Air Quality in Grand Forks - Getting Started

Playing catch up

Making do

Presented to the Clean Air Forum March 2008

By Chris Moslin, Chair BAQC

•1992 - PM10 monitoring starts atop City Hall

•1996 - Grand Forks City Council and Area D form first Air Quality Committee

•1996 - First public complaint about Cantex Asphalt Plant Operation

•1997 Province’s portable air monitoring trailer installed for six months

•1998 - The Reid Report

•1999 - the pollution hotline

•2002 - Friends of the Granby appeal Roxul permit and are denied

•2002 - Ralph Adam’s report

•2005 - 2.5 PM partisol monitor installed

•2006 - BAQC formed

Background History

Major Findingsi) That the downtown area is most affected by elevated levels of pm10.

ii) In the downtown, Industrial sources account for 45% of the particulate and Domestic sources account for 55% (open burning, wood stoves, roadway and other dust).

iii) Wind speeds are low; pollutants that should dissipate do not, resulting in high ambient pollutant concentrations.

iv) A ground based layered haze is visible approximately one third of the time, particularly early in the morning. This haze drifts to the East of town. The Nursery area is less affected by pm10 pollution than downtown.

RecommendationsI) 50 % voluntary reduction in industrial emissions

II) 50%voluntary reduction in woodstove emissions

III) Ban on all uncontrolled outdoor burning within the municipality

IV) City program to reduce fugitive dust from roadway emissions

The Reid Report 1998

Conclusions and RecommendationsThe levels of inhalable particulate matter are among the highest in the southern interior and a concern to public health

With the measurements available we cannot distinguish between fugitive dust and smoke

The distribution of the particulate matter reading during the days of the week suggest that the problem is due to human activities

Respirable particulate matter monitoring should begin as soon as possible

Wind measurements should be made to investigate prevailing winds more thoroughly

Records from industry should be examined to see if there is an annual or weekly cycle to emissions

The city should summarize the methods used to clean-up fugitive road dust to look for improvement

The city should conduct a wood heating survey to allow an estimate of emissions from wood heaters

The Air Quality Committee be resurrected to address the issue of airshed planning

Ralph Adam’s Report 2002

The BAQC

Advisory Committee to Council

Stakeholders invited to participate

The Community Engagement Team

The Measurement, Analysis and Data Team

Public involvement

Quick Starts• TEOM 2.5 monitoring • Met station at Airport• Cash from MoE• Cash and in-kind support

from local governments• Commitment from

stakeholders• Public awareness and

support

Goals for 2007 - Reaching out• By October 2007, BAQC will have worked

with MoE to set goals with each industry on a specific project to improve air quality.

• By October 2007, BAQC will have taken tours of local industry to better understand their operations in order to set goals.

• By October 2007, MoE will have assisted the BAQC with the completion of an emissions inventory.

• By January 2007, TEOM data will be available on a daily basis on-line in real-time.

• By October 2007, BAQC will have secured long-term funding.

• By October 2007, BAQC will develop a "wood stove" strategy.

• Throughout 2006-7, BAQC will engage the community through education and reporting.

AccomplishmentsWeb site

Public Survey

Commuter Challenge

Anti-idling bylaw

Emissions Inventory

Roxul’s investment in air quality

City Weather Station

Wood stove exchange program

Access to real time TEOM data

Goals for 2008• Distribute, discuss and use the Emissions Inventory

• Continue with community engagement programs

• Complete a Dispersion Modelling study

• Implement additional Airshed monitoring equipment

• Implement real time monitoring of the airshed

• Prepare an Air Quality Management Plan

• Present the AQMP to local governments for ratification

Tips for Success• Use facilitation to create a

mandate statement• Build connections• Treat each other

respectfully• PLAN • Be public• PATIENCE