GUIDING PRINCIPLES

FOR DEVELOPMENT OF EPA WILDLAND FIRE POLICIES

Approved by the FACA Wildland Fire Issues Workgroup Steering Committee

For the givens:

- There will be a new PM 2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

- There will be an increase in the use of fire for improving firefighter and public safety and for ecosystem management on wildlands.

- The two public policy goals of protecting public health and providing sound ecosystem management, which includes the use of fire, will be integrated within EPA policy guidelines. As such:

Air pollutant emissions (criteria and hazardous pollutants) from prescribed fires will be managed with the goal of protecting public health, air quality and the environment from adverse impacts.

The wildland fire policies will address all sources of air pollution in a fair and equitable fashion, recognizing that "one size does not fit all."

The need for the use of prescribed fire is recognized for resource management purposes.

EPA's wildland fire policies will address the guiding principles in the Federal Wildland Fire Policy and Program Review.

Agricultural burning emissions will be considered in a different process.

- There will be a strong public outreach program to explain both the use and importance of prescribed burning for ecosystem management, and implications to public health and safety.

- Policies must address the relationship between the immediate (economic, human health) and future (sustainable ecosystems) goals, benefits, and effects.

- Cost impacts will be considered where new policies recommend or require new efforts or significant changes in the application of fire as a land management tool.

For guiding principles related to air quality planning:

1.	Implementation of reasonable progress requirements applied to Class I area visibility should be flexible to accommodate Federal Land Manager plans and goals for managing those areas, as specified in EPA visibility regulations. (e.g., Evaluate visibility progress requirements in conjunction with prescribed burning needs, such as those considered in the GCVTC's recommendations.)

2.	Conformity should be considered and addressed in an integrated process. (i.e., The air quality planning process for development of SIPs, TIPs, and FIPs for nonattainment and maintenance areas should incorporate fire planning goals.)

For guiding principles related to fire planning:

4.	With the increase in wildland fire use for management of natural resources, it will be necessary to better coordinate and integrate fire and smoke management planning with air quality planning and goals. Considerations include:

- Unit level land management planning documents will be developed within NEPA and agency specific guidelines which provide for stakeholder involvement (e.g., state, Tribal, local air agencies, land managers, and the public);

- All prescribed burning should be conducted under a management plan that addresses smoke impacts (e.g., should be linked to a fire management plan or smoke management plan). (Unit fire management plans and supporting operational plans will be developed and implemented using the best available science relating to mitigation of smoke impacts.);

- Regional planning is needed to ensure that all prescribed burning is coordinated (operational and long range planning). This planning will also be consistent with implementation frameworks developed through the Federal Advisory Committee Act process which addresses regional scale air planning efforts;

- In the event improvements are needed in fire management plans to achieve air quality goals, procedures for taking corrective action that include all stakeholders will be established;

- Existing data bases will be assessed, gaps identified, and recommendations made for common elements in data bases of land/resource/fire management information, long range prescribed burn plans, and emissions estimating, tracking, and reporting capability. Data bases will be periodically updated, assuring consistency of format, and made accessible to all agencies;

- Recognize that there are limitations on planning for prescribed burning (e.g., day to day flexibility in the actual conduct of burning is essential, especially due to external environmental factors);

- Different levels of land management planning will provide the supportive technical basis for use of prescribed fire. ("Technical basis" means ecosystem needs, smoke management capabilities, and public health and safety considerations.);

- Require that best available burning practices (e.g., BACM)* are followed to minimize emissions and smoke impacts. BACM to be determined by the land manager and the air quality agency based on national guidelines. * (to be addressed in guidelines developed by the workgroups).