Rocky Mountain National Park

Air Quality Initiative

Affecting Change Through Collaboration:

An Industry Driven Approach

April 3, 2013

From Waste to Worth: “Spreading” Science & Solutions

Phyllis Woodford

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Environmental Agriculture Program

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

Background & History of the Rocky Mountain National Park Initiative

Selected Approach - Nitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan

Colorado Ag Industry’s Efforts

RMNP Agriculture SubcommitteeLessons Learned

Next Steps

Background & History Background & History Air Quality Issues in RMNP

Visibility Elevated Ozone Increasing Nitrogen Deposition

2004 Call For Action Petition Environmental Defense Colorado Trout Unlimited

3 Agencies Form the “RMNP Air Quality Initiative” National Park Service U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Programs in place to address ozone and visibility Ozone State Implementation Plan Regional Haze State Implementation Plan

No regulations and/or programs to address nitrogen deposition concerns Stakeholder meetings held to discuss concerns Voluntary approach selected

Nitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan (NDRP) Plan developed by NPS, EPA and CDPHE Endorsed by the Colorado Air Pollution Control Division - August 2007

Rocky Mountain National Park AQ InitiativeRocky Mountain National Park AQ Initiative

Nitrogen Deposition Reduction PlanNitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan 25-Year Plan

Progress evaluated at 5‐year intervals starting in 2007 with a goal of achieving the “critical load” in 2032

Critical Load Science‐based threshold under which adverse ecosystems effects do not

occur: 1.5 kilograms per hectare per year

Baseline conditions (2000 – 2004) 3.1 kilograms per hectare per year

2012 2017 2022 2027 2032

2.7 kgN/ha/yr

2.4 kgN/ha/yr

2.1 kgN/ha/yr

1.8 kgN/ha/yr

1.5 kgN/ha/yr

Nitrogen Deposition Reduction PlanNitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan

Significant Aspects of the Plan1) Identifies sources of nitrogen and ammonia to the park.

2) Uses an adaptive management approach based on collaborative process.

3) Voluntary approach, no mandatory requirements or standards

4) Includes strategies to achieve goal.

5) Includes potential reductions from existing state air quality plans.

6) Identifies options that can be implemented on a voluntary basis.

7) Includes a contingency plan process if milestones are not met.

Nitrogen SourcesNitrogen Sources2002 NOx Statewide Emissions

NOx Reduction EffortsNOx Reduction Efforts

NOx Reductions Leveraging benefits from existing programs (ozone & haze)

Reduction Assumptions Cleaner burning fuels New tailpipe standards Oil & gas controls on flares, tanks, engines Stationary sources emission controls

Planned Nitrogen ReductionsPlanned Nitrogen Reductions

Ammonia SourcesAmmonia Sources

Ammonia Reduction EffortsAmmonia Reduction Efforts

Agriculture – Best Management Practices (BMPs) Livestock Operations Cropping

Point Sources Wastewater Treatment Plant Controls

Domestic Area Sources - BMPs Fertilizer Application to lawns, parks, golf courses, etc.

Other Area Sources - BMPs Land Application of Biosolids

2006 – the RMNP Agriculture Subcommittee was formed

Goals Bring agriculture’s voice to the table Be proactive in addressing the issue Review the science and data, and agricultural trends Science before policy

Colorado Ag Industry’s EffortsColorado Ag Industry’s Efforts

RMNP Agriculture SubcommitteeRMNP Agriculture Subcommittee

Colorado Livestock Association

Colorado Dairy Producers

Colorado Cattlemen’s Association

Colorado Corn Grower’s Association

Colorado Association of Wheat Growers

Colorado Farm Bureau

JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding

Colorado State University

La Luna Dairy Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

Rocky Mountain Agri-Business Association

Environmental Defense Fund

CO Swine Producers•Seaboard Foods•Mountain Prairie•Midwest Farms•Ogier and Associates•Murphy Brown of Yuma•Heritage Farms

Agricultural Consultants

CO Association of Conservation Districts•West Greeley Conservation District•Boulder & Longmont Conservation Districts

USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

National Park Service

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Colorado Department of Agriculture

Subcommittee AchievementsSubcommittee AchievementsAchievements To Date

Voiced need for a voluntary approach to allow time for ammonia BMPs to move from research to ground-level and implementation

Developed the Ag-related chapters of the Nitrogen Deposition Reduction Plan and the Contingency Plan

Identified gaps in the state’s ammonia inventory

Directed federal and state dollars to ammonia/BMP research

Organized outreach efforts (Symposiums, Fact Sheet, Presentations)

Documentation of agriculture’s efforts to reduce ammonia from livestock and crop production activities, including survey of current practices

Lessons LearnedLessons LearnedSeasonality

Ammonia emissions from agricultural areas are seasonal•Identifies the need for seasonal management practices•Early Warning System, especially during spring and fall

Animal NutritionNutritional Trials - managing crude protein and phase feeding can reduce the amount of ammonia emitted from the animalImpact on animal performance/muscle still unknown

Growth Hormones/Implants High cost and societal concerns

More Research Needed Large scale nitrogen balance studies needed to quantify how much

ammonia is lost during specific manure handling practices such as breaking manure mounds, turning compost, land application,

pumping lagoon effluent to a center pivot, etc.

Next StepsNext Steps

VOLUNTARY REDUCTIONSProven & Cost Effective BMPsEarly Warning System Pilot

INCENTIVESNRCS Ammonia/Nitrogen AQ Initiative

Targeted Approach BMP Implementation through EQIP

BROADER STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENTGreen Industries (Sod Growers, Greenhouses, etc.)MunicipalitiesOther States

Next StepsNext Steps

RESEARCHAmmonia-based BMPsEmission Reduction Quantification

INVENTORY DEVELOPMENTImproved ammonia emissions inventories

INCREASED PARTNERSHIPSProjectsResources

DOCUMENTATIONDocument successes and failuresAg Certainty

Air quality issues at RMNP are a long-term problem.

Actions being taken today are shaping the dialogue, course and process.

There are a lot of pressures on agriculture. The voluntary approach is vital to researchers and producers.

Need to be thinking holistically about all environmental issues facing agriculture.

Ag industry needs certainty built into voluntary efforts.

Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks

Thank you

Phyllis WoodfordColorado Department of Public Health and

EnvironmentEnvironmental Agriculture Program

Denver, CO 80246