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02/04/05 - AIR NOW - is a national air quality information site sponsored by the EPA, NOAA, NASA, NPS, and Environment Canada. Check it out!

01/21/05 - The Utah Director of Air Quality has asked that burners contact the affected County Health Departments prior to burning. To assist in this process, a phone list has been posted on the Main Page with phone numbers of each counties' health department. Also, when burning along the exterior boundaries of Utah it is good to notify county health boards and local news papers and radio stations that potentially may be impacted. Those numbers will be added to this page over time.

07/04 - The Greenwire article provides a heads-up on where EPA is in potentially revising the PM2.5 standards. If the annual standard were powered from 15 ug/m3 to 12 ug/m3 the number of non-attainment areas nationally would approximately double. See attached pdf file: Greenwire061704

4/14/04 - A new publication "Laboratory Evaluation of Real-Time Smoke Particulate Monitors" 0325-2834-MTDC was just released. This report reveals information critical to be aware of when using various sensors including the DataRAM4. Copies can be obtained by calling MTDC at 406.329.3978 or emailing wo_mtdc_pubs@fs.fed.us .An electronic copy can be obtained at: http://www.fs.fed.us/eng/t-d.php?link=pubs .

2/2/04 - A new form for documentation of pile burning has been added to the forms section, Form 9 - Pile Burning Documentation. This form will be used to build up supporting documentation that will be presented to the Air Quality Board to encourage the changing of the rule governing smoke management. If you have any recommendations to add to the form, please contact the coordinator. The "Ending Clearing Index" input may not have application unless you are taking soundings at your burn site. Turn on your date and time in each of the photos so that they coincide with the data sheet. This form can be used to document photos taken previously.

1/30/04 - Forms 2 Utah Annual Burn Schedule, and Form 5 Daily Emissions Report, have been updated with Emission Reduction Techniques (ERT) in compliance with the Regional Haze Rule.

6/24/03 - A Smoke Impact Spreadsheet (SIS) Model Users Guide has recently become available. SIS is a simple-to-use, screening-level modeling system for calculating PM2.5 emissions and airborne concentrations downwind of natural or managed wildland fires. SIS produces conservative predictions of the downwind air concentrations at user-selected receptors for comparison with appropriate federal or state air quality standards for PM2.5. It consists of aa series of Excel spreadsheets, an emissions module using FOFEM5 and CONSUME 2.1, and CALPUFF.

5/16/03 - Check out the enhanced Airshed Clearing Indices. They have been modified to include enhanced information, the Average Airshed Mixing Height (AGL) and Transport Wind and Speed (knots)

3/7/03 - DataRAMs and their satellite down linked charts can be looked up automatically at: http://www.satguard.com/USFS1/ .

3/7/03 - The NWS has added two prototype "Point and Click" maps that displays the Clearing Indices/Mixing Height/Transport Winds and a digital forecast map for Utah. You can check them out at the following links: Clearing Index: http://ifps.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/aq , and digital forecast at: http://ifps.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/dwf?siteID=SLC .

RAINBOW SERIES UPDATE: The long awaited update of the "Rainbow Series" Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on air, will be available by the end of March 2003. You can obtain copies by telephone: 970.498.1392; fax: 970.498.1396; or by email to: rschneider/rmrs@fs.fed.us . Orders are currently being placed! Required information on your order should include: Name, address, email, phone, publication title: Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on air , and publication number: RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 5. You can download a copy at: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr42_5.pdf .

2/11/03 - Remote Telemetry System for Particulate Monitoring... paper released from the Missoula Technology and Development Center (MTDC). Go to: http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us to see the paper on line, or you can call to order copies at: 406-329-3978; or email copies at: wo_mtdc_pubs@fs.fed.us .

