Background Newport Beach request to the Coastal Commission to - - PDF document

6/14/2013 1

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

6/14/2013 2

3

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 Beach Balboa/Newport Beach 33 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.

6/14/2013 3

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.

6/14/2013 4

Beach Fire Pit Emissions

 Assessed the emissions of a single fire ring for

• ne 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

6/14/2013 5

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

• n 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

Fire pits Stationary Monitor 1.4 1.4 1.2 1.1 2.5 2.7 2.2 2.7 1.5 1.1 1.7 1.1 1.0 1.7 1.2 2.0 2.5 4.9

6/14/2013 6

4.9 3.7

15 Fire pits 16 Fire pits 1

2.3

Night Wind

1.1 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.4 1.4 Mobile Measurements: 10 minute averages Measurements: 7pm to 10pm average

Preliminary Results: Balboa Beach 3/23/13 10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background Preliminary Results: Dockweiler State Beach 4/20/13 10 Minute Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

Fire pits 1.5 2.0 1.0 1.5 3.5 5.0 1.0 2.0 1.5 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.5 1.5 16

6/14/2013 7

Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/13/13 10 Min Average PM2.5 Relative to Background

5.6 8.0 1.4 3.6

10.8

0.6 2.4 2.4 1.6 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.2 1.6 1.2 1.0

Background

9.8 2.0 3.2 3.0 1.8 2.8 1.4 4.8 4.6 1.3 1.4

Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/27/13

Gradient 1 Gradient 2 Gradient 3

6/14/2013 8

Preliminary Results: Huntington Beach 4/27/13

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

Estimated PM2.5 Relative to Background Level

Distance from Source (meters) Gradient 1 Gradient 2 Gradient 3 I

• 710 freeway (SCAQMD, 2012)

I

• 405 freeway (Zhu et al., 2002)

Preliminary Results: Doheny State Beach 06/01/13 20 minute Average PM2.5 Ratio to Background

2.6 1.4 1.6 1.0 1.0 2.3 1.3 Fire Pits 7.6 9.0

6/14/2013 9

Preliminary Results: Doheny State Beach 06/01/13

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Estimated PM2.5 Relative to Background Level Distance from Source (meters) Gradient 1 Gradient 2 I-710 freeway (SCAQMD, 2012) I-405 freeway (Zhu et al., 2002)

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

6/14/2013 10

Huntington Beach Preliminary Data: PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

4/12/13 0:00 4/12/13 12:00 4/13/13 0:00 4/13/13 12:00 4/14/13 0:00 4/14/13 12:00 4/15/13 0:00 4/15/13 12:00 4/16/13 0:00 4/16/13 12:00 4/17/13 0:00 4/17/13 12:00 4/18/13 0:00 4/18/13 12:00 4/19/13 0:00 4/19/13 12:00 4/20/13 0:00 4/20/13 12:00 4/21/13 0:00 4/21/13 12:00 4/22/13 0:00 4/22/13 12:00 4/23/13 0:00 4/23/13 12:00 4/24/13 0:00 4/24/13 12:00 4/25/13 0:00 4/25/13 12:00 4/26/13 0:00 4/26/13 12:00 4/27/13 0:00 4/27/13 12:00 4/28/13 0:00 4/28/13 12:00 4/29/13 0:00 4/29/13 12:00 4/30/13 0:00 4/30/13 12:00 5/1/13 0:00 5/1/13 12:00 5/2/13 0:00

Hourly Average PM2.5 (ug/m3)

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

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”

50 100 150 200 250

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 5/1/2013 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 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 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

Hourly Average PM2.5 (ug/m3) 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)

6/14/2013 11

20 40 60 80 100 120 140

4/27/2013 0:00 4/27/2013 6:00 4/27/2013 12:00 4/27/2013 18:00 4/28/2013 0:00 4/28/2013 6:00 4/28/2013 12:00 4/28/2013 18:00 4/29/2013 0:00 4/29/2013 6:00 4/29/2013 12:00 4/29/2013 18:00 4/30/2013 0:00 4/30/2013 6:00 4/30/2013 12:00 4/30/2013 18:00 5/1/2013 0:00

Hourly Average PM2.5 (ug/m3) 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)

Corona del Mar Preliminary Data: 4/27 to 5/01/13 PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series

Evening Hours Sat Sun Mon Tues

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”

Balboa Beach Preliminary Data: PM2.5 Hourly Average Time Series

USG = Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Unhealthy – “consider canceling public events, based on public health and travel considerations”

50 100 150 200 250

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 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 5/1/13 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 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 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 0:00

Hourly Average PM2.5 (ug/m3) Date/Time

Balboa Beach PM2.5 (ug/m3) USG 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3) Unhealthy 1 to 3 hour (ug/m3)

6/14/2013 12 Preliminary Results: Maximum Hourly PM2.5 Concentration Comparison

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 Station Fire (2009) July 4th, 2012 South Coast Basin (2012) Huntington Beach Corona del Mar Balboa Beach Maximum Hourly PM2.5 Concentration (ug/m3)

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

6/14/2013 13

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

 Initial proposal prohibited all beach burning (March 21, 2013)  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 if 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

6/14/2013 14

Impacts of Revised Proposal

 Provides additional authority and discretion to cities to remove fire rings through a nuisance declaration  If a city does not make a nuisance declaration

 All fire rings outside 700 ft. residential buffer zone are still allowed at any spacing  Fire rings within 700 ft. zone subject to spacing requirements (50 or 100 ft.)  Burning is subject to coastal “no-burn” days (once in last 3 years)

 Net effect:

 Huntington State Beach: ~30 rings would be moved or spaced out  Doheny State Beach: ~20 of 60 rings would be moved or spaced out  Aliso, San Clemente: slight shifting of rings would meet requirements

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

6/14/2013 15