National Air Quality Management
System & Canadian Ambient Air
Quality Standards
Bob Myrick
Environment and Sustainable Resource
Development
May 23, 2012
Overview
• Existing air quality management framework
– Canada-wide Standards and CASA PM and Ozone
Management Framework
• Alberta Land-use Framework
– South Saskatchewan Regional Plan
• Changes provided by the National Air Quality
Management System
– new Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards
• What does this mean to Alberta airsheds?
Alberta’s PM and Ozone
Management Framework
• 2000 – Canada-wide Standards for PM and ozone
established by the CCME
– Standards need to be achieved by 2010
– Balance risks to human health and the costs of reducing air
emissions
• 2003 – CASA Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone
Management Framework
– CASA framework has three triggers and four corresponding
action levels
C H
K A T
A S
S
EDMONTON
Red Deer
CALGARY
B
.
Area assigned to the
management plan
action level for ozone
C
.
Land-use Framework (LUF)
•
•
2009 – Alberta Land Stewardship Act
The Act calls for a regional plan for each of seven watershedbased regions
–
–
•
•
•
•
•
manage the cumulative effects of all activities on the landscape
balance economic, environmental and social objectives
Plans for the Lower Athabasca and South Saskatchewan
regions are underway
SSRP is looking at an Air Quality Management Framework for
NO2
Alberta PM/Ozone framework is included as part of the SSRP
Need for consistency between regions
Need for alignment from national to provincial to regional
levels
Objectives of LUF Air Quality
Management Frameworks
•
Develop triggers and limits for specified pollutants and use
monitoring data to determine ambient air quality in relation to
those triggers and limits
•
Adopt cumulative effects management at the regional level to
proactively maintain ambient air quality below established
limits
•
Evaluate current management approaches and opportunities
for improvement
•
Support and supplement the current pollution prevention and
emission minimization principles
•
Provide effective and efficient management that support the
flexibility needed to address local ambient air quality within
the region (regulatory vs. non-regulatory)
LUF Air Quality Management Framework
Limits and Triggers
Level
Level 4
Description
Management Intent
Ambient air quality exceeding air quality
limits
Improve ambient air
quality to below limits
Limit
Level 3
Ambient air quality below but approaching Proactively maintain air
the air quality limits
quality below limits
Trigger
Level 2
Ambient air quality below air quality limits
Improve knowledge and
understanding, and plan
Trigger
Level 1
Ambient air quality well below air quality
limits
Apply standard
regulatory and nonregulatory approaches
LUF Regions and Airshed Map
The new National Air Quality Management
System (AQMS)
• Outcomes-based
– National system to protect and improve air quality in Canada and keep
clean areas clean
• Federal/provincial/territorial collaboration
– Best placed jurisdiction to take action
• Addresses both human and environmental health
• Comprehensive
– Covers all sources of outdoor pollutants, including non-point sources,
transboundary
• Builds on Comprehensive Air Management System (CAMS) proposal
delivered to Ministers in April 2010
• Council of Ministers direction
– Complete main system elements in 2011 for approval consideration in
2012
Provided in confidence
10
The new National Air Quality Management
System (AQMS)
– Alberta is a national leader in development of AQMS
• Co-chaired, with the federal government, development of the
Comprehensive Air Management System Proposal
• Co-chairing, with federal government and Ontario, development of
AQMS through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
(CCME)
– Role has enabled Alberta to strongly influence what the System is
and how it will operate
Why is AQMS important to AB?