9/26/02 - Click here to see a demo of the BlueSkyRAINS project, at www.BlueSkyRAINS.org . BlueSky is a smoke modeling framework that links together data and models of fuel consumption, emissions, meteorology, and smoke dispersion; producing real-time predictions of cumulative impacts of agriculture, forest, and range fires. RAINS is a Rapid Access INformation System that makes available a wide range of environmental, political, and cultural data through an interactive, web-based, map and database server. Together, BlueSkyRAINS allows maps of weather and smoke concentrations to be overlain with sensitive receptors, geographic and political features, and other attributes to aid smoke managers, air regulators, and concerned citizens in assessing, mitigating or preparing for potential impacts. This type of a system will be necessary when looking at regional smoke patterns across several states at a time. The simulations vividly display smoke dispersion and concentrations over time.

9/10/02 - Under Development!!! Look for a new combined USFS, BLM, FWS, and APCD DataRAM map has been assembled. You can accessed the site under Utah Smoke Information, at the bottom of the page. This site lists all of the DataRAM sites, shows whether they are deployed or not, and other information. BLM Utah has been assigned DataRAM number 6 and 10. These units will be pre-positioned in Vernal and Cedar City, Utah.

9/5/02- Check out this new FERA site Ventilation Climate Information System at: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/fera/vent/ . It provides a tool for planning and managing smoke and other pollutants. It allows users to assess risks to values of air quality and visibility from 40 years of historical patterns of ventilation conditions. Check it out!

The long awaited Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed and Wildland Fire 2001 Edition is available as a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) document through the NWCG's Publication Management System at NIFC. The price is $5.00 for this 226 page color document. The PMS number is PMS 420-2, NFES 1279. It is also available on the web as a PDF file at: www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/SMG-72.pdf .

7/3/02 - Smoke and Health papers and links have been added to the smoke home page. Check them out at: http://www.utahsmp.net/papers_relating_to_smoke.htm . Many of these papers can be modified to meet specific situations at your home units.

6/21/02 - Weather systems/fires and smoke monitoring site added under Satellites. Check out: http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/burn/wfabba/ and scroll down to various scenes on the page. The GOES-8 Wildfire ABBA Satellite at: wfabba_westusa_last.html , provides a good picture of Utah and systems moving through our area. Fires can be spotted along with smoke from the fires can be tracked more easily.

6/21/02 - DataRAM 2000 Particulate Monitor Forest Service User's Guide is now available through the Missoula Technology Development Center at: http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us .

6/20/02 - The Smoke Management Guide for Prescribed and Wildland Fire 2001
Edition is available on line at: http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/SMG-72.pdf. Ordering information is also available at this site.

6/17/02 - DataRAMS were placed at three locations on the Sanford Fire. You can access the information through: http://www.satgard.com/usdafs/ and Unit 14 is Tropic, Unit 17 is Teasdale, and Unit 20 is Antimony. These units are being supplied through a USFS contract with Air Resource Specialists in Fort Collins, CO. The units provide real time PM2.5 concentration levels as well as relative humidity and temperature.

5/2/02 - Rapid Response - MODIS imagery. Take a look at the USDA Forest Service's site Remote Sensing Application Center.

3/29/02 - Check out the newly improved Windows version of FOFEM 5 at: http://www.firelab.org/ , also, check out the Demonstration Project of Southern Utah Fuels Management (SUFM) hosted on the same site.

3/21/02 - Click here for info on the "Perfect Smoke Column" Contest and the requirements!

Access to the Smoke Home Page is back up and running. Approvals will be issued daily via the Approval Page and 866 Toll Free Number. Some changes that you will observe are:

Check out the new section under Smoke Tools that describes the cost and procedures of using meteorological balloons for estimating winds aloft!

WinHaze 2.8.0 is available as freeware. It is a computer-imaging software program that simulates visual air quality differences of various scenes. The Level-1 visual air quality modeler allows analysts to view visual air quality scenarios on their desktop computer as a supplement to air quality monitoring. All one needs is a photo taken on an optimally clean air day, and various levels of degradation can be added. You can find a link to WinHaze at: www.air-resource.com/whatsnew.htm .
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Information on DATARams can be obtain through Andy Trent with Missoula Technology Development Center (MTDC) in Missoula. He can be reached at 406/329.3912.

Pilot Balloon Source - another source for pilot balloons is Kaysam, Inc. at: www.kaysam.com The NWS obtains balloons through Kaysam for soundings.

