Description
Background: There is currently a dearth of air monitoring data and analytical tools available to characterize ambient air quality in rural areas of Utah, and specifically on federally managed public lands. In addition, there is a need to develop modeling tools and data to conduct analysis of air quality issues in these areas. Projects enabled by this assistance agreement will help BLM and other agencies to determine whether adverse impacts to public health and/or other air quality related values are occurring due to BLM authorized activities, and to take appropriate action when issues are discovered. This will help insure that management decisions related to air quality do not have unintended consequences to the general public, public lands, and the resources on those lands. Without the types of data this project is intended to provide the BLM cannot make reasoned decisions on these issues. It is unlikely this monitoring and modeling tool development will occur without a collaborative effort by the BLM and a recipient. The reason for this lack of infrastructure is that air quality efforts are typically, and by regulatory statute required to, focus attention on urban areas with larger populations that have the potential for more significant air quality issues affecting greater numbers of population. This does not negate the need for these efforts in rural areas; however funding can be problematic when competing under limited budgets. Objectives: The objective of this project is to support a partner in improving and expanding air quality monitoring in rural areas of Utah, and improving the tools used in air quality analysis, in particular modeling data sets and prognostic methods. Air monitoring assistance will initially include data storage/publication, QA, monthly site visits, equipment repairs (not capitol asset replacement), for the operation of a long-term air quality monitoring station (O3, NOx, Met., and possibly PM2.5 ) in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The monitoring station will supplement the Utah Department of Air Quality (UDAQ) air monitoring network, and provide BLM with data for NEPA, modeling, and analysis of impacts. Other monitoring stations and field-studies may be established based on available funding and needs, and in consultation and agreement with UDAQ and other federal land managers. Additionally, this agreement will help support improvements to the emission inventory tracking tool currently under development, including the incorporation of the 2014 emissions inventory producer workbooks (by company, equipment, location, and EF) and new price forecasting methods (including the ability to use fixed pricing). Additional modeling and analytical tool support may be pursued based on available funding. Public Benefit: Without adequate ambient quality monitoring data BLM and other partners cannot adequately assess the impact authorized activities are having and will have on air resources. As there is no planned expansion of ambient air monitoring planned by other agencies in the areas described above, this project will directly benefit rural Utah public health by expanding air monitoring, and in particular by the ability to characterize and predict impacts to air quality from proposed and ongoing BLM authorized activities.