Particulate matter and ozone
Particulate Matter and Ozone Implementation Team Co-chairs:
- Bob Myrick, Alberta Environment (GOV)
- Ian Peace, Residents for Accountability in Power Industry Development (NGO)
- Claude Chamberland, Shell Canada Ltd. (INDUSTRY)
Documents related to the original project team and the current implementation team are available in the CASA Online Library. Information on the PM & Ozone Management Framework and implementation are also available from the Alberta Environment – Particulate Matter and Ozone Management web page.
CASA has a history of success in addressing issues related to particulate matter and ozone, key components of smog.
This team was created in 2006 to oversee implementation of the CASA Particulate Matter (PM) and Ozone Management Framework, developed by the former CASA PM and Ozone Project Team (2000 – 2003). Alberta Environment is implementing the Framework in Alberta to meet commitments under the Canada-Wide Standards (CWS) for Particulate Matter and Ozone.
Most areas of Alberta are below the numeric CWS. Although the CWS apply only to urban areas with populations over 100,000, the CASA Framework goes further and applies to the entire province.
More information is available in the following documents and links:
Alberta’s Particulate Matter and Ozone Management Framework ( 2.2MB)
Guidance Document for the Management of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone in Alberta ( 2.6 MB)
Canada-Wide Standards for PM & Ozone – 5-year report
Forecast of Criteria Air Contaminants – Cheminfo Services Inc. ( 1.33 MB)
PM Monitoring Workshop report, March 2007 ( 215 kB)
Recent assessments of Particulate Matter and Ozone levels in Alberta (Alberta Environment)
Smog (Environment Canada)
A unique component of the framework is the application of the keeping clean areas clean and continuous improvement concept. It moves the traditional scope of management beyond compliance with a numeric standard and puts more emphasis than ever before on managing and improving air quality below a numeric standard.
Keeping clean areas clean has been incorporated into the CASA framework by adopting a tiered management framework for ambient levels below the CWS. This framework recognizes and builds upon existing programs and policies, applying a philosophy of prevention and continuous air quality improvement to fill in gaps wherever necessary. There are three ambient levels that trigger different management actions to keep the levels below the CWS: baseline, surveillance, and management.
Two diagrams (
2.5MB) are available for you to visualize the overall framework with the recommended numeric trigger levels (ambient concentration levels) and the the annual analysis process.
For example, if ambient levels are close to the CWS numeric standard, more aggressive management actions will be triggered, including the development of a management plan by stakeholders. On the other hand, if areas are closer to background ambient levels, the impetus for management activities will be much less and focused more on air quality monitoring and voluntary or incentive-based actions. An annual analysis of PM and ozone levels in areas of the province will be undertaken.
A regulatory backstop exists at all levels of the framework, and existing policies like Alberta Environment’s Industrial Release Limits Policy will continue to apply at all levels of the framework.
The framework creates stability between environmental, economic, social and health considerations, sets out clear ground rules and reasonable costs, provides flexibility to address local circumstances, and allows equal opportunities for Albertans, industry, government, environmental and health groups to participate in its implementation.
The PM and Ozone Project Team took about three years to develop the framework and had representatives from eight industry sectors, four Government of Alberta departments, Environment Canada, municipal governments, airshed zones, and key environmental and health organizations.
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Photos courtesy of Brian Waddell | © 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Clean Air Strategic Alliance