Use of balloon for determining winds aloft for smoke dispersion prior to ignition

Several smoke programs require balloon releases prior to ignition. This is a relatively cheap method for determining transport winds aloft and may save you from potentially impacting an area not planned for. Numerous sources are available with information on ceiling or pilot balloons and sounding balloons. These balloons can be used to determine transport wind direction for smoke dispersion. Pilot balloons can range in inflated size from 1.5 to 3.9 feet in diameter to a bursting diameter of 2.0 to 8.9 feet, respectively. These balloons can range in price from $1 to $5 for the larger. Various methods can be used to inflate a balloon depending on the intended use. With known balloon free lift amounts of 30 and 100 gram balloons, one can determine with stopwatch the elevation that a balloon has risen (See www.csulb.edu/~mbrenner/inflatio.htm for tables), and thus levels in which winds may shift directions. But for general wind drift, balloons with know lift weights are not necessary. Balloon inflation kits are available for precisely measuring balloon free lift and tables with time vs. balloon height are available. Many sources of information exist, here is another site with additional information on meteorological balloons is: www.bluechipintl.com/meteorological_balloons.html . GSA may also be another source for balloon purchase.

Helium would be the safest gas for inflating a balloon. Helium can be purchased at party store supply outlets. Your agency may have special safety requirements for transporting compressed gasses, and you should check to make sure that you meet these standards.

Under SASEM Information under the "Tools" section of the smoke home page, you will find information on version 4.0 of SASEM. See: www.utahsmp.net/2-7firetools.htm .

A new informational tool will be posted under the Weather/Climate Information. The tool shows current weather in the vicinity of major fires. It is updated twice daily (early am and after 6 pm). It is the MesoWest fire weather page.

Use of Airsheds will be transitioned in during the next few months. I will be converting the Air Quality Basins (AQB) to Airsheds (AS) into the fall. For now, I will be posting the AQB with the (AS) on the Approval Form. The NWS hopes also to overlay the AS on to the Graphical Clearing Indices Map in the near future.

Comming Soon! I met with the Chris Gibbson of the NWS regarding the Graphical Clearing Index and Daryl Onton of Univeristy of Utah regarding the MM5. Both of these products are excellent tools to evaluate smoke dispersion and the MM5 Ventilation Index transport winds. Soon the new Airsheds will be overlayed on these two maps providing a more refined tool for the smoke program.

NWS Fire WX and Smoke Forecasts are now available for the 2001 season with the graphical Clearing Index. This Index will soon be developed for appliaction with the new Utah Airsheds.

EPA's site AIRNOW has been added under the EPA link. This site shows ratings of air quality across the United States along with other information that may be useful.

Center for Air Pollution Impact & Trend Analysis - This site tracks large scale dust storms occurring globally and can be seen at: http://capita.wustl.edu/ , under Virtual Community on Atmospheric Dust. Other information of air quality interest can be found at this site. This site will be located under Air Resource Links.

R307-204 Smoke Management - Link here if you wish to view the Utah Administrative Code and the smoke rule that became effective March 6, 2001. The rule will be posted after the first week of April.

NEW Form 7. Form 7, Changes and Corrections has been added to the package. This form is used when a plan has been modified or input on an existing form was wrong. When a Burn Plan has been rewritten or a new UTM is assigned, a new PN must be used. Link here to see Form 7.

NEW - See www.blm.gov/narsc/air for the time of a broadcast titled Air Quality Conformity for Managers - Satellite Broadcast March 22, 2001. This broadcast is targeted for Federal Land Managers and their support staff to provide an overview of conformity regulations, applicable for all decisions within the Clean Air Act specified nonattainment and maintenance areas. The conformity evaluation and documentation process, along with a summary of regulatory requirements will be covered.

NORTHEAST UTAH AIRSHED DEVELOPMENT -A meeting for Airshed Development in northeast Utah is scheduled for January 30-31, 2001 in Vernal.

