2012 and 2013 Exceptional Events – Klamath Falls

Agency Notification of Intent to Submit a Package

The Department of Environmental Quality intends to submit an exception events package for flagged
wildfire data in 2012 and 2013 for the Klamath Fall s area. In 2012, DEQ submitted a Klamath Falls attainment plan that demonstrated Klamath Falls wil l meet the standard by the end of 2014.

There were several significant events in Southern O regon during 2012 and 2013 that impacted Klamath Falls resulting in five specific days that DEQ cons iders exceptional events. These events, if classif ied as exceptional by EPA, could show that Klamath Falls c an meet the PM2.5 standard in 2014 as well as 2015. This notification will show “regulatory significanc e” of these data and provide preliminary evidence t hat each day of the events were likely influenced heavi ly by wildfire smoke.

Exceptional Event Days

Five days are considered wildfire smoke filled days in Klamath Falls. These days include smoke from several events in California and in Oregon. (See ap pendix A and B) DEQ is prepared to write a complet e report to address each of these days and considers the summer wildfire episodes as the only source of
smoke in the area that caused the exceedance or nea r exceedance. By removing each of these days, the
98 th percentile for each year will be reduced so that K lamath Falls has an opportunity to meet the standard by the end of 2014 as well as 2015. Table 1 identifies the exceptional events that should be
considered and their concentrations.

Table 1 – Wildfire Dates and Events Year of Event Date μg/m3 Wildfire Event
2013 7/30/2013 79.8 Douglas Complex

– OR; Others in Rogue Valley

- OR

8/5/2013 74.8 Douglas Complex

– OR; Others in Rogue Valley

- OR 2012 8/28/2012 43.2 Fort Complex

- CA; Happy Camp

– CA; Barry Point

- OR

8/31/2012 34.1 Fort Complex

- CA; Happy Camp

– CA; Barry Point

- OR 8/25/2012 28.1 Fort Complex

- CA; Happy Camp

– CA; Barry Point

- OR

The highest concentrations recorded for both years are listed below and the resulting 98 th percentile are
identified in Table 2.

Table 2
Date μg/m3 Sample Ranking Description 7/30/2013 79.8 114 Wildfire Event 8/5/2013 74.8 113 Wildfire Event 1/16/2013 50.1 112 98 percentile with Wildfires 1/13/2013 46.5 111 12/9/2013 46.2 110 98 percentile without Wildfires 8/28/2012 43.2 115 Wildfire Event 1/10/2012 39 114 8/31/2012 34.1 113 Wildfire Event

– 98%ile with wf1/4/2012 30.5 112

8/25/2012 28.1 111 Wildfire Event 1/13/2012 25.9 110 98 percentile without Wildfires

The Data:

In reviewing the data, DEQ determined that it would be very difficult to meet the 24-hour PM2.5
standard should wildfire data not be considered exc eptional. The 98 th percentile for the 2014 data would need to be 22.2 μg/m3 or less; that would be very difficult for Klamath Falls to meet. Klamath Falls should not be penalized for potentially viola ting the standard, when it is clear that the wildfi re data are causing the area to exceed. However, if the wil dfire data was excluded, Klamath Falls would only need to meet 34.3 μg/m3 to meet the standard; a doa ble expectation. With the data being excluded, Klamath Falls has a chance of meeting the standard and we do think these events have regulatory significance because they affect whether Klamath wi ll meet the standard. Table 3 shows the data sets
with wildfires included and with them excluded.

Table 3 – 98 th Percentile – Three Year Average – With and Without Wildfire Day Data
Wildfires included Wildfires excluded
2014 22.2 needed 2014 34.3 needed
2013 50.1 2013 46.2
2012 34.1 2012 25.9 Average 35 Average 35

DEQ has reviewed the first two months of 2014 for K lamath Falls. Winter (1 st and 4 th quarters) are typically the quarters that cause exceedances of th e PM2.5 standard due to wood stove use. January and February provide a good clue as to the likeliho od of Klamath Falls meeting the standard for the ye ar. The following data are the highest three days givin g Klamath Falls a good opportunity to meet the same result in November and December of 2014. The highe st concentration seen in the first two months of 2014 was 30.9 μg/m3 as shown in Table 4 below:

