Air Quality and Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities

Sustainable Agriculture Expo November 16, 2015

Nancy Levin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Region 9 Air Division

The average adult breathes 3,000 gallons of air every day.

Contents

I. Air Quality and Public Health

II. National Air Quality Standards

III. Sustainable Agriculture is part of the Air Quality solution

I. Air Quality and Public Health

U.S. EPA’s Mission

“Protect Human Health and the

Environment”

Awareness of air pollution

1953 – London nearly 4,000 suffocate

1943 - Los Angeles 1st recorded photo of smog

1930’s dust bowl

Many Sources of Smog and Air Particles

How Is Ozone (Smog) Formed?

Ozone exposure can… • Irritate respiratory system.

• Reduce lung function.

• Inflame and damage cells.

• Aggravate asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis.

• Cause permanent lung damage.

http://www3.epa.gov/apti/ozonehealth/population.html http://cfpub.epa.gov/airnow/index.cfm?action=aqi_brochure.index

Children are at higher risk. So are… People with lung disease. Older adults. Active people of all ages.

People most affected by ozone exposure

http://www.stateoftheair.org/2015/key-findings/people-at-risk.html

Particulate Matter (PM) PM 10 (microns in diameter) PM 2.5 (microns in diameter)

Size of Particle Pollution

Particulate Matter -- Lungs and Heart

• difficulty breathing, irritated airways

• aggravated asthma

• decreased lung function

• nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat

• premature death in people with heart or lung disease

http://www.stateoftheair.org/2015/key-findings/; http://www.epa.gov/asthma

In California, 9,000 people are estimated to die prematurely each year

as a result of exposure to fine particle pollution.

II. National Ambient Air Quality Standards

1977 Clean Air Act and 1990 Amendments

Title I: National Air Ambient Quality Standards Title II: Mobile Sources Title III: Toxics Title IV: Acid Deposition Title V: Permits Title VII: Enforcement

70

80

90

100

110

120

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8-ho

ur O

zone

Ave

rage

con

cent

ratio

n (p

pb)

8-hour ozone NAAQS

San Francisco Bay Area, CA

San Joaquin Valley, CA

Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin, CA

Air pollution levels have decreased in CA

Emissions Drop – Economy Grows

CA = 34 million, 23%

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…But Challenges Remain

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Six Common Pollutants

Ozone

Particular matter – Fine (PM2.5) and Coarse (PM10)

Carbon monoxide

Sulfur dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide

Lead

~ ~ NAAQS are health-based standards based on most recent science. ~ ~

NAAQS and Nonattainment Areas

If an area exceeds (does not “attain”) the NAAQS …

“Nonattainment Area”

An area is nonattainment if it violates the NAAQS or contributes to a nearby area that violates.

1. Public health - Worst air quality in US • Population growth, topography & climate

2. Ports and goods movement corridors • Emissions from trains, trucks and ships

3. Major Industrial, Commercial, and

Agricultural Sources • Intractable problems requiring new

technologies

California’s Unique Challenges

Maps tell the story….

8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Areas (2008)

24-Hour PM2.5 Nonattainment Areas

NAAQS are Updated Review air quality standards every 5 years.

Propose new standard (or range). Holds public hearings, public comment period. Finalize new standard.

2008 – Ozone standard set at 75 parts per billion (ppb)

After 2008 – Studies found 75 ppb not sufficiently protective of public health.

2015 – new Ozone standard at 70 ppb.

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Recent NAAQS by Pollutant

Pollutant Year Level* Averaging Time

Ozone 2008 75 ppb 8-Hour

Ozone 2015 70 ppb 8-Hour

PM2.5 2012 12 μg/m3 Annual

PM2.5 2006 35 μg/m3 24-Hour

Sulfur Dioxide 2010 75 ppb 1-Hour

Lead 2008 0.15 μg/m3 Rolling 3-Month

Nitrogen Dioxide 2010 100 ppb 1-Hour

PM 10 1997 150 μg/m3 24-hour

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* μg/m3 =micro grams per cubic meter; ppb = parts per billion http://www3.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/criteria.html

2015 Ozone NAAQS

1. Where is the air quality problem? “Designation” 2. How bad is the problem? “Classification” 3. What are the requirements? “Implementation” 4. Here’s the Clean Air Plan. “State Implementation Plan” (SIP)

http://www3.epa.gov/ozonepollution/actions.html

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Shaded areas have at least one monitor with design value above the 2015 NAAQS.

Ask Fletcher for zoom in to central coast area

• Insert zoom in of mid-central valley and central coast area

Timeline for New Ozone Standard October 2015: Standard set at 70 ppb. (+1 year) October 2016: States/tribes recommend NAAs. (+ 1 year) October 2017: EPA designates nonattainment areas. Based on air monitoring data from 2014-2016. (+ 1.5 to 3 years) 2019-2021: SIPs due.

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III. Agriculture and Air Quality

California Agriculture • Top Agricultural producer in the Nation - over $40 billion in annual production,

representing greater than 10% of the total U.S. ag output.

• Extreme product diversity - Ranked #1 in the U.S. for milk production, almonds, pistachios, broccoli, celery, dairy, avocados, hay, grapes, lettuce, onions, peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, walnuts, lettuce, plums, sweet potatoes…

Photo courtesy of Dennis Chessman USDA-NRCS

Agricultural Sources of Emissions Activity/Source Emissions Rules

Tilling-Harvesting PM 10 Conservation Management Practices (CMP)

Windblown dust PM 10 CMPs

Pesticides VOC Fumigant (DPR)

Animal manure VOC, PM2.5 Manure management

Dairy silage VOC Silage management

Ag Burning NOx, PM 2.5 Burning restrictions

Equipment NOx, PM 2.5 Stationary Engines, Mobile Processing/boilers

Wine production VOC Fermentation and storage

Sustainable agriculture is a win for public health

Regulatory tools

Non-regulatory tools

New technology and funding

1. Regulatory Tools

Rules can provide incentives to use sustainable practices such as conservation tillage and cover crops.

2. Non-regulatory tools – Soil Health

Farmer benefits

Reduced erosion, reduced compaction, increased

organic matter, better filtration, better irrigation

efficiency, improved biology, better yield, long-term

cost input savings, better drought resistance

Air Quality benefits

Reduced dust and equipment emissions, climate

benefit from increased carbon storage in soil.

USDA/Natural Resource Conservation Service

3. New Technology and Funding

~ Examples ~ 11/10/2015 - $3.5 million grant to SJV Air District to

replace ~ 260 highly polluting agricultural tractors. Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has

spent $132 million in ag air quality projects in California since 2009.

Summary Air Quality and Sustainable Ag

Air quality is important to everyone’s health.

We continue to make progress.

Sustainable Ag provides opportunity for cleaner air and

better bottom line.

How can we help? Please visit us: http://www3.epa.gov/region09/

Questions?