A research paper titled "SMOKE EXPOSURE AMONG FIREFIGHTERS AT PRESCRIBED BURNS" - Research Publication 526, has recently been released by the PNW. You can down load a copy at www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/rp526.pdf or order copies from the PNW at desmith@fs.fed.us . Findings report that a small but significant percentage of workers experienced exposure to carbon monoxide and respiratory irritants that exceeded occupational exposure limits, up to three times above recommended limits.

Meeting to revise Air Quality Basins into Airsheds On January 17 and 18 of 2001, meetings are scheduled in Cedar City and Richfield, respectively, to begin the creation of Airsheds in Utah. The current Air Quality Basins experience significant airflow/smoke pooling patterns from the north to south. These meetings are being scheduled to gather input from those that are most familiar with these patterns. From the meeting it is hoped that there will be between 6 and 12 Airsheds. Also, UTMs for Sensitive Receptors throughout Utah will be categorized. Following these first two meetings, additional meetings will be scheduled in Moab, Vernal, and Salt Lake City to complete the process.

Introduction to Visibility, (68-page document) is available on the Internet at www.aqd.nps.gov/ard/vis/vishp.html . See this booklet for topics that include: measuring visibility, particle concentrations and visibility trends, identifying sources contributing to visibility impairment, and more... Hard copies are also available from the NPS by calling 970.491.8292.

Click here to see particulate matter data collected by the Utah Monitoring Center for June through September 2000.

See this location on the main page to link into New Tools for Smoke Management, namely SASEM2.

Actual live and dead fuel moistures for central Utah are available on the smoke management home page under Tools. This information could be a help for fire planning and prescribed fire activity.

The Prescribed Burn List for year 2000 has been updated to include the forms that have been "C" completed for each of the proposed burns. To check to see which forms have been completed go to: Prescribed Burn List for year 2000 , and under FORMS 1 2 3 4 5 6 you can see which have been completed (keeping in mind that form 1 and 6 are Optional). You can also check to see if a prescribed burn plan and the day/night air flow pattern map have been received. Also, on the Forms page, at the end of the first paragraph you will find a brief table that explains the what, when and why of each of the forms. Just click here to check out this page.

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality has moved ahead with Rule Making for a rule that will cover Smoke Management, R307-204. The Draft rule was released on July 25, 2000, and is out for comment as of September 1, 2000 through November 15, 2000. Please take a look at the proposed rule [Proposed Rule] and send you comments to your Agency Representative or to the Smoke Program Coordinator. On November 1, 2000, a public hearing will occur at 3:30pm and at 6:30pm, at the Department of Environmental Quality building 2.

There is a need to refine the air quality basins into airsheds so that more refined tracking of particulates and their impacts can occur. Since there have not been any recommendations that would permit this to occur, a temporary refinement will be made and adjustments will occur over time as more is learned about air flow patterns and inversions. The standard three AQBs will be used as in the past with a North and South division line that will fall along UTM N4,375,000. This will roughly fall along a line that is between the Juab and Millard Counties on the west of Utah, and extend to the east on an approximate line between Carbon and Emery, and Uintah and Grand Counties. The counties of Eastern Juab, Northern Sanpete, and Northwestern Emery will be split during this learning process. As more is learned regarding air flow patterns, this line will be adjusted to accommodate. This North/South Division will aid in the planning smoke impacts by giving some polygons to work within.

A new "866 - Utah Smoke Hot Line" number has been set up for toll free connections to the check Clearing Indices and Daily Burn Approvals. The message will be updated to reflect information from the Burn Approval listing published on the smoke home page. This will enable burners to be able to call in from the field to check on approvals prior to ignition. The toll free number will be: 1-866/341-5783, and should be operational by early October. This line has taken well over a year to obtain, and after receiving the first number it was slammed and a new one had to be obtained. Please make recommendations on how the use of this number can be improved. Thank you.

All burns that have been turned in to date are listed in "Prescribed Burn List for Year 2000". The entire database is too complex at this time to include, so only information from Forms 1 and 2 are provided at this link. Take a look at the page send any changes or additions to the Program Coordinator. On the left hand side of the list is the column marked "Status". Please turn in Form 5, Daily Emissions Report so that the status can be updated.

