BLM Utah Establishment of Utah Air Quality Modeling Center
BLM Utah is completing the development of a reusable photochemical modeling platform that will allow for landscape scale modeling using a state-of-the-art one atmosphere photochemical model to conduct future NEPA analyses and air quality planning on a regional scale. This modeling platform has been developed through a collaborative process with other federal land managers and the Environmental Protection Agency to provide Utah BLM with a mutually agreed upon methodology for addressing air quality issues both under the requirements of the Federal Land Planning Management Act (FLPMA) that we manage air as a resource, and under NEPA in that we analyze and disclose the impacts of our land management decisions. BLM as an agency does not currently possess the ability to utilize this modeling platform, and given current and future budget projections are unlikely to develop that capability in the near future. As recognized by other efforts at establishing collaborative modeling capability on public lands (e.g. Federal Leadership Forum 3-State Study), having an academic entity serve as a modeling center for these types of analyses has many benefits over having to contract through private consultants. Conducting photochemical modeling exercises is an elaborate and iterative process which requires numerous modifications and adjustments to the modeling inputs as pre-processing is conducted and the modeling performance evaluations are completed. This opportunity is to provide financial assistance preferably to an academic institution in Utah to serve as an air quality modeling center for BLM and other Federal and State land managers. This project would directly benefit BLM Utah by developing a landscape scale modeling capability in an academic setting that could be utilized by BLM for NEPA analyses and air quality planning. This could save substantial money in the future by utilizing a modeling platform already under development by BLM, by shortening the time required for these types of analyses, and by providing a more thoroughly vetted and collaboratively developed modeling product than currently practiced through the private consulting mechanisms currently available to the BLM. In addition, the maintenance and periodic updating of the modeling platform would be a function of the modeling center, as opposed to something BLM would need to fund and conduct. Successful implementation of this proposal would establish the first academic center for public lands air quality modeling in the country, which is sorely needed and is also a recognized need in many other BLM states. Recipient and BLM will share a common goal of establishing a modeling center sited in Utah that can provide modeling services to BLM, other federal land managers, and/or consultants for the purposes of research and NEPA analysis. It is understood that modeling conducted by this assistance agreement is not intended to replace, supplant, or otherwise take the place of regulatory modeling conducted by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), and that recipients and BLM will maintain close communication with UDEQ to insure coordination and collaboration on applicable modeling products. If and when Duchesne and Uintah counties are designated to non-attainment status for ozone, it will be important that consistency in air quality model inputs, especially emissions inventories, be maintained with UDEQ planning and modeling staff. To that end quarterly planning and consultation meetings between the recipient, UDEQ staff, and BLM staff will be required as part of the project management plan to maintain interagency consistency. Modeling protocols, results, and reports will be publically available for review, and both recipient and BLM will participate in current, ongoing, and future collaborative efforts aimed at improving the state of the science related to air quality modeling in Utah.
Office: Bureau of Land Management
maria_gochis@blm.gov