Table 4 – January and February 2014 – Highest 24-ho ur Concentrations
Date Concentration Units Jan. 17, 2014 30.9 μg/m3 Jan. 20, 2014 29.6 μg/m3 Jan. 2, 2014 27.8 μg/m3

Conclusion:

Klamath Falls can meet the 2014 demonstration ident ified in the attainment plan if the wildfire smoke events are removed data and the community continues to maintain their ambient emissions and concentrations at relatively low levels this coming winter season. DEQ intends to prepare an exceptional event package detailing the six element s to justify EPA excluding these event-relatedconcentrations from regulatory determinations. Sho uld Klamath Falls continue to have clean data the

remainder of 2014, there would be no violation of t he ambient air quality 24-hour PM2.5 standard but
for these events identified.Appendix A

2013 Wildfire activity as detailed in Herald and Ne ws Article (Klamath Falls newspaper)

BAD AIR 

## Wildfire smoke prompts air quality warning in Basin

• Story

PreviousNext

H&N photos by Dave Martinez 

## Air quality

Theses images taken near the Klamath Union “K” towa rd Lake Ewauna show the difference in air quality M onday, left, and June 16.

Posted: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 11:45 pm

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality warning in Basin By ANDREW CREASEY H&N Staff Reporter
Klamath County health officials are advising reside nts to limit
outdoor activity as the air quality in the Basin co ntinues to deteriorate due to wildfire smoke pourin g into the area.
The full extent of the air quality in the Basin is not known, as the air quality monitoring station at Peterson Elementary School has been giving
erroneous readings. But Jim Carey, Klamath County a ir quality inspector, doesn’t need a machine to tel l him the air quality is poor.“If you can see and smell smoke, then you’re defin itely breathing it in,” Carey said. “I was surprise d to get the data we got. We should be in

the red (unhealthy for all groups), but we’ve been in the green or moderate levels.”
Department of Environmental Quality technicians wer e working on Tuesday to repair the monitoring stati on. Because of the poor air quality, which is the resul t of smoke emanating from the Douglas Complex wildf ires in southwestern Oregon, officials
are advising residents to stay indoors and avoid ex erting themselves outside.
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service expe ct the smoke to continue to enter into the Basin as long as the Douglas fire continues to

burn.
The fire has grown to 21,400 acres and continues to exhibit extreme fire behavior. Steep slopes, dry f uels and low humidity have hampered
fire suppression efforts — the blaze is 5 percent c ontained.
The Oregon Department of Forestry smoke dispersion forecast does anticipate some relief later in the w eek, when a marine push will
increase winds from the northwest. The winds will p ush into the area Thursday and Friday, improving sm oke dispersion and offering a
reprieve from the poor air quality.
The poor air quality will likely not affect the cou nty’s efforts to come into attainment with federal Clean Air Act standards, said Larry Calkins,
DEQ air quality specialist.
Due to a record string of cold temperatures that tr apped smoky air in the Basin earlier this year, the county has already exceeded its allotted
amount of days over federals limits of the pollutan t PM 2.5.
Calkins said DEQ will flag the days the area exceed s air quality standards and submit to the Environme ntal Protection Agency a request to
put the days on the exceptional event list — exempt ing them from the air quality record.
Klamath County Commissioner Dennis Linthicum, an ar dent critic of air quality policies, said the smoky air in the Basin and the growing
Douglas Complex wildfires are a product of the stat e’s poorly managed public lands.
“Overall in Oregon the federal forests are not mana ged well and we’ll see that, and we’ll continue to see that, with the nature and ferocity of
the fires that we see,” Linthicum said during the w eekly commissioners meeting.
“The forest health is in poor shape,” Linthicum con tinued. “We spend more money in suppression costs f or fighting wildfires than we do in
actually managing the forest, thinning the forests and providing return on the investment by creating harvestable and merchantable timber.”
acreasey@heraldandnews.com ; @HN_Creasey

© 2014 Herald and News. All rights reserved. This m aterial may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributedAppendix B

2012 Wildfire activity as detailed in both DEQ News Releases (Aug 15 and 27) 

# News Release

For release: Aug. 15, 2012

Contacts: Larry Calkins, Pendleton, 541-278-4612 Frank Messina, Air Quality, Bend, 541-633-2019



## Wildfires Send Smoke into Klamath, Lake Counties

Smoke from wildfires in southern Oregon and norther n Nevada led to increased air pollution into Lakeview and Klamath Falls, along with hazy co nditions in Vale and Ontario. More hot weather and potential lightning and thunderstorms e xpected in these communities over the weekend.