A dedicated FAX has been established for smoke management at 801/536-0031 (Primary) with 801/536-0085 (Secondary) backup. Both of these FAX numbers are at the bottom of each smoke form.

NEW Smoke Forms 1 through 6 are now available on the Smoke home page (Form 1 and 6 are optional). Please let the PC know how they work for you using the questionnaire provide or by calling the PC at 801/539-4151. The forms have been simplified to the minimum amount of information needed with optional information sections. Remember to make a copy of your input before sending so that you are ensured that information will not be lost should it bomb! Thanks!

Connection of the 800 phone is taking a bit longer than anticipated. The hope is to have it up and running for the Fall burn season.

The preliminary draft recommendations from the Technically Advanced Smoke Estimation Tools (TASET) workshop that was funded by the Joint Fire Sciences Project have been made available through www.cira.colostate.edu/smoke/webdoc.html .

Utah NWS- Home page is up and running. You can access it through the links on the Smoke home page or at http://nimbo.wrh.noaa.gov/Saltlake/fire/indexWorkArea.shtml . The Smoke Management Forecasts should be available soon. Smoke management forecasts and the Morning Clearing Index will be issued by the Salt Lake City NWS Office for all of Utah, and the Grand Junction NWS does have the power to alter any and all of the parameters in the Smoke Management Forecast, including Clearing Index. The Grand Junction can be access at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/gjt/fire.htm . See the section on major change for 2000 for details.

On May 18th, 2000, Colorado Governor Owens suspends indefinitely all active, state-issued permits that would allow prescribed burns on federal lands in the State of Colorado. Decision based on the fact that burning would constitute a substantial danger to public health and safety.

April 7, the Revised Smoke Management Plan has been posted on the home page of the Smoke Program.

Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) Newsletter: http://www.nature.nps.gov/ard/impr/index.htm. IMPROVE was designed in response to the visibility provisions of the Clean Air Act of 1977, which describes 156 federal Class I areas and visibility protection within. You can also find a link under Other Smoke Management/Air Web Sites/Programs on the main page.

"The Fuels Profile" newsletter for February 2000 features an article titled "Update: Utah Interagency Smoke Management Program". I have a few extra copies, if you are interested let me know.

A listing of Planned Burns for 2000 has been added to the opening page under Clearing Indices! Have received input from the following: CCD, MOD, RID, SLD, VLD, DIF, FIF, UIF, WCF, BRP, GLP, ZIP, NWS, SES, SWS, NES, FSR. Still waiting for ASD, ASF, MLF!

New as of 3/16/00 - Just learned that the 800 phone line should be in place by the end of April. This will be used to post burns that are approved/partially approved/denied and accessible from the field via cell phone.

Revision - Read all about it! The Utah Airshed Group met on January 12-13, and looked over a number of concerns relating to the SMP, including forms reduction and duplicate inputs in the SMP. We are currently in a revision mode of sections of the SMP and related forms on the home page. This revision should be completed by March 29th. Stay tuned for further updates. For now, for those having Spring burns, please send in information via fax (801/536-0085). The Annual Burn Schedule will be postponed until April 15th this year only!

NFSPUFF2 and MM5 info is now available at the following download site: www.fs.fed.us/pnw/fera/sue/mm5/mm5puff . Download instructions are present on the site. Unfortunately NFSPUFF2 requires additional downloading of topographic data. Contact the PC if you wish to learn how to acquire this data. The MM5 data is not currently available for using in NFSPUFF2, but we can work that direction.

Check out the new section on Fire Tools. Here you can download most all of the Fire Management Tools, including: Consume, EPM, NFSPUFF, SASEM, and many others!!!!

On November 8th, the EPA certified the Utah SMP as meeting the needs of the 1998 Interim Air Quality Policy on Wildland and Prescribed Fires! This is good news as it opens the door to true smoke management in Utah. See details at EPA Letter November 8, 1999.

Air Basins will be proposed and your input to help fine-tune the AQB will be necessary. This should help provide more refined Clearing Indices!!!

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