• We already have place based air management, but…
– AQMS aligns the federal government with our CEMS approach
– Draws on federal strengths (e.g. backstopping Base Level Industrial
Emission Requirements to ensure a basic level playing field across
Canada; providing leadership on transboundary pollution)
– Also draws on provincial strengths – air quality management in air
zones and implementation of the Base Level Industrial Emission
Requirements
Main Elements of AQMS
1. Base-level Industry Emissions Requirements
(BLIERS)
2. Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS)
3. Air zone management
Element 1: Base-level Industry Emissions
Requirements (BLIERS)
• Base-Level Industrial Emissions Requirements (BLIERs)
– Good standard of industrial performance regardless of air quality;
13 industrial sectors and 3 cross cutting equipment groups; cross
cutting VOC BLIER
– Provinces to regulate the BLIERs; federal backstop to ensure
compliance
• Mobile sources
– Collaboration to reduce emissions; share best practices
– Focus on transportation emissions
Element 2: Canadian Ambient Air Quality
Standards (CAAQS)
• Will start with new Standards for PM and ozone
• Replace the existing Canada-wide Standards
• Follows the same principles as Alberta’s CASA
PM/Ozone Management Framework
– Air quality threshold levels below the Standard
– More rigorous actions as air quality approaches or exceeds
CAAQS
• CAAQS for NO2 and SO2 are planned
Proposed CAAQS and Thresholds
Management
Level
Ozone
Daily max 8h
(ppb)
2015
Red
Threshold
(CAAQS)
Orange
Threshold
Yellow
Threshold
Green
2020
PM2.5
Annual
(µg m-3)
2015
2020
PM2.5
24h
(µg m-3)
2015
2020
Actions for Achieving Air Zone CAAQS
63
62
10.0
8.8
28
27
Actions for Preventing CAAQS Exceedances
56
6.4
19
Actions for Preventing AQ Deterioration
50
4.0
10
Actions for Keeping Clean Areas Clean
• Current CWS for ozone – 65 ppb, PM2.5 24h – 30 µg m-3
Element 3: Air Zone Management
•
Place-based approach for managing air quality
•
6 Regional Airsheds across Canada
– Cross provincial/international boundaries
– Coordinate action on transboundary air pollution
•
Local Air Zones
– Geographical units within Alberta for air quality management
and reporting to ensure CAAQS not exceeded
Proposed Regional Airsheds
What is an Air Zone?
• Finite area that exhibits similar air quality issues and
challenges throughout
– within provincial/territorial boundaries
• Purpose: to facilitate effective management of air quality at a
local scale
• Air zones will cover all of Alberta
• Each province delineates and manages air zones within its
boundaries
– CCME proposed guidance for air zone delineation and
management
Air Zone Delineation Considerations
• Consideration of spatial characteristics
– Emission sources and air quality
– Meteorology and geography
– Socio-economic patterns and projections
• Additional Alberta considerations for delineation
– Existing Alberta airshed zones
– Existing land-use regions
– Resources: keep number of air zones low to reduce resources
required
• Alignment with EXISTING programs
Air Zone Implementation and Reporting
• Stakeholder engagement summer 2012
– Seek input on air zone boundaries
– How best to manage air quality in the air zones
• Reporting starts in 2014
– 1st annual report in 2014 (based on 2011 to 2013 data)
• Management levels for each air zone set in 2014
• Air zone management plans to
– achieve 2015 and 2020 CAAQS
– focus on priority areas with particular air quality challenges or high
population densities
Path Forward on AQMS Implementation
• AB will have a single air quality management system meeting
national AQMS obligations and all our other air quality
management needs
• In meeting national AQMS obligations, must ensure alignment
with other AB obligations, frameworks and strategies
• Need to build on or use existing processes where possible –
practical, cost-effective approach, avoiding duplication
• Key national milestone – Fall 2012 CCME Council of Ministers
meeting – chaired by our Minister
LUF Regions and Airshed Map
Current Role of Airshed Zones
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•
•
•
•
•
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Initially established in 1995 – currently nine in Alberta
Developed based on a regional need
Air quality monitoring – sharing of data
Development of airshed management plans
Delivery of non-regulatory management
Education and outreach
Forums for stakeholder discussion about air quality
issues
Future Role of Airshed Zones?
• Some options:
– Continue as a voluntary non-profit organization
– Operate monitoring stations
– Participate on air zone management team
• Options (if overlap with > 1 air zone):
– Participate in more than one air zone
– Participate in air zone most important to them
– Adjust boundaries
• What do you think the future role of Alberta airsheds should be?
QUESTIONS?
Bob Myrick
Bob.Myrick@gov.ab.ca
780 415 9364