Fires burning along Oregon’s southern border sent smoke in Klamath Falls and Lakeview, resulting in decreased air quality earlier this wee k. With the National Weather Service predicting smoky conditions and hot weather could continue or worsen in these communities in the coming days. Thunderstorms and possible lightning strikes could also develop. DEQ urges people living in these areas to be aware of local air quality and to take precautions to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.

Lakeview Smoke from the Barry Point fire led to pollution levels that were unhealthy f or sensitive groups — such as children, the elderly and those wi th asthma or other respiratory conditions — in Lakeview on Sunday. The Oregon Interagency Inc ident Management Team reports that weather conditions are likely to send smoke back in to the community in the coming days, which could lead to unhealthy air quality.

Klamath Falls Smoke from the several fires burning in the souther n portion of the state and California leading to moderate air pollution in Klamath Falls earlier in the week. The Fort Complex near Happy Camp, CA and the Barry Point fire near L akeview are the likely contributors to smoke in the Klamath Basin according to Oregon Depa rtment of Forestry. Weather conditions are expected to remain as similar smoke levels in the coming days.

Vale and Ontario

### Smoke from fires in the Ten Mile Complex and the Holloway fires led to visibly hazy

conditions for the past several days in Vale and On tario. Weather conditions are expected to remain at similar smoke levels in the coming days.

Under certain weather conditions smoke from fires c an drift into communities and quickly cause unhealthy air quality. Should smoke events oc cur, DEQ and health officials urge local residents to take the following precautions to avoi d breathing problems or other symptoms from smoke:

• Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and a void the places with highest concentrations.

• Avoid smoke either by leaving the area or protectin g yourself by staying indoors, closing all windows and doors and using a filter in your. h eating/cooling system that removes very fine particulate matter

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky condition s.

• People suffering from asthma or other respiratory p roblems should follow their breathing management plans or contact their healthcare provid ers.
Remember, local smoke levels can rise and fall rapi dly, depending on weather factors including wind direction. People can conduct a visual assessment of smoke levels to quickly get a sense of air quality levels and take precautions. If people have additional concerns, they should contact the nearest regional or local public health agency for the latest in health conditions from smoke.

For more information about local conditions :

• Visit DEQ’s wildfire information page for more information regarding active fires and ai r quality, along with tools to help people assess smo ke levels in their area.

• Tune to local radio and TV stations and the Weather Channel in affected areas that may include the very latest fire information in news pr ogramming and weather reports.

• Obtain a dedicated NOAA Weather Radio receiver, whi ch will alert you 24 hours a day to hazards in your area.



# News Release

For release: Aug. 27, 2012

Contacts: Larry Calkins, Air Quality Program, Pendleton, 541- 278-4612 Brian Mannion, Communications and Outreach Bend 541 -633-2008 William Knight, Air Quality, Communications and Out reach, 503-229-5680



### Wildfires Cause Unhealthy Air Quality in Central an d Southern Oregon

### Smoke from wildfires in Oregon and California sent smoke into communities including Bend, Klamath Falls and Lakeview.

Fires in central and southern Oregon and northern Califo rnia sent smoke into communities during the past several days. Klamath Falls saw unh ealthy air quality on Sunday and very unhealthy air quality on Monday, while air quality in Bend was unhealthy Sunday morning and unhealthy for sensitive groups at other times Sunda y and Monday.

DEQ urges people living in areas affected by smoke to be aware local air quality at all times and to take precautions to reduce exposure to wildf ire smoke.

Below is a brief summary of conditions in communiti es hit by smoke in central and southern Oregon.

Klamath Falls The Fort Complex fire in the Klamath National Forest and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest along the California-Oregon border sent smok e into Klamath Falls over the weekend and Monday. Hourly smoke concentrations were unhealthy for sensitive groups on Saturday, reaching levels unhealthy for everyone at times Sun day and very unhealthy levels around midday Monday. The National Weather Service expects condit ions to improve by midweek with the arrival of cooler weather and favorable winds.

