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Home My WebLink AboutAir Quality and EPA PM Advance PresentationEPA PM ADVANCE IMPROVING AIR QUALITY IN KITTITAS COUNTY Holly Myers Environmental Health Supervisor Kimberly Sarver Environmental Health Specialist Board of Health Ellensburg, WA August 18th, 2016 Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) Good 0-12 Moderate 12-20 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 20-35 Unhealthy 35-80 Very Unhealthy 80-150 Hazardous 150+ Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD How Bad is Our Air? 1/3/11 24 hour average PM2.5 = 47.0 ug/m3 8/2/12 24 hour average PM2.5 = 3.9 ug/m3 Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD AG_DUST, 14% AG_OTHER, 1% CONSTR, 5% FIRE_RES, 2% FIRE_RX, 1% FIRE_WF, 0% FOOD, 4% NRM_REC, 3% ORM_DIES_EXH, 11% ORM_GAS_EXH, 10% OTHER, 2% RD_DUST, 15% RWC, 32% Winter PM2.5 Emissions (Kittitas; 2011) AG_DUST, 3% AG_OTHER, 6% CONSTR, 6% FIRE_RES, 2% FIRE_RX, 0% FIRE_WF, 26% FOOD, 4% NRM_REC, 3% ORM_DIES_EXH, 17% ORM_GAS_EXH, 4% OTHER, 3% RD_DUST, 27% RWC, 0% Summer PM2.5 Emissions (Kittitas; 2011) Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD What is Non-Attainment? Definition: “Air quality in a particular region does not meet (or attain) federal health standards” Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD Roof of Hal Holmes Center in Ellensburg A Nephelometer EPA Monitors for 3 Years PM2.5 Standards o Annual mean (averaged over 3 years) : 12 𝜇𝑔 𝑚3 o 24 hr mean (averaged over 3 years): 35 𝜇𝑔 𝑚3 Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD What if? State Implementation Plan •Healthy Air – How and When •Addresses all sources, enforceable OR… Federal/State Agency Plan Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD Example: Tacoma Pierce County Source: airsafepiercecounty.org Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD Approximate # of occupied households with wood as primary heat source (PM2.5 sources) Catalogue most prevalent burning behaviors (PM2.5 sources) Survey Community (beliefs, attitudes, behaviors) Interview Key informants for their (beliefs, attitudes, behaviors about burning) Survey 2014 – AQ Assessment Goals Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD Survey 2014 – Beliefs & Attitudes regarding Air Quality 50% of Kittitas county residents agree that poor air quality is a significant environmental issue in our county. 55% of residents agree that poor air quality happens mostly during wildfire season. Over 50% of the county agree that wood stoves and fireplaces contribute to poor air quality. Again, almost one fifth aren’t sure; leaving one quarter of the county that disagrees. 50% feel that agricultural burning and diesel/highway traffic exhaust are major contributors. Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD Outreach & Education 2014-15 In conjunction with Ecology, KCPHD’s EH Division implemented an education campaign to raise community awareness of PM2.5 and cleaner burning practices… •Daily Record article series on PM2.5 •Air Quality bar added to the Daily Record weather page •Ecology created radio spots •Ecology created PSAs at the movies •Brochures and posters in libraries and post offices •Fliers sent out in response to burning/smoke complaints •Creation of an air quality website on the County EH page. Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD FOLLOW UP SURVEY 2015 Assess impact of outreach & education •“Re-test” original questions and find out what reached people Redesigned questions to get an in-depth emissions inventory •Frequency, amount, & type of solid fuel being burned Closer look at community numbers of certified equipment •Questions to cross tab self report with actual equipment Get more details about current burning practices •Best practices listed out with frequency of engagement Measure community sentiment regarding interventions to prevent non- attainment KCPHD applied and received a second grant from Ecology to conduct this follow up survey. Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD SURVEY COMPARISONS Knowledge of PM2.5 and AQ issues •Increased awareness % in 3 out of 4 targeted outcomes Ability to Identify a Certified Stove •Increased knowledge of personal woodstove awareness of non-certified vs. certified. Knowledge of Illegal Burning Materials •Decreased the % of people that report cardboard, paper and lumber is legal material to burn. Importance of Seasoned Wood •Increased the knowledge and understanding of burning dry, seasoned wood in place of wet wood. Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD EPA PM Advance Program Only For Attainment Areas EPA Framework and Support Proactive Steps Voluntary 42 Active Participants Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD Benefits Grant/Support Access Long-term health protection Provide cushion (cold winters/poor weather) Prepare for revised NAAQS Choose control measures that fit OUR community Multi-pollutant benefits Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD 2016 August - September •Secure Stakeholder Participation (AQAC, BOH) •Send PM Advance Sign Up Letter to EPA 2017 March •Submit 5 Year Path Forward Plan 2018 - 2019 •Data Compiled by EPA To Assess Attainment Status Presented 08/18/2016, KCPHD QUESTIONS? All images courtesy of Pixabay.com or KCPHD