257-

4815

TOOLS FOR MANAGING TOOLS FOR MANAGING SMOKESMOKESmoke Modeling: V-SMOKE GIS

• VSMOKE-GIS: • For use in flat to gently rolling

terrain, and steady wind conditions.

• http:// 216.48.37.155/vsmoke

• Primary contact: – Bill Jackson 828-257-4815Bill Jackson 828-257-4815


January 2008

TOOLS FOR MANAGING TOOLS FOR MANAGING SMOKESMOKESmoke Modeling: SIS


January 2008

• Smoke Impact Spreadsheet (SIS)– Screening model used Screening model used

in complex terrainin complex terrain– Couples FOFEM with Couples FOFEM with

CALPUFFCALPUFF– Results are in simple Results are in simple

Excel spreadsheetExcel spreadsheet

TOOLS FOR MANAGING TOOLS FOR MANAGING SMOKESMOKESmoke Modeling: Simple Smoke Screening


January 2008

Before Approving the Burn Plan:

Were The Sensitive Areas / Receptors Identified? Non-Attainment Areas

Conformity Analysis (NEPA)

Class I Areas Highways and Airports Hospitals Towns, Communities Recreational Areas

Are Potential Impacts Identified? USDA Forest ServiceAir Resource Management

January 2008

BURN PLANS: SMOKE

• Know your Meteorological Thresholds.

• Avoid:Avoid:– Mixing Heights < 1700’– Transport Winds (Speed and

Direction) <9 mph– Dispersion Index <41 or less

than 8 at night– LVORI >7


January 2008

BURN PLANS: SMOKEBefore approving the Burn PlanBefore approving the Burn Plan::

Stable Atmosphere

Un-stable Atmosphere

How else do we minimize risk?• Suggested: for

rough > 2yrs, use backing fire, unless done 3 hrs before sunset

• Mop up promptly!• Keep stumps, snags

from burning, or extinguish them carefully

Before Approving the Burn Plan:

• Potential for Plume Collapse?– Mass ignition (e.g. aerial ignitions)

• Smoke Plume Rises Above Mixing Height

• Potential Effects Farther Downwind/ in urban areas (60-100+ miles)

• What is the Contingency Plan?

• Will Timely Information Be Made Available ?– Notification List in Burn Plan- who will contact those who

may be impacted?

– Inform Public / Press of Smoke ImpactsUSDA Forest Service


BURN PLANS: SMOKE

• Determine your method and frequency of weather forecasts and smoke monitoring – Daytime v. Nighttime Dispersal?– Multiple Day Burns?– Look Beyond Day/Time of Burn

• Are Conditions Expected to Change Overnight

– Minimum: Check Daily Until Declared “Out”

• Define conditions to leave fire unstaffed at the end of the burn... USDA Forest Service


BURN PLANS: SMOKEBefore Approving the Burn Plan:


January 2008

During the Burn- Monitoring Smoke

•Smoke Monitoring on the Day of Burn

•Visual•Ground•Aerial•Satellite

•Instrumental•Contact Air Specialists

•State Particulate Monitors•Web-based•Agency Air Specialist•State Air Quality Managers

After The Burn Is Complete:

• Post Burn Smoke Evaluation:– Were Complaints Received?

• How Many?• By Whom?• Location?

– Did We Impact Any Sensitive Targets?.– What Caused The Smoke Problems?

• Implementation problems?• Changes in weather conditions?

– Were The NAAQS Exceeded?• Do we have the documentation needed by the State?

– CONDUCT IMMEDIATELY POST BURN


January 2008

SMOKE MANAGEMENT USDA Forest Service Air Resource Management January 2008 Burner’s Proverb: My...

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