Transcript AGRICULTURE’S EFFECTS ON AIR QUALITY AGRICULTURE, SOCIETY, AND THE NATURAL WORLD AGST 3000 December 6, 2005 Ron Harben, Air Quality Specialist California Association of Resource Conservation Districts.

AGRICULTURE’S EFFECTS
ON AIR QUALITY
AGRICULTURE, SOCIETY, AND THE
NATURAL WORLD
AGST 3000
December 6, 2005
Ron Harben, Air Quality Specialist
California Association of Resource
Conservation Districts
AGENDA
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Introduction
Air Quality Parameters
PM-10
Ozone
Conclusions
AGENDA
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Introduction
Air Quality Parameters
PM-10
Ozone
Conclusions
Introduction: RON HARBEN
 Present Position: Air Quality Planner and Coordinator, CARCD, since 09/02
 Last Position: Executive Officer of the Alameda County RCD (2 ½ yrs)
 Previous Positions with the USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service:
1. State Grazing Lands Specialist, Hawaii (4 years)
2. District Conservationist – 11 years
3. Range Conservationist – 6 ½ years
4. Soil Conservationist - 2 ½ years
5. Area Resource Conservationist – 2 years
 BS in Rangeland Management from Humboldt State University
 US Navy Veteran (1963 – 67)
 Major Duties:
1. AQ planning help to growers
2. Develop data base to track emission reductions
3. Implement information and education program
4. Keep up to date on AQ laws and regulations
Careers in NRCS
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/intranet/hispanic/careers.html
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Soil Conservationist
Range Mgt Specialist
Biologist
Soil Con Technician
Soil Scientist
Engineer
Engineering Technician
Agronomist
Forester
Hydrologist
Watershed Management
Rural Sociologist
Wetland Biologist
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Accounting
Ag Economics
Aquatic Biology
Business Admin.
Cartography
Communications
Computer Technology
Geology
Landscape Architect
Plant Sciences
Recreation
Wildlife Biologist
Air Quality Specialist
AGENDA
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Introduction
Air Quality Parameters
PM-10
Ozone
Conclusions
AIR QUALITY PARAMETERS
PM10
OZONE
NOx
SOx
Mercury
(Hg)
PM2.5
Volatile
Organic
Compounds
Carbon
Lead
(Pb)
Monoxide
Carbon
Dioxide*
Ambient Air Quality Standards &
Valley Attainment Status
PollutantDesignation/Classification
Federal Standards
State Standards
Ozone - One hour
No Federal Standard
(See note below)
Nonattainment/Serious*
Nonattainment/Serious
Nonattainment
Attainment1
Unclassified/Attainment
Unclassified/Attainment1
Nonattainment/Severe
Unclassified/Attainment1
Unclassified/Attainment
Attainment
Unclassified
No Designation*
No Federal Standard*
No Federal Standard*
No Federal Standard*
Attainment
Attainment
Attainment
Attainment
Attainment
Unclassified
Attainment
Unclassified
Ozone - Eight hour
PM-10
PM-2.5
CO - Fresno Urbanized Area
CO - Remainder of Fresno County
CO - Merced, Madera and Kings Counties
CO - Kern (SJVAB portion), Tulare, Stanislaus,
San Joaquin
Nitrogen Dioxide
Sulfur Dioxide - Kern County (SJVAB portion)
Sulfur Dioxide - All Other Counties
Lead (Particulate)*
Hydrogen Sulfide*
Sulfates*
Visibility Reducing Particles*
No State Standard
Nonattainment
No State Standard
Nonattainment/Moderate
Attainment
Unclassified
San Joaquin Valley Air Basin
Boundaries
San Joaquin Valley Airshed
Topography
 Continuous intermountain
valley (250 mi. x 80 mi.)
 Coast Range (5,000’+)
 Sierra Nevada Range
(14,000’+)
 Tehachapi Mountains
(6,000’+)
 Open to the north into
Sacramento Valley and
San Francisco Bay
Meteorology
 Hot, dry summers and cool,
rainy winters
 Weather controlled by
“Pacific High” off the West
Coast of the US
 Precipitation: 4 – 11 in./yr.
 Inversion layer occurs
when air increases in
temperature with altitude
 Light and variable winds
San Joaquin Valley Airshed
Summer
Winter
AGENDA
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Introduction
Air Quality Parameters
PM-10
Ozone
Conclusions
Particulate Matter: What is It?
A complex mixture of extremely small
particles and liquid droplets
Hair cross section (70 mm)
Human Hair (70 µm diameter)
PM10
(10µm)
PM2.5
(2.5 µm)
M. Lipsett, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
PM-10 BACKGROUND INFO
 Particulate matter consists very small (10 microns or
less) solid or liquid particles of soot, dust, smoke, salt,
acids, metals, and mists. Sources of PM10 include:
1. Oxides of nitrogen from motor vehicles,
2. Smoke from wood burning stoves and
fireplaces, wildfires; burning brush, orchard and
vineyard prunings; and waste burning;
3. Dust from construction, demolition, landfills, and
agriculture,
4. Industrial sources; e.g., oil and gas production,
metal coatings, glass manufacturing, and
5. Windblown dust from open fields.