Maintenance Plan for Oakridge's PM2.5 Reduction Efforts
Oakridge-Westfir PM Stock Attainment Plan Approved by EPA
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the Oakridge-Westfir PM Stock Attainment Plan, which was submitted for redesignation and PM maintenance on January 13, 2022. This plan, which focuses on controlling residential wood combustion, has been in the works since the area was designated as nonattainment for PM on November 13, 2009.
The Oakridge-Westfir area in Lane County, Oregon, did not meet the statutory attainment date of 2015. In response, the DEQ submitted the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency's (LRAPA) Oakridge-Westfir PM Stock Attainment Plan on December 12, 2012. The plan, governed by Lane County Code and Oakridge City Ordinance, including City of Oakridge Ordinance No. 920 and Lane County Code Chapter 9, aims to maintain PM National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) through 2035.
The primary focus of the strategy is on controlling residential wood combustion, achieved through a winter curtailment program and replacing uncertified woodstoves with cleaner burning and more efficient home heating units. The plan also includes a prohibition of fireplace use on yellow advisory days, in addition to the existing prohibition on red advisory days.
The plan includes contingency measures, including a stricter green-yellow-red advisory program with lower red advisory thresholds, resulting in more red advisory days each winter. This is intended to help the Oakridge-Westfir area maintain compliance with PM NAAQS in the long term.
The EPA found attainment, made a clean data determination, and approved the PM Stock Attainment Plan for the Oakridge-Westfir PM nonattainment area on February 8, 2018. The EPA proposed approval of the redesignation request and PM maintenance plan on May 9, 2022, and finalized approval on August 22, 2022.
It's worth noting that the plan is subject to Lane County Code and Title 29-0040 Designation of Maintenance Areas, as well as OAR 340-262 Oregon Statewide Heat Smart Program. A Letter of Agreement from ODOT regarding the use of anti-icing chemicals in the City of Oakridge was issued on September 20, 2021.
The EPA's effective date for the implementation of these measures is September 21, 2022. The DEQ submitted an update to the Oakridge-Westfir PM Stock Attainment Plan on January 20, 2017. The EPA approved the emissions inventory and the LRAPA rules describing the Oakridge-Westfir PM nonattainment area and listing of the area as nonattainment on October 21, 2016.
The EPA extended the attainment date for Oakridge to December 31, 2016. The area was later classified as moderate on June 2, 2014. On January 13, 2022, Oregon submitted a redesignation request and PM maintenance plan.
This approval marks a significant step towards improving air quality in the Oakridge-Westfir area and ensuring compliance with PM NAAQS. The DEQ and LRAPA will continue to work closely with the community to implement the plan and monitor air quality in the area.
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