For the most up to date health information regardin g the Klamath Falls, call Molly Brophy Jespersen at the Klamath County Health Department: 541-882-8846.

Lakeview

### The Fort Complex fire sent smoke into Lakeview over the weekend and Monday. Hourly smoke

concentrations were unhealthy for several hours Sat urday, and reached moderate on Monday morning. The National Weather Service expects condi tions to improve by midweek with the arrival of cooler weather and favorable winds.

Bend Shifting winds sent smoke from several fires into B end over the weekend and on Monday. On Sunday morning, winds carried smoke into Bend from the Waterfalls 2 fire near Warm Springs, causing hourly smoke concentrations to spike to unh ealthy levels around 9 a.m. Sunday. Sunday afternoon, winds shifted, bring smoke from fires in Southern Oregon and Northern California including Barry Point fire. Hourly levels were unhealthy for sensitive g roups Monday morning. The National Weather Service expects conditions to improve by midweek with the arrival of cooler weather and favorable winds.

### Burns, Sisters and Madras

DEQ air quality monitors in Burns, Sisters and Madr as detected moderate smoke levels over the weekend and Monday.

Rogue Valley Conditions were relatively clear over the weekend. However, areas of smoke are expected this afternoon and may continue into Wednesday.

Under certain weather conditions smoke from fires c an drift into communities and quickly cause unhealthy air quality. Should smoke events oc cur, DEQ and health officials urge local residents to take the following precautions to avoi d breathing problems or other symptoms from smoke:

• Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and a void the places with highest concentrations.

• Avoid smoke either by leaving the area or protectin g yourself by staying indoors, closing all windows and doors and using a filter in your. h eating/cooling system that removes very fine particulate matter

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky condition s.

### • People suffering from asthma or other respiratory p roblems should follow their breathing

management plans or contact their healthcare provid ers.
Remember, local smoke levels can rise and fall rapi dly, depending on weather factors including wind direction. People can conduct a visual assessment of smoke levels to quickly get a sense of air quality levels and take precautions. If people have additional concerns, they should contact the nearest regional or local public health agency for the latest in health conditions from smoke.

For more information about local conditions :

• Visit DEQ’s wildfire information page for more information regarding active fires and ai r quality, along with tools to help people assess smo ke levels in their area.

• Tune to local radio and TV stations and the Weather Channel in affected areas that may include the very latest fire information in news pr ogramming and weather reports.

• Obtain a dedicated NOAA Weather Radio receiver, whi ch will alert you 24 hours a day to hazards in your area.

###2012 Wildfire activity as detailed in Herald and Ne ws Article (Klamath Falls newspaper)



### Air quality listed as unhealthy for all groups By ANDREWCREASEYH&N Staff Reporter | Posted: Tuesda y, August 28, 2012 12:00 am Air quality has become so poor in Klamath County it is being rated unhealthy for all groups, according to air quality data collected by the Depa rtment of Environmental Quality. Previously, the 24-hour average of several air quality pollutan ts was listed dangerous for only sensitive groups, such as the asthmatic and those with heavy allergies, but with new measurements arriving from 1 p.m. readings Monday, it was update d to unhealthy for everyone.

“When you get up into these levels of smoke, the th ings that people need to do is avoid spending time outside and avoid strenuous activity,” said Br ianMannion, a public information officer with DEQ. “It’s best to stay inside and close the window s.” Mannion also stressed that people with respiratory or heart problems should talk to their medical providers if they have any concerns.

The smoke is emanating from several fires in Northe rn California and the Barry Point fire in southeast Oregon, due to winds from the south and s outhwest. And with no rain in the forecast and relatively little shift predicted in the wind p attern, the smoke could stick around, said Megan Woodhead, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Medford. “I would say after Thursday the wind could shift around and becomes mo re westerly,” Woodhead said. “But even then it’s possible that it could turn around and bl ow south again by the weekend, so the break could be very short lived.”

The air quality index, a 24-hour average of several pollutants, including PM 2.5 and PM 10, had the air quality in Klamath County at 152 Monday aft ernoon. At a rating of 151, the air quality becomes unhealthy for all.

At 1 p.m., the hourly measurement of micrograms per cubic meter of PM 2.5 was 131.8. Air with levels above 93 to 120 micrograms per cubic meter i s considered unhealthy, Mannion said.

**acreasey@heraldandnews.com**