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Forecasting and Public Outreach for Curtailment of Residential Wood Burning in the South Coast AQMD Kevin Durkee, Sam Atwood, Tracy Goss, Michael Laybourn & Tina Cherry South Coast Air Quality Management District 2011 National Air Quality Conferences San Diego, CA March 10, 2011

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Overview Why curtail residential wood burning? AQMDs Healthy Hearths Initiatives Rule 445 Wood Burning Devices Public Education Incentive Program Wood Burning Curtailment Program Outreach 2

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South Coast Air Quality Management District Boundaries 3

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South Coast Air Basin 10,743 square miles Over 16 million people 11 million gasoline vehicles 300,000 diesel vehicles Extreme Ozone Non-Attainment Area PM2.5 Non-Attainment Area 4

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Particles Gas to particle conversionDirectly Emitted Particles PM Sources 5

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Monitored PM2.5 Levels (2008 South Coast Air Basin Maximums) 6

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But Fireplaces? What could be more relaxing? cozy, warm? romantic? holiday spirited? family oriented? American? 7

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Why Curtail Residential Wood Burning? PM2.5 Non-Attainment of Federal & State Standards Health Effects from PM2.5 exposure, including wood smoke, is well-documented 1.4 million open-faced fireplaces in South Coast Basin mainly used for ambience California law requires All Feasible Measures approach: develop and adopt the most readily available, feasible, and cost-effective control measures that could be employed by ARB and air districts to reduce PM10 and PM2.5based on rules, regulations and programs existing in California (CA Health & Safety Code 39614) 8

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Wood Smoke Health Effects Wood smoke particulate primarily PM2.5 Children, elderly and those with existing heart or lung conditions at most risk Wood smoke also source of toxic pollutants Wood burning can affect indoor air quality Wood smoke is a contributor to wintertime exposure 9

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10 Source: http://www.epa.gov/air/emissions/

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We are not alone Areas with Wood Burning Regulations in California 11

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Healthy Hearths Initiative Multi-pronged approach to addressing the impacts of wood smoke 1. Rule 445 Wood Burning Devices 2. Public Education 3. Gas Log Set Incentive Program 4. Curtailment Program 12

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1. Rule 445 Wood Burning Devices 13

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AQMD Rule 445 Key Elements Clean-Burning Appliance Requirements: New Residential Development Dedicated gaseous-fueled devices only (Open-hearth, factory-built or custom-built fireplace with gas log sets are allowed) Existing Development (for additions or remodels) EPA Phase II-Certified wood stove or insert Pellet-fueled device Masonry heater Dedicated gaseous-fueled device 14 Gas Log Set Gas Fireplace Insert

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AQMD Rule 445 Key Elements Mandatory wood burning curtailments based on predicted poor air quality (AQI of USG or higher) Firewood Sales Restrictions Green Wood (moisture content > 20%) Sales restricted for licensed business operations July through February No restriction on Seasoned Wood 15

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AQMD Rule 445 Exemptions Sole Source of Heat Low Income Household No Gas Service Elevations greater than 3,000 MSL Ceremonial fires 16

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Rule 445 Emissions Reductions 2014 uncontrolled inventory = 6.5 tpd November through February 13 tpd AQMD Rule 445 reductions 1 tpd by 2014 Equivalent to replacement of 6,300 pre-1990 trucks with 2007 model year 17

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2. Public Education 18

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www.HealthyHearths.orgwww.HealthyHearths.org YouTube video Health effects information FAQs for public, government and contractors Wood burning tips Quiz to test your knowledge Links: Incentive program Burn Curtailment forecasts 19

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3. Gas Log Incentive Program 20

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AQMD Incentives For South Coast Air Basin residents only $125 discount off purchase and installation of gas log set in existing fireplaces AQMD: $100 / unit Retailer/manufacturer: Additional $25 / unit Must work with participating dealers ~50 in network Guaranteed installation required by trained technician $750,000 in funding to date 7,500 Units Installed 21

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4. Residential Wood Burning Curtailment Program 23

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Wood Burning Curtailment Annually November through February Voluntary in 2010; Mandatory in 2011 Applies to indoor and outdoor wood burning AQMD responsible for compliance No-burn advisory issued when 24-hr PM2.5 levels predicted to be > 35 g/m 3 (Fed. Std.) Issued by forecast area Less than 15 days anticipated per winter 24

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25 Day-in-advance PM2.5 Residential Burn Predictions for 31 Forecast Areas (excluding desert areas and mountains > 3000) MDAB

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Public Notification System Interactive Check Before You Burn map on AQMD website Email notifications through AQMD Air Alerts/EPA EnviroFlash www.airalerts.org Toll-free phone number for generalized program information 26

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AQMD Web Page Map 27

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Sample EnviroFlash Notification From: enviroflash@sonomatech.com Date: 12/05/2010 Subject: Residential No-Burn Advisory (Voluntary) An Action Day has been declared for Norco/Corona, California, on Monday, December 6, 2010 AQMD has declared a Residential No-Burn Advisory (Voluntary) in your area. This means that AQMD requests your voluntary curtailment of the use of indoor/outdoor wood-burning fireplaces and stoves because air quality in your area is predicted to be Unhealthy or worse for Sensitive Groups. When a residential no-burn advisory is issued for your area, please refrain from burning wood throughout the entire day. This program is being implemented under AQMD Rule 445 and will involve mandatory wood burning restrictions starting in November 2011. Until then, participation in the program is voluntary. The rule only affects indoor/outdoor residential wood burning from the beginning of November through the end of February. Burn restrictions are expected to be infrequent during these months. This rule only applies to residences in the South Coast Air Basin at elevations below 3000 feet. For further information on Rule 445 and alternatives to wood burning, please see http://healthyhearths.org Do not reply directly to this email. If you want more information on the air quality forecast, or other aspects of the local air quality program, please contact your local air quality agency using the information above. For more information on the U.S. EPA's AIRNow Program, visit http://www.airnow.gov. To unsubscribe or edit your EnviroFlash account 28

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Public Outreach Press releases issued to all Southern California broadcast, radio and print media Multiple news stories generated about program Revised AQMD and Healthy Hearths websites with program information AQMD/KTLA partnership (10 weeks from 12/20/10 to 2/25/11) Educate public about program Encourage public to sign up for email notifications Notify public of forecasted no-burn days 29

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LA Times 2-14-11 30

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Check Before You Burn 30 Second spot 31

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Check Before You Burn Live forecast 32

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Program Outcome Favorable weather this winter good air quality Currently evaluating impacts of weather and economy on air quality trends One voluntary no-burn day forecast for Metropolitan Riverside County on Feb. 7, 2011 Approximately 2,335 visits to interactive Check Before You Burn maps on AQMD website More than 560 individuals signed up for AQMDs Air Alerts to receive email EnviroFlash notifications of no-burn days 33