6/13/13
Newport Beach El Segundo June 13th June 14th
Background Newport Beach request to the Coastal Commission to remove fire rings Commission staff cited exemption in SCAQMD rules as justification to deny request Large number of fire rings close to where people live, work, & play Wood smoke poses a localized health impact on beach goers and nearby residents
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Beach Name City No. of Fire Rings LOS ANGELES COUNTY Total = 79 Dockweiler State Beach Playa del Rey 73 Cabrillo Beach San Pedro 6 ORANGE COUNTY Total = 687 Bolsa Chica State Beach Huntington Beach 178 Huntington City Beach Huntington Beach 112 Huntington State Beach Huntington Beach 240 Balboa/Newport 33 Balboa Beach Beach Corona Del Mar State Beach Newport Beach 27 Aliso Beach County Park South Laguna 7 Doheny State Beach Dana Point 72 Capistrano Beach Park Capistrano 4 North Beach San Clemente 5 San Clemente City Beach San Clemente 9
* Not intended to be an all inclusive list. 3
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Agency Positions on Wood Smoke
California Air Resources Board Wood smoke a serious threat to public health Aggravates lung and heart disease Can cause 10% increase in children's hospital admissions for respiratory symptoms U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wood smoke can affect everyone Children, persons with existing health conditions most vulnerable Health risks can be reduced by switching to gaseous fuels
PM Health Guidance National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5: Annual Average: 12 mg/m3 24 Hour Average: 35 mg/m3 Guidance for Public Health Officials for Wildfire Smoke Recommended protective measures based upon shorter term PM exposure Includes Time frames as short as 1 to 3 hours for both PM2.5 and PM10: 89 - 138 mg/m3 - Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) 139 - 351 mg/m3 - Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations” 352 - 526 mg/m3 - Very Unhealthy
Lipsett, Michael and Barbara Materna, Wildfire Smoke A Guide for Public Health Officials, 2008.
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Beach Fire Pit Emissions
Assessed the emissions of a single fire ring for one evening One fire event assumed to burn 2 bundles of wood (approx. 32 lbs total) Assumed CARB fireplace emission factor Compared emissions to that of an average on- road 2013 Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicle (HDDV) One fire pit in one evening estimated to emit as much PM2.5 as one Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck driving 564 miles
SCAQMD Monitoring Studies Purpose Assess potential for human exposure to wood smoke from beach fires Approach Deploy a combination of monitoring technologies and sampling strategies Other Considerations Shifting meteorology, variable activity levels, technology limitations
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Gradient Surveys Objective: Assess the PM impacts of the Beach Fires at multiple locations downwind over the course of an evening Methods: TSI Inc. DustTrak DRX – Measures PM1, PM2.5, PM10 on a second-by-second basis Advantages: small, portable, high time resolution, good survey tool for relative measurements Limitations: not certified to federal reference method criteria. A drying inlet implemented to remove humidity effects
Preliminary Results: Corona Del Mar 3/30/13
10 Minute Average PM10 Relative to Background Levels Ratios to Lowest Observe Measurement
1.1
1.2
1.4 1.4 2.5 1.7 1.2 4.9 1.1 2.0 2.5 Stationary 1.7 Monitor 2.2 Fire pits 2.7 1.1 1.5 1.0 2.7
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Preliminary Results: Balboa Beach 3/23/13
10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background 1.1
2.3
Mobile Measurements: 10 minute averages 1.5 1 1.3 Measurements: 7pm to 10pm average 1.3 3.7
15 Fire pits 1.4
4.9
1.4
Night Night Wind
16 Fire pits
Preliminary Results: Dockweiler State Beach 4/20/13
10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background
1.0
1.5
5.0 2.0 3.5 1.5 16 2.0 1.0 1.5
1.0
3.5 Fire pits 1.5
1.0 1.0 1.0
