Regional Haze, Dust, and New Mexico

1
Regional Haze, Dust, and New Mexico

• Developing a State Implementation Plan for Dust
  in the
  Salt Creek Wilderness Area, New Mexico

2
Project Objectives

• Apply and integrate the tools developed by the
  Dust Emission Joint Forum for the purpose of
  developing a pilot regional haze SIP for dust at
  a Class I area.
• Provide feedback to the Forum to refine the tools
  where necessary.
• Provide a template/protocol for applying the WRAP
  tools which may be used at other Class I areas

3
Tools

• Definition of Dust
• Fine Fraction of Fugitive Dust
• Causes of Dust Analysis
• Fugitive Dust Emissions from Wind Erosion
• Fugitive Dust Handbook
• CMAQ Air Quality Modeling
• Weight of Evidence Checklist

4
Supplemental Analysis

• Identification of Source Areas Affecting Dust
  Concentrations at the Salt Creek, New Mexico
• Continuation of DEJF Causes of Dust Analysis
• Application of the WRAP's Draft Definition and
  Categorization of Dust to the Salt Creek Class I
  Area, A Case Study
• Continuation of DEJF Dust Definition

5
Salt Creek Wilderness Area
6
Salt Creek Wilderness Area

• A 9,621 acre area located within the Bitter Lake
  National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern New
  Mexico.
• Located 10 miles east of Roswell, New Mexico
• The Class I Area is characterized by dry creek
  beds, gypsum sinkholes, and sand dunes.

7
Site Visit Salt Creek

• The DEJF workgroup for the pilot study visited
  the Salt Creek Wilderness in March of 2006

8
Site Visit to Salt Creek

• Developed pilot project outline
• Strawman/Outline
• Determined emission inventory area
• 100 kilometer (Including some additional sources
  outside this area)
• Toured area around Class I Area
• Extensive Oil and Gas Development
• Extensive Dirt Road Network
• Sand Gravel Operation on Boundary
• Toured Monitoring Site and Class I Area

9
Pilot Study Current Status

• Currently developing the Pilot SIP for visibility
  impairment from dust
• Working with WRAP tools developed by the DEJF
• Working with other tools developed by the WRAP
  for SIP development
• Final product scheduled for completion at the end
  of September 2006.

10
Pilot Study Current Status

• Contractors currently developing supplemental
  analysis for the Dust Definition, including a
  local emission inventory of dust sources.
• Cost for analysis - 22,000
• Back trajectory analysis has been completed and
  is available on WRAPs web site.
• Cost for analysis - 20,000

11
Pilot Study Conclusions So Far

• The usefulness of the research projects outside
  of WRAP tools developed
• The DRI study, Identification of Source Areas
  Affecting Dust Concentrations at the Salt Creek
  and White Mountain Wilderness Areas in New
  Mexico, has been useful in determining what areas
  in New Mexico, as well as in other states and
  countries, that could be potential contributors.

12
Pilot Study Conclusions So Far

• The usefulness of the research projects outside
  of WRAP tools developed
• The ENVIRON study, Application of the WRAP's
  Draft Definition and Categorization of Dust to
  the Salt Creek I Area, A Case Study, has not been
  completed, but will provide needed information on
  determining the percentage of anthropogenic
  versus natural sources, as well as more localized
  emission inventory data.

13
Pilot Study Conclusions So Far

• The information is there for the SIP development,
  but it is sometimes difficult to find
• WRAP working on creating a resource list for
  states to use
• TSS will be very helpful when completed
• More specific planning information for other
  Regional Planning Organizations must be gathered
  independently

14
Pilot Study Final Product

• A template/protocol that states can use in
  developing the dust portions of their Regional
  Haze SIPs
• An evaluation of the WRAP tools currently
  available for use in the SIP development process
• An evaluation of the supplemental analysis
  performed for the Salt Creek Wilderness Area
• A list of additional resources needed

15
Questions????

• More Information Contact
• Gail Cooke gail.cooke_at_state.nm.us
• Rita Trujillo rita.trujillo_at_state.nm.us