Agriculture Improving Agriculture Improving Air QualityAir Quality

Asian Pacific Islander Organization Asian Pacific Islander Organization 2009 Annual Training Conference, 2009 Annual Training Conference, Sacramento August 21, 2009Sacramento August 21, 2009

Ted StraussTed StraussResource ConservationistResource ConservationistAir Quality, Climate Change, EnergyAir Quality, Climate Change, Energy

Welcome to CaliforniaWelcome to CaliforniaUS Most Air Polluted US Most Air Polluted

CitiesCities

#1 Los Angeles#1 Los Angeles

#2 Bakersfield#2 Bakersfield

#3 Visalia#3 Visalia

#4 Fresno#4 Fresno

#5 Houston#5 Houston

#6 Sacramento#6 Sacramento

#7 Dallas-Fort Worth#7 Dallas-Fort Worth

#8 Charlotte#8 Charlotte

#9 Phoenix#9 Phoenix

#10 El Centro#10 El Centro

#11 Hanford#11 Hanford

#12 Las Vegas#12 Las Vegas

#13 San Diego#13 San Diego(Ozone) 2009 Rankings - American Lung Association(Ozone) 2009 Rankings - American Lung Association

California has a serious air California has a serious air pollution program…pollution program…

Annual health impacts from Annual health impacts from California air pollutionCalifornia air pollution

8,800 premature deaths 8,800 premature deaths 7,700 7,700 hospitalizations 210,000 respiratory

illnesses– Including asthma

1,400,000 lost workdays 4,700,000 lost school days

2007 California Air Resources Board & American Lung Association2007 California Air Resources Board & American Lung Association

Impacts on agricultureImpacts on agriculture

Estimate $300 million annual crop Estimate $300 million annual crop losses in California losses in California – ($270 million in San Joaquin Valley)($270 million in San Joaquin Valley)

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Sequoia and Kings Canyon National ParksParks39% of Jeffery and39% of Jeffery andponderosa pinesponderosa pinesshow some visibleshow some visibleozone damageozone damage

Photo Source: National Park Service

Air Quality is Improving!Air Quality is Improving!

What Contributes to Air What Contributes to Air Pollution?Pollution?

GeographyGeography– Mountains and valleysMountains and valleys

MeteorologyMeteorology– Thermal inversionsThermal inversions– Atmospheric pressureAtmospheric pressure– Transport windsTransport winds

Social/Land UseSocial/Land Use– Population growthPopulation growth– Many emission sourcesMany emission sources– 77thth largest economy in the world largest economy in the worldModis Rapid Response SystemModis Rapid Response System

December 12, 2005December 12, 2005

CombustionCombustionEngines, boilers, heaters, Engines, boilers, heaters, open burningopen burning

EvaporativeEvaporativePaints and coatings,Paints and coatings,solvents, gasoline,solvents, gasoline,pesticides, fertilizers, lagoons, vegetation, etc.pesticides, fertilizers, lagoons, vegetation, etc.

Fugitive DustFugitive DustUnpaved roads and traffic areas, earthmoving, Unpaved roads and traffic areas, earthmoving,

material handling, open areas, wind events, material handling, open areas, wind events, etc.etc.

Monolith Portland Cement Co, circa 1968

Sources of Air PollutionSources of Air Pollution

Criteria Air PollutantsCriteria Air Pollutants

Ozone (OOzone (O33)) Particulate Matter (PM10 & Particulate Matter (PM10 &

PM2.5)PM2.5) Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) Carbon monoxide (CO)Carbon monoxide (CO) Oxides of Sulfur (SOx)Oxides of Sulfur (SOx) Lead (Pb)Lead (Pb)

60 years ago - Donora, Pennsylvania60 years ago - Donora, Pennsylvania

Kyoto Greenhouse GasesKyoto Greenhouse Gases

Methane (NHMethane (NH44))

Carbon dioxide (COCarbon dioxide (CO22))

Nitrous oxide (NNitrous oxide (N22O)O)

Sulfur hexafloride (SFSulfur hexafloride (SF66)) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) Perflourocarbons (PFC)Perflourocarbons (PFC)

NRCS Recognized NRCS Recognized PollutantsPollutants

Ozone & its precursorsOzone & its precursors– Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)– Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

Particulate MatterParticulate Matter– Respirable Particulate Matter (PM10)Respirable Particulate Matter (PM10)– Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

OdorsOdors Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases

– Methane (NHMethane (NH44))– Carbon dioxide (COCarbon dioxide (CO22))– Nitrous oxide (NNitrous oxide (N22O)O)

Agricultural practices that Agricultural practices that emit pollutantsemit pollutants

Combustion – Engines, boilers, dehydratorsCombustion – Engines, boilers, dehydrators Livestock and livestock wastesLivestock and livestock wastes Fertilizers and pesticidesFertilizers and pesticides Gasoline storage and dispensingGasoline storage and dispensing Unpaved roads and traffic areasUnpaved roads and traffic areas Open areasOpen areas EarthmovingEarthmoving SolventsSolvents Open burningOpen burning

How much air pollution is How much air pollution is from Agriculture?from Agriculture?