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Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/13/13
10 Min Average PM2.5 Relative to Background
1.0 10.8 2.4 Background 3.6 1.6 5.6 1.8 8.0 1.4 2.4 1.2 1.8 1.8 1.2 1.6
1.8 0.6 2.8 1.4 3.0 1.8 9.8 1.4 2.0 1.3 3.2 4.8 4.6
Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/27/13
Gradient 1
Gradient 2
Gradient 3
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Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/27/13 12
11 Gradient 1 10 Gradient 2
9 Gradient 3
8 I -710 freeway (SCAQMD, 2012) I -405 freeway (Zhu et al., 2002) 7
6
5
to Background Level Background to 4
Estimated PM2.5 Relative PM2.5 Estimated 3
2
1 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 Distance from Source (meters)
Preliminary Results: Doheny State Beach 06/01/13
20 minute Average PM2.5 Ratio to Background
1.3 2.6 2.3 Fire Pits 9.0 1.0
1.4
7.6 1.0 1.6
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Preliminary Results: Doheny State Beach 06/01/13
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Gradient 1 9 Gradient 2 8 I-710 freeway (SCAQMD, 2012) I-405 freeway (Zhu et al., 2002) 7
6
5
Background LevelBackground 4 Estimated PM2.5 Relative to Relative PM2.5 Estimated 3
2
1 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Distance from Source (meters)
Fixed-Site Monitoring Objective: Assess the PM impacts of the Beach Fires at a fixed locations, continuously over time Methods: E-BAM – Measures PM2.5 on an hourly basis Advantages: portable, low power, same measurement principle as a Federal Equivalent Method Limitations: less accurate at low levels Aethalometer – Measures Black Carbon, an indicator of combustion, on a continuous basis Condensation Particle Counter (CPC) - Measures Ultrafine particles, indicative of nearby sources of combustion
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Huntington Beach Preliminary Data: PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series 200
180
160 /m3)
140
ug ( 120
100 PM2.5 80 60
Average Average 40 20
Hourly Hourly 0
5/1/13 0:00 5/1/13 0:00 5/2/13
4/12/13 4/12/13 0:00 4/13/13 0:00 4/14/13 0:00 4/15/13 0:00 4/16/13 0:00 4/17/13 0:00 4/18/13 0:00 4/19/13 0:00 4/20/13 0:00 4/21/13 0:00 4/22/13 0:00 4/23/13 0:00 4/24/13 0:00 4/25/13 0:00 4/26/13 0:00 4/27/13 0:00 4/28/13 0:00 4/29/13 0:00 4/30/13 0:00 12:00 5/1/13
4/12/13 4/12/13 12:00 4/13/13 12:00 4/14/13 12:00 4/15/13 12:00 4/16/13 12:00 4/17/13 12:00 4/18/13 12:00 4/19/13 12:00 4/20/13 12:00 4/21/13 12:00 4/22/13 12:00 4/23/13 12:00 4/24/13 12:00 4/25/13 12:00 4/26/13 12:00 4/27/13 12:00 4/28/13 12:00 4/29/13 12:00 4/30/13 12:00 Date/Time EBAM 1 E-BAM 5 USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3) Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)
USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”
Corona Del Mar Preliminary Data:
PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series 250
/m3) 200
ug ( 150
100
50
0
Hourly Average PM2.5 PM2.5 Average Hourly
5/1/2013 5/1/2013 0:00 5/2/2013 0:00 5/3/2013 0:00 5/4/2013 0:00 5/5/2013 0:00 5/6/2013 0:00 5/7/2013 0:00 5/8/2013 0:00 5/9/2013 0:00 6/1/2013 0:00 6/2/2013 0:00 6/3/2013 0:00 6/4/2013 0:00 6/5/2013 0:00
4/23/2013 4/23/2013 0:00 4/24/2013 0:00 4/25/2013 0:00 4/26/2013 0:00 4/27/2013 0:00 4/28/2013 0:00 4/29/2013 0:00 4/30/2013 0:00 5/10/2013 0:00 5/11/2013 0:00 5/12/2013 0:00 5/13/2013 0:00 5/14/2013 0:00 5/15/2013 0:00 5/16/2013 0:00 5/17/2013 0:00 5/18/2013 0:00 5/19/2013 0:00 5/20/2013 0:00 5/21/2013 0:00 5/22/2013 0:00 5/23/2013 0:00 5/24/2013 0:00 5/25/2013 0:00 5/26/2013 0:00 5/27/2013 0:00 5/28/2013 0:00 5/29/2013 0:00 5/30/2013 0:00 5/31/2013 0:00 Date/Time Corona del Mar PM2.5 (ug/m3) Corona del Mar PM2.5 B (ug/m3) USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3) Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)
USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”
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Corona del Mar Preliminary Data: 4/27 to 5/01/13
PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series
) 140 3
/m 120
ug Sat Sun Mon Tues ( 100 80 60 40
