Agricultural Agricultural Burn Controls Burn Controls in Washington in Washington

State- 2006State- 2006

WESTAR Fall 2006 Meeting

Program SummaryProgram Summary

Acreage in Production vs. Acres Burned Acreage in Production vs. Acres Burned

Cereal Grain: 2.5 million acres: 150,000 burned annuallyCereal Grain: 2.5 million acres: 150,000 burned annually CRP: 1.3 million acres: Less than 10,000 burned annuallyCRP: 1.3 million acres: Less than 10,000 burned annually Orchards: 215,000 acres: 1500 burned annually (tear-out)Orchards: 215,000 acres: 1500 burned annually (tear-out) Grass Seed: 74,000 acres: Approximately 40 burned annuallyGrass Seed: 74,000 acres: Approximately 40 burned annually

PermitsPermits

Approximately 7000 per year Approximately 7000 per year Very restrictive on when burning is allowedVery restrictive on when burning is allowed Strict enforcement with significant fines for non-complianceStrict enforcement with significant fines for non-compliance

Program StructureProgram Structure

Statute: Statute: • Reduce burning to greatest extent Reduce burning to greatest extent

practicalpractical• Ban grass seed field burning when Ban grass seed field burning when

and where alternatives existand where alternatives exist• Require permits with fees capped at Require permits with fees capped at

$2.50 per acre$2.50 per acre• Don’t’ burn during impaired air Don’t’ burn during impaired air

conditionsconditions

Keys to successKeys to success Manage the smoke to reduce potential for health Manage the smoke to reduce potential for health

impacts on people (forget NAAQS) impacts on people (forget NAAQS) – PM 2.5 short term spikes –vs- 24 hr averagePM 2.5 short term spikes –vs- 24 hr average– Administrative triggers (not standards)Administrative triggers (not standards)

16 16 g/ 24 hr avgg/ 24 hr avg spikes > 22 spikes > 22 g / 2 hr avgg / 2 hr avg

Use real-time monitors in decision making Use real-time monitors in decision making

Transparency of process- let the public and the Transparency of process- let the public and the burners be part of the process.burners be part of the process.

Listen to feedback and be willing to change often.Listen to feedback and be willing to change often.

Utilize expertise in research agencies/ universities.Utilize expertise in research agencies/ universities.

Monitors, modeling, Monitors, modeling, meteorology, & tools…meteorology, & tools…

Spokane

Pullman

Ritzville

Walla Walla

YakimaKennewick

RosaliaMoses Lake

Mesa

Starbuck

La Crosse

LeavenworthWenatchee

Chelan

ColvilleOmak

Twisp

GIS “real-time” depiction of active burn permits…

PM 2.5 “real-time” monitors

smoke modeling…

MM5

+ others

Burn/ No burn decisionBurn/ No burn decision1.1. MeteorologyMeteorology

– MM5 ventilation model (+ others)MM5 ventilation model (+ others)– Wind directionWind direction– Meteorologist consultationMeteorologist consultation

2.2. Existing Air QualityExisting Air Quality– Monitoring dataMonitoring data– Local observations Local observations

+ Experience+ Experience– Complaints (toll-free hotline)Complaints (toll-free hotline)

3.3. Permitted acreagePermitted acreage– Acres available to be burned- by Acres available to be burned- by

locationlocation– Special needs. ie- SSA's, wind Special needs. ie- SSA's, wind

direction, etc...direction, etc...

MeteringMetering “… “… a technique of a technique of

limiting emissions at limiting emissions at specific times and specific times and places by taking into places by taking into account potential account potential emission rates, emission rates, forecasted weather, & forecasted weather, & air quality…”air quality…”

Don’t overfill the Don’t overfill the tub!tub!

Partner with industry for change-Partner with industry for change- Develop Voluntary AgreementsDevelop Voluntary Agreements

(industry commitment)(industry commitment)Cereal Stubble Burning

1906

2884

2164

1950

1237

1587

1581

1274

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

MOU Year

PM

2.5

Em

iss

ion

s (

ton

s)

....

Baseline = 2884 tons PM2.5

Target by year 7 = 1442 tons (a 50% reduction)

The MOU year is "crop year" which is fall plus the following spring. MOU year 6 is fall '04 plus spring '05.

7% (of baseline) reduction each year

Year 7 final emissions based on burning a totoal of 162,663 acres of cereal grain. Fall: 92,212 acresSpring: 70,451 acres

Emissions of 1906 tons in year 7 is equal to 69% of the baseline emission level of 2884 tons. The total reduction is 31%. The target was a 50% reduction in PM emissions which was achieved in Year 3 and 4.

ChallengesChallenges

FundingFunding– Relatively expensive but it worksRelatively expensive but it works

Time to Invest in Alternatives Time to Invest in Alternatives (biofuels, (biofuels, pulping, alternative crops, direct seeding)pulping, alternative crops, direct seeding)– Work with partners in economic development Work with partners in economic development

agencies, ag industry groups, energy industry.agencies, ag industry groups, energy industry.

CommunicationsCommunications Airshed CapacityAirshed Capacity