California Emissions Inventory (CARB 2006)

Estimated Annual Average Emissions (Tons/Day)(Excludes Biogenic Sources)

CaliforniaCalifornia NOxNOx ROGROG PM10PM10 PM2.PM2.55

Ag Ag SourcesSources 160160 220220 401401 109109

All All SourcesSources 3,5583,558 2,3212,321 2,0862,086 679679

ContributiContributionon 5%5% 10%10% 19%19% 16%16%

How much GHG How much GHG contribution is from contribution is from Agriculture?Agriculture?California GHG Inventory (CARB 2008)

2002-2004 Annual Average – (Excludes Biogenic Sources)

(Million Tons CO2 Equivalent: MMTCO2E)

CaliforniaCalifornia LivestocLivestockk CropsCrops FuelFuel TotalTotal

Ag Ag SourcesSources 13.913.9 9.29.2 4.64.6 27.727.7

All All SourcesSources 372.5372.5 468.8468.8

ContributiContributionon 1.2%1.2% 5.9%5.9%

How is air quality to How is air quality to improve?improve?

By reducing emissions at the source By reducing emissions at the source throughthrough

EducationEducation– Conferences, brochures, face-to-face Conferences, brochures, face-to-face

Deploying innovative technologies Deploying innovative technologies and conservation practicesand conservation practices

Voluntary incentivesVoluntary incentives– 2008 Farm Bill2008 Farm Bill– EQIP, CIG (b)EQIP, CIG (b)

Rules and RegulationsRules and Regulations

Energy efficiency and Energy efficiency and renewable energy renewable energy

BiomassBiomass Solar EnergySolar Energy Wind EnergyWind Energy Better energy efficiencyBetter energy efficiency Other technologiesOther technologies Find and encourage alternative Find and encourage alternative

energy use that is economical and energy use that is economical and does not result in negative impacts does not result in negative impacts to other resourcesto other resources

Agricultural Agricultural ImprovementsImprovements

NRCS offers conservation assistanceNRCS offers conservation assistance Conservation planningConservation planning Financial assistance for implementing Financial assistance for implementing

conservation practices conservation practices – Environmental Quality Incentive ProgramEnvironmental Quality Incentive Program

““It’s about conservation on the land.”It’s about conservation on the land.”– Soil, Water, Air, Plants, Animals, and Soil, Water, Air, Plants, Animals, and

Human LifeHuman Life

Conservation Management Conservation Management PracticesPractices

SJVAPCD Rule 4550SJVAPCD Rule 4550 Over 6,000 plansOver 6,000 plans 32 million acres32 million acres 35.2 tons/day PM10 35.2 tons/day PM10

reductionsreductions National recognitionNational recognition

– EPA Region IX “2005 EPA Region IX “2005 Environmental Award for Environmental Award for Outstanding Outstanding Achievement”Achievement”

SJV achieved SJV achieved attainment status for attainment status for PM10PM10

CMP CategoriesCMP Categories

Reduce soil and manure disturbancesReduce soil and manure disturbances Soil protection from wind erosionSoil protection from wind erosion Equipment modifications to physically Equipment modifications to physically

reduce PM10 emissionsreduce PM10 emissions Treat unpaved roads and surfacesTreat unpaved roads and surfaces

2008 Farm Bill2008 Farm Bill

EQIP CIG (b) EQIP CIG (b) Air Quality InitiativeAir Quality Initiative Sets aside $37.5 million for air Sets aside $37.5 million for air

qualityquality– For 2009, $16.9 million for CaliforniaFor 2009, $16.9 million for California

NAAQS nonattainment countiesNAAQS nonattainment counties– 36 California counties36 California counties

Implement acceptedImplement acceptedAir Quality PracticesAir Quality Practices

CIB (b) Air Quality CIB (b) Air Quality PracticesPractices

Conservation Tillage Residue ManagementConservation Tillage Residue Management Dust Reduction from Unpaved RoadsDust Reduction from Unpaved Roads Chipping Almond & Walnut Pruning, and Chipping Almond & Walnut Pruning, and

Chipping Orchards & VineyardsChipping Orchards & Vineyards Manure InjectionManure Injection Integrated Pest ManagementIntegrated Pest Management Precision Pest Control ApplicationPrecision Pest Control Application Treated Wood Stake DisposalTreated Wood Stake Disposal Combustion System Air Emissions Combustion System Air Emissions

ManagementManagement

Fact SheetsFact Sheets

Eligible Eligible conservation conservation programsprograms

Summarizes Summarizes requirements & requirements & specificationsspecifications

Payment Payment schedulesschedules

Contract termsContract terms

Some ChallengesSome Challenges

Finding and using the best Finding and using the best technologies and practices that technologies and practices that reduce emissions to the benefit of reduce emissions to the benefit of our natural resourcesour natural resources

Cost effectiveness Cost effectiveness Emissions inventoryEmissions inventory Regulations and deadlinesRegulations and deadlines Economic and social conditionsEconomic and social conditions Balance between air quality Balance between air quality

pollutants and greenhouse gasespollutants and greenhouse gases

QuestionsQuestions

Ted Strauss

State Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Coordinator

559-252-2191 x110

ted.strauss@ca.usda.gov