20
0
Hourly Average PM2.5 PM2.5 Average Hourly
5/1/2013 5/1/2013 0:00
4/27/2013 4/27/2013 0:00 4/27/2013 6:00 4/28/2013 0:00 4/28/2013 6:00 4/29/2013 0:00 4/29/2013 6:00 4/30/2013 0:00 4/30/2013 6:00
4/27/2013 4/27/2013 12:00 4/27/2013 18:00 4/28/2013 12:00 4/28/2013 18:00 4/29/2013 12:00 4/29/2013 18:00 4/30/2013 12:00 4/30/2013 18:00 Date/Time Corona del Mar PM2.5 (ug/m3) Corona del Mar PM2.5 B (ug/m3) Evening USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3) Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3) Hours USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”
Balboa Beach Preliminary Data: PM Hourly Average Time Series
250 2.5
/m3) 200
ug (
150 PM2.5
100 Average Average
50
Hourly Hourly
0
4/3/13 0:00 4/3/13 0:00 4/4/13 0:00 4/5/13 0:00 4/6/13 0:00 4/7/13 0:00 4/8/13 0:00 4/9/13 0:00 5/1/13 0:00 5/2/13 0:00 5/3/13 0:00 5/4/13 0:00 5/5/13 0:00 5/6/13 0:00 5/7/13 0:00 5/8/13 0:00 5/9/13 0:00 6/1/13 0:00 6/2/13 0:00 6/3/13 0:00 6/4/13 0:00 6/5/13
4/10/13 0:00 4/10/13 0:00 4/11/13 0:00 4/12/13 0:00 4/13/13 0:00 4/14/13 0:00 4/15/13 0:00 4/16/13 0:00 4/17/13 0:00 4/18/13 0:00 4/19/13 0:00 4/20/13 0:00 4/21/13 0:00 4/22/13 0:00 4/23/13 0:00 4/24/13 0:00 4/25/13 0:00 4/26/13 0:00 4/27/13 0:00 4/28/13 0:00 4/29/13 0:00 4/30/13 0:00 5/10/13 0:00 5/11/13 0:00 5/12/13 0:00 5/13/13 0:00 5/14/13 0:00 5/15/13 0:00 5/16/13 0:00 5/17/13 0:00 5/18/13 0:00 5/19/13 0:00 5/20/13 0:00 5/21/13 0:00 5/22/13 0:00 5/23/13 0:00 5/24/13 0:00 5/25/13 0:00 5/26/13 0:00 5/27/13 0:00 5/28/13 0:00 5/29/13 0:00 5/30/13 0:00 5/31/13 Date/Time Balboa Beach PM2.5 (ug/m3) USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3) Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)
USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”
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Preliminary Results: Maximum Hourly PM2.5 Concentration Comparison 800
700
600
500
400 (ug/m3) 300
200
100 Maximum Hourly PM2.5 Concentration PM2.5 Concentration Hourly Maximum
0 Station Fire July 4th, 2012 South Coast Huntington Corona del Balboa (2009) Basin (2012) Beach Mar Beach
USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”
Filter analysis
Corona del Mar (3/30 to 4/19), Huntington Beach (4/24 to current) - PM2.5 Mass (24 hour average) – Daily Samples • All below 12.5 ug/m3, under the 24 hour NAAQS level (35 ug/m3) • One day nearly 40 ug/m3, day had very high gusty winds
- PM10 mass (4 hour sample, 4/6) - One Sample Only • Sample collected from 5 to 9pm with burning activity shown to have PM10 mass concentration of 95 ug/m3. • 30% higher concentration than sample collected from 1 to 5pm • Elevated levels of Potassium, an indicator for wood smoke
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Preliminary Air Monitoring Conclusions
• Beach fire activity is impacting PM2.5 levels at the beach and extending into neighboring communities • Concentrations can be over 10 times background levels for short periods of time in beach parking areas, up to 3 times background at residential locations • 1-hour average PM concentrations can exceed public health guidance levels • Some measurements are higher than observed across the Basin over a whole year
Proposed Rule 444 Amendments Revised Language released on June 6, 2013 Provision for cities to remove rings if they are declared to be a public nuisance All rings more than 700 feet from residences are allowed Spacing requirements within 700 feet 100 feet apart, or 50 feet apart if 15 or less pits in a city No-burn days if high particulate levels are forecast in that coastal area Only applicable to pits on the sand Public Hearing to consider rule continued until July 12th
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Next steps • Seek public input • Continue field sampling as necessary • Continue to report findings to public as they become available • Continue to work with potentially impacted cities and state parks • Demonstration project for propane and natural gas beach fire options • Public Hearing scheduled for July 12, 2013
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