Smoke Approval Process

 

August 30, 2011

In Reply Refer To:

9211-1 (9340) P

 

EMS TRANSMISSION  08/31/11

Instruction Memorandum No. AZ-2011-028

Expires:  9/30/2013     EXPIRED

 

To:                  District Fire Management Officers, District Fuels Specialists

 

From:              State Director

 

Subject:           Smoke Approval Process

 

Purpose:  The purpose of this Instruction Memorandum (IM) is to identify the process and requirements for coordination of smoke management and prescribed burning treatments between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona Fire and Fuels Programs and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

Policy/Action:  The ADEQ currently requires each agency to coordinate smoke management and prescribed burning treatments in order to mitigate air quality impacts throughout the State.  The BLM Arizona Fire and Fuels Program will comply with all mandates and timeframes required by the ADEQ to ensure that proper coordination between the two agencies is conducted.

 

There are four timeframes that must be met in order comply with the ADEQ mandates and timelines.

 

1.   The annual program of work registration form required by ADEQ will be completed by field units and e-mailed to Rance Marquez, Fuels Specialist, at the State Office (SO) for review by January 10.  The SO will compile the registrations and submit them to the ADEQ by January 15.  Field units will be responsible for the remainder of the treatment (Attachments 2, 3 and 4) submissions.

 

2.   The ADEQ Burn Plan form will be submitted to the ADEQ 2 weeks prior to the prescribed fire implementation.

 

3.   Burn requests will be submitted to ADEQ by 1400 hours, the day before the prescribed fire implementation.

 

4.   Daily prescribed fire accomplishments will be submitted to the ADEQ by 1400 hours on the business day following the date of the approved ignition.

 

In addition, if the prescribed fire is anticipated to produce a large plume, the plume report will also need to be submitted along with daily prescribed fire accomplishments.

 

It is recommended that during the National Environmental Policy Act analysis, if smoke modeling shows that smoke may have an effect on a neighboring state, it is advisable to coordinate with the adjacent state(s) smoke coordinator.

 

Timeframe:  This IM is effective immediately.  The ADEQ smoke year is based on the calendar year, January 1 - December 31.

 

Background:  ADEQ’s air quality protection efforts are designed to assure compliance with Federal and State health-based air quality standards.  Responsibility for protecting Arizona’s outdoor (ambient) air quality is shared by ADEQ and all land management agencies.  In order to ensure air quality standards are met, it is the duty and responsibility of the BLM to ensure that all planned and unplanned wildland fire activities meet the requirements for reporting and are closely coordinated with ADEQ.

 

Budget Impact:  None

 

Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  None

 

Contact:  Questions should be directed to Rance Marquez at 602-417-9305.

 

SIGNED BY                                                    AUTHENTICATED BY

Raymond Suazo                                              Susan Williams

for James G. Kenna                                         Staff Assistant

 

5 Attachments: