Form 1221-2

(June 1969)

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

MANUAL TRANSMITTAL SHEET

Release

7-109

Date

01/16/09

Subject

 7300 - Air Resource Management Program (Public)

1. Explanation of Material Transmitted: This new manual release, Manual 7300, transmits

 the Air Resource Management Program Manual for the Bureau of Land Management.

 This manual establishes policy, provides guidelines, assigns management structure and

 responsibilities,and provides direction for air resource management under the Bureau of

 Land Management administration.

2. Reports Required: None.

3. Material Superseded: None.

4. Filing Instructions: File as directed below.

REMOVE INSERT

None 7300 (Total 20 sheets)

Edwin L. Roberson

Assistant Director

Renewable Resources and Planning
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Table of Contents

.01 PURPOSE

 

.02 OBJECTIVES

 

.03 AUTHORITY

A. Basic Authority – Federal Land Policy and Management Act

B. Air Resource Management Program – Related Laws and Orders

1. Clean Air Act

2. National Environmental Policy Act

3. Environmental Quality Improvement Act

4. Executive Order 11738

5. Secretarial Order Number 3226

6. Executive Order 13423

.04 RESPONSIBILITY

A. Director and Deputy Directors

B. Assistant Director

C. State Directors

D. Office of Fire and Aviation Director

E. National Operations Center Assistant Director

F. National Training Center Director

G. Field Office Managers

.05 REFERENCES

.06 POLICY

A. General

B. Air Quality

C. Climate and Climate Change D. Noise

E. Smoke Management

.07 FILE AND RECORDS MAINTENANCE

.08 PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

A. Policy and Guidance

B. Technical Assistance

C. Data Collection, Management, and Utilization

D. External Coordination

E. Technical Skills

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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.01 Purpose

This Manual sets forth the authority, policy, objectives, program structure, roles and 

responsibilities for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Air Resource Management 

Program (ARMP). This Manual addresses multiple-use management responsibilities under 

the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and responsibilities under other 

authorities, including the Clean Air Act, that impact BLM’s management of air resources on 

the public lands. In addition to the purpose described below, this Manual explains the 

BLM’s roles and responsibilities in complying with the Clean Air Act, and describes the 

roles of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State agencies in regulating 

the air resource. Nothing in this Manual supersedes the laws or Executive Orders cited in 

the authorities section of the Manual. 

The purpose of the Manual is to state the BLM's responsibilities, guide implementation of 

BLM's air resource management policy, and to support related stewardship responsibilities. 

The air resource consists of air quality and climate and includes all atmospheric components 

of climate change. Air quality is determined by atmospheric emissions and pollutants, and 

includes noise, smoke management, and visibility. Certain activities, programs, and 

projects initiated by the BLM, as well as operator-initiated activities and projects that BLM 

authorizes, may have the potential to affect air quality conditions. Therefore, where 

appropriate, BLM must analyze the potential effects of BLM and BLM-authorized activities 

on air quality as part of the planning, environmental review, and decision making processes. 

The climate is both a driving force and a limiting factor for biological, ecological, and 

hydrological processes. For example, the intensity and duration of sunlight and moisture 

affects flora and fauna composition, species, size, distribution, and structure. Therefore, the 

climate may impact resource management activities, such as disturbed site reclamation, 

wildland fire management, drought management, mineral resource development, 

management of rangeland and watershed productivity, and wildlife habitat administration. 

These resource management activities may, in turn, impact the climate. Because the climate 

has great potential to influence renewable and non-renewable resource management 

(affecting the productivity and success of many BLM activities), incorporating climatic

information into the BLM’s programs, projects, activities, and decisions, all of which

authorize use of the public lands, is critical for effective management and relevant for 

environmental review. Therefore, it is important that BLM managers and staff are familiar 

with, understand, and consider climate and relevant climate change information in resource 

management planning and applicable site-specific actions. 

.02 

.

Objectives.

.01

The objectives of the Air Resource Management Program are to: 

A. Provide policy, guidance, training, and technical assistance on climate and air quality 

and other air resource considerations to inform BLM planning and management decisions.

B. Inventory, model, analyze, and monitor air resources in order to evaluate conditions and 

trends and their potential impacts on and from BLM-authorized activities. 
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C. Evaluate and recommend appropriate emission control and mitigation measures and 

techniques for the BLM’s programs, projects, and activities to ensure compliance with 

appropriate Federal, State, Tribal, and local air quality standards.

D. Coordinate, cooperate, and consult with Federal, Tribal, State, and local regulatory 

agencies, and with other appropriate Federal land management agencies, when there are air 

resource issues associated with BLM’s activities or use authorizations.

E. Assist BLM programs in evaluating and protecting air resource values on the public 

lands, consistent with multiple use management. 

F. Develop and maintain records about air resources on the public lands, including: sources 

of emissions from BLM and BLM-authorized activities, programs, and projects; climate 

data; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State government air quality 

classification status; and air quality regulations.

G. Understand the attainment, nonattainment, or maintenance classification status of BLMadministered lands as designated by the EPA, the potential effects of BLM projects, 

programs, and authorized activities on that status and the potential effects of that status on 

BLM projects, programs and authorized activities. 

 

.03 Authority

.02C

. The following paragraphs contain a summary of the Federal Land Policy and 

Management Act (FLPMA), which provides BLM’s basic authority, and summaries of other 

laws and orders that relate to the BLM’s Air Resource Management Program. 

A. Basic Authority — Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 

§§1701-1785 (FLPMA). This Act outlines the BLM’s role as a multiple use land 

management agency and provides for management of the public lands under principles of 

multiple use and sustained yield. The Act specifically calls for the periodic and systematic 

inventory of public land resources by directing the Secretary to “maintain on a continuing 

basis an inventory of all public lands and their resource and other values (including, but not 

limited to, outdoor recreation and scenic values)” (Section 201(a)). The Act also calls on 

the Secretary to “provide for compliance with applicable pollution control laws, including 

State and Federal air, water, noise, or other pollution standards or implementation plans” in 

the development and revision of land use plans (Section 202 (c)(8)). The Act further 

directs the Secretary of the Interior to take any action necessary to prevent unnecessary or 

undue degradation of the lands (Section 302 (b)). Congress’ policy objective is to manage 

the public lands “in a manner that will protect the quality of scientific, scenic, historical, 

ecological, environmental, air and atmospheric, water resource, and archeological values” 

(Section 102 (8)). 
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B. Air Resource Management Program — Related Laws and Orders.

1. Clean Air Act of 1955, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401-7671q. One of the purposes of the Clean 

Air Act is to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation’s air resources so as to promote 

the public health and welfare and the productive capacity of its population (Section 

101(b)(1)). The Act focuses on reducing both criteria air pollutants and hazardous air 

pollutants, and designates EPA as the primary regulatory authority responsible for air 

quality (including visibility) management (Sections 108 and 112). As required by the Clean 

Air Act, EPA has established National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 

criteria pollutants (Section 109 (a)(1)(A)). Compliance and enforcement of these Federal 

requirements may be delegated to applicable Tribal, State and local regulatory agencies

(Sections 107(a), 301(d), 302). The Clean Air Act also allows these agencies to establish 

regulations which are more, but not less, stringent than the Federal requirement (Section 

116). Primary standards are set at the level required to protect human health with an 

"adequate margin of safety" and must safeguard the public as a whole (Section 109 (b)). 

Secondary standards are set at the level that protects public welfare, which is defined to 

include all forms of environmental damage, including but not limited to effects on 

visibility, water, soil, and climate (Section 302(h)). 

Federal agencies are required to comply with all applicable air quality laws, regulations, 

standards and implementation plans (Section 118). The BLM, as a Federal land manager, 

has an “affirmative responsibility to protect the air quality and related values (including 

visibility)” of lands it administers that are within a class I area, and to consider whether a 

proposed major emitting facility will have an adverse impact on those values (Section 165 

(d)(2)). The BLM has a responsibility to consider potential air quality impacts on the public 

lands through the New Source Review permitting process, especially within mandatory 

Federal Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Class I areas (Section 165 (d)(2)). 

The BLM also has a responsibility to conduct General and Transportation Conformity 

analyses (and when applicable, issue formal Determinations) prior to conducting or 

approving activities within designated non-attainment or maintenance areas (Section 176), 

except for actions exempted by regulations at 40 C.F.R. 93.153. Certain public land uses on 

BLM-administered lands may require an air quality permit from the State. Compliance with 

these permits should be a term and condition of the BLM’s authorization. Appropriate 

follow-up by the BLM may be necessary to determine compliance with BLM use 

authorizations. 

The BLM's role in air resource management includes ensuring that BLM activities, 

programs, and projects comply with applicable air quality standards and that BLMauthorized activities comply with conditions and stipulations in leases and permits. This 

work is accomplished through interagency coordination, participation in state 

implementation plan development and processes, collecting and acquiring data, modeling 

air quality impacts, monitoring changes in air resource conditions, performing 

environmental impact analyses as required by NEPA, and implementing adaptive 

management practices as outlined in BLM Handbook H-1601-1. The State agencies 

typically issue air quality permits or otherwise implement and enforce the regulations in the 

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Clean Air Act, unless the EPA does so directly. 

2. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4321-4370f (NEPA). This

Act ensures that information on the potential environmental and human impact of Federal 

actions is available to public officials and citizens before decisions are made and before 

actions are taken. One of the purposes of the Act is to “promote efforts which will prevent 

or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere,” and to promote human health and 

welfare (Section 2). This Act requires that agencies prepare a detailed statement on the 

environmental impact of the proposed action for major Federal actions expected to 

significantly affect the quality of the human environment (Section 102 (C)). In addition, 

agencies are required, to the fullest extent possible, to use a “systematic, interdisciplinary 

approach” in planning and decision-making processes that may have an impact on the 

environment (Section 102(A)).

3. Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970, 42 U.S.C. 4371-4375. This Act 

established the Office of Environmental Quality in order to support the work of the Council 

on Environmental Quality. One of the purposes of the Act is to assure that each Federal 

department and agency conducting or supporting public works activities which affect the 

environment shall implement the policies established under existing law (Section 

202(c)(1)). Congress declared that there is a national policy for the environment which 

provides for the enhancement of environmental quality, and is evidenced by previously 

enacted statutes relating to the prevention, abatement and control of environmental 

pollution, water and land resources, transportation, and economic and regional development

(Section 202(a)).

4. Executive Order 11738 of September 10, 1973. This Order is entitled, “Providing For 

Administration of The Clean Air Act and The Federal Water Pollution Control Act With 

Respect To Federal Contracts, Grants, or Loans,” and announces the policy of the Federal 

government to improve and enhance environmental quality. The Order also directs each 

Federal agency to amend its procurement regulations, following consultation with the EPA 

administrator, to require, as a condition of entering into, renewing, or extending any 

contract for the procurement of goods, materials, or services or extending any assistance by 

way of grant, loan, or contract, inclusion of a provision in the contract requiring compliance

with the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act in the facilities in which the contract is to 

be performed, or which are involved in the activity or program to receive assistance.

5. Secretarial Order 3226 of January 19, 2001. This Order is entitled, “Evaluating 

Climate Change Impacts in Management Planning,” and states that it is the responsibility of 

each bureau and office of the Department of the Interior agencies to “consider and analyze 

potential climate change impacts when undertaking long-range planning exercises, when 

setting priorities for scientific research and investigations, when developing multi-year 

management plans, and/or when making major decisions regarding the potential utilization 

of resources under the Department’s purview.” Departmental activities covered by this 

Order include, but are not limited to, “programmatic and long-term environmental reviews 

undertaken by the Department, management plans and activities developed for public lands, 

planning and management activities associated with oil, gas and mineral development on 

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public lands, and planning and management activities for water projects and water 

resources.”

6. Executive Order 13423 of March 29, 2007. This Order is entitled, “Strengthening 

Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management” and states that it is the 

policy of the United States that Federal agencies should conduct their environmental, 

transportation, and energy-related activities under the law in support of their respective 

missions in an environmentally, economically, fiscally sound and sustainable manner. A 

primary goal for each agency is to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas 

emissions of the agency, through reduction of energy intensity. The head of each Federal 

agency is responsible for implementing within the agency sustainable practices for energy 

efficiency and for greenhouse gas emissions avoidance or reduction. The head of each 

agency is also responsible for implementing within the agency environmental management 

systems (EMS) at all appropriate organizational levels to ensure the use of EMS as the 

primary management approach for addressing the environmental aspects of internal agency 

operations and activities, including environmental aspects of energy and transportation 

functions. The head of each Federal agency is also responsible for establishing within the 

agency and implementing environmental compliance review and audit programs. 

.04 Responsibility.

A. The Director and Deputy Directors are responsible for approving policy and making 

final decisions about general BLM Air Resource Management Program policies that affect 

more than one Assistant Director. 

B. The Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning, often operating through the 

Chief, Division of Environmental Quality and Protection, is responsible for developing the 

content of directives involving program policies and procedures, including all aspects of 

program development and policy formulation related to air resource management. 

Responsibilities include:

1. Establishing Bureau-wide program goals and objectives, formulating and analyzing 

national level policies, and setting national priorities for managing the ARMP, including 

budgeting, planning, and program management.

2. Promoting the effective use of climate and weather information, and providing for 

appropriate air quality protection and emissions control related to BLM activities.

3. Coordinating air resource management at the national level with other Federal, State, 

and Tribal agencies and organizations. 

4. Assuring the air resource is appropriately considered through internal coordination 

with other BLM national program guidance and activities.

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5. Working with the National Operations Center (NOC) and the National Training 

Center by assisting in the development and delivery of training for all levels of the 

organization.

6. Evaluating State-wide ARMP effectiveness through routine oversight. 

7. Supporting a flow of information among WO, the NOC, States, and field offices as 

issues arise, or as new information becomes available at any level.

C. State Directors

4. Assuring appropriate stipulations and conditions of approval are included in BLM use 

authorizations to ensure air pollution emission control, protection methods, and ambient 

air quality levels are addressed. 

5. Collaborating with other Federal, State and local regulatory agencies, Tribal 

governments, user groups, and BLM offices to support a coordinated Air Resource 

Management Program within the state.

6. In cooperation with the applicable regulatory entities, evaluating consumption and 

existing use of air quality increments, and determining potential influence on existing and 

future BLM activities, programs, and projects, and BLM-authorized activities. 

7. Reviewing state implementation plans and recommending revisions and changes as 

necessary to meet the BLM management objectives.

are responsible for the BLM's ARMP objectives within their state by:

1. Implementing Bureau-wide air resource management policies, setting state-wide air 

resource management priorities, and preparing supplemental program directives for statewide application.

2. Ensuring BLM activities, programs, and projects comply with all applicable Federal, 

Tribal, State, and local air quality (including visibility) laws, statutes, regulations, 

standards, and state implementation plans, including applicable general and 

transportation conformity regulations within EPA designated nonattainment or 

maintenance areas, consistent with the Clean Air Act and FLPMA.

3. Working to ensure an appropriate level of climate, air quality, and climate change 

information and analysis is incorporated into applicable state Resource Management 

Plans, NEPA documents, use authorizations, and BLM activities, programs, projects, and 

permits. 

8. Ensuring adequate technical support is available to address air resource issues related 

to the public lands administered by the State Office. This includes ensuring that the State 

Office capabilities are adequate to identify when an air resource issue exists within the 

state and, if necessary, how to obtain the needed technical skills to address the issue. 

.

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This may include referring the issue to the state Soil, Water, and Air program lead or to 

Air Resource Specialists within the BLM. 

9. Promoting inter-program cooperation and consultation with other State Offices, the 

National Operations Center, and the Washington Office. 

10. Providing opportunities for training to develop and/or maintain the technical 

proficiency necessary to meet BLM air resource management responsibilities.

D. The Director, Office of Fire and Aviation

5. Working to ensure BLM fire management activities, programs, and projects comply 

with all applicable Federal, Tribal, State, and local smoke management requirements, 

consistent with the Clean Air Act and FLPMA.

6. Providing technical support to enable field offices to conduct smoke monitoring 

associated with prescribed fire and wildland fire use activities.

7. Cooperating with other Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribal governments, user 

groups, and other BLM offices, as may be appropriate to ensure coordinated smoke 

management.

E. The 

is responsible for:

1. Developing, collecting, assuring quality, managing data, and providing access to “fire 

weather” information for near-real time and climatological applications by fire and other 

BLM programs on a national basis.

2. Working with the NOC to apply air quality, climate, and climate change science to the 

planning and strategic decision-making processes for wildland fire management and 

smoke management.

3. Coordinating with the National Weather Service to provide meteorological services in 

support of wildland fire management. 

4. Working to ensure Predictive Services provides products and services to integrate 

weather, fuel, and smoke management information in support of the prescribed fire 

program and wildland fire management. 

National Operations Center Director is responsible for providing technical support to 

all BLM Offices by:

1. Responding to requests for technical assistance and support.

2. Making recommendations to all organizational levels within the BLM concerning the 

applicability of new technologies for the collection, storage and retrieval, analysis and 

interpretation, and application of climate, air quality (including visibility), and noise 

data.

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3. Providing assistance and conducting air resource modeling to support resource and 

fire management and planning analyses, and by evaluating and adapting modeling 

technologies to support BLM programs.

4. Providing assistance in analyzing and characterizing air resource information, 

including climate change science, to support BLM programs, land use planning, projects, 

and NEPA document preparation. 

5. Preparing and disseminating air resource handbooks, technical notes and references, 

and other Field-oriented guidance to the field. 

6. Providing liaison with research agencies, educational institutions, and professional 

organizations to maintain proficiency and knowledge of air resource management issues.

7. Working with the Washington Office and the National Training Center to develop and 

deliver air resource technical assistance to all levels of the agency. 

8. Developing guidance, procedures, protocols, and data standards for air resource 

management and monitoring. 

F. The National Training Center Director is responsible for developing and/or researching 

training opportunities to provide the necessary technical and management skills needed to 

achieve ARMP objectives and responsibilities. This includes working closely with the

Washington Office and the National Operations Center. 

G. Field and District Office Managers are responsible for achieving BLM ARMP objectives 

by implementing responsibilities of the State Directors within their respective office 

boundaries. Paragraph numbers 2-5 under the State Directors section of this Manual

appropriately apply to BLM district and field office managers as well. Additional BLM 

district and field office manager responsibilities include: 

1. Coordinating with local communities, industries, agencies, Tribes and partners in 

identifying and addressing air resource issues and concerns such as: identifying smoke 

sensitive areas such as highways, senior centers, and hospitals; adjusting management for 

drought conditions; identifying areas for potential visibility or regional haze impacts; or 

assessing potential noise impacts from BLM-authorized activities.

2. Collecting/acquiring climate, air quality (including visibility and noise) data as 

necessary to manage local actions and authorizations.

3. Identifying and addressing air resource management and training needs. This includes 

ensuring that the field office capabilities are adequate to identify when an air resource 

issue may exist and, if necessary, how to obtain the needed technical skills to address the 

issue. This may include referring the issue to the state Soil, Water, and Air Program lead 

or to Air Resource Specialists within the BLM. 

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4. Producing and incorporating applicable air-related analysis and/or control measures 

into planning and decision documents and associated environmental analyses.

.05 References

.06 

.

BLM Manual Section 7000 – Soil, Water, and Air Management

BLM Handbook 1601-1 – Land Use Planning Handbook

BLM Handbook H-1790-1 – National Environmental Policy Act Handbook

2006 Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and Implementation Reference Guide

2005 Wildland Fire Use Implementation Procedures Reference Guide

Policy.

A. General: 

1. The BLM recognizes air as a valuable natural and public resource that needs to be 

protected through prudent management and appropriate mitigation. Where BLM 

activities, programs, and projects or BLM-authorized activities have the potential to 

affect the air resource, which includes climate and air quality and any associated airquality-related-values, these activities, programs, and projects will be managed at an 

appropriate scale, consistent with BLM planning objectives, and in compliance with 

Federal laws.

2. All BLM activities, programs, and projects will comply with applicable provisions of 

the Clean Air Act, FLPMA, NEPA, and other applicable air regulations, implementation 

plans, laws, standards, and directives. 

3. The BLM will consult and coordinate with applicable regulatory agencies on the 

management of existing and future Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) 

increment consumption to provide for the protection of air quality while accomplishing 

the BLM core mission.

4. The BLM will coordinate, as appropriate, with Federal, Tribal, State and local 

agencies responsible for or affected by air resource management. Coordination will 

occur on all appropriate resource management plans, NEPA documents, proposed rule 

changes affecting air quality, and revisions to state implementation plans.

5. The BLM will develop, maintain and/or acquire the knowledge and technical skills 

necessary to accomplish the objectives and adhere to the policies of the ARMP. 

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B. Air Quality

2. BLM activities, projects, and programs within EPA-designated nonattainment or 

maintenance areas must comply with applicable general and transportation conformity 

regulations, except for actions exempted by EPA’s regulations (see 40 CFR parts 51 and 

93, 93.153(c)(2)(xi) and (xii) and (4)). 

3. Consistent with the BLM’s multiple-use mandate, BLM actions and use authorizations 

will comply with appropriate direction in the Clean Air Act “to preserve, protect, and 

enhance the air quality in national parks, national wilderness areas, national monuments, 

national seashores, and other areas of special national or regional natural, recreational, 

scenic, or historic value” (Section 160 (2)). 

4. BLM will consider the potential effects of BLM projects, programs, activities, and 

BLM-authorized activities on air quality at both the planning and the project level. This 

includes NEPA documents associated with RMPs, and evaluating the potential impacts, if 

appropriate, of proposed actions and activities such as: grazing management, hazardous 

materials management, land use authorizations, smoke management, drought 

management, wilderness management, energy and mineral resource development, 

recreational uses, and transportation management. Where appropriate and geographically 

applicable, managers should use other Federal and State agency air quality data to aid in 

the analysis of BLM-authorized activities. 

5. Visibility is an air resource value that may be affected by air quality. Where BLM 

activities, programs, and projects or BLM-authorized activities have the potential to 

impact visibility, BLM will evaluate the extent of the potential impact and consider 

mitigation. Areas where BLM may analyze potential visibility impacts include 

mandatory Federal PSD Class I and adjacent areas, wildland/urban interface areas, 

National Landscape Conservation System units, and in or near areas that contain special 

natural resources.

C. 

:

1. BLM will review its use authorizations requiring air quality permits on a periodic 

basis to confirm that the authorized parties possess the necessary permits and will take 

appropriate actions to enforce BLM permit conditions if air quality regulatory agencies 

have found the permittee in violation of its laws, regulations or permits. If BLM has 

information pertaining to violation of Federal or state air quality laws, it will provide that 

information to the appropriate enforcement agency. 

Climate and Climate Change:

1. Managers will incorporate climate and weather information into BLM long-range 

planning documents and, when applicable, at the project level. This includes NEPA 

documents and Resource Management Plans (RMPs), and evaluating the role of climate

and weather information in proposed actions and activities such as: land use 

authorizations, smoke management, drought management, wilderness management, 

weeds management, mineral resource development, recreational uses, transportation 

 

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management, and other resource management activities and decisions. Where 

appropriate and geographically applicable, managers should use other Federal and Stateagency climate and weather data. 

2. Activities, programs, and projects initiated by BLM, as well as operator-initiated 

activities and projects the BLM authorizes, have the potential to affect and/or be affected 

by the climate and climate change. Therefore, BLM should consider climate and

potential or documented climate change as part of its planning and decision making 

process with respect to renewable and non-renewable resource management. When

conducting long-range planning and when making major decisions pursuant to Secretarial 

Order 3226, the BLM should evaluate: 

1) how resources may be affected by climate change; 

2) how to adapt land management practices due to the influence of 

climate change on biological and physical resources, and;

3) how BLM land management practices may or may not contribute to the

potential effects of climate change, including but not limited to emissions, 

sequestration, or mitigation of greenhouse gases. 

D. Noise

When BLM programs, projects, and/or use authorizations have the potential to affect 

existing resources that may be sensitive to noise such as public health and safety, 

wildlife, heritage resources, wilderness, wildland/urban interface areas, and other special 

value areas (such as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern and National Landscape 

Conservation Areas), BLM will consider noise and its potential impacts on the public and 

the environment, as well as any appropriate mitigation measures, during the planning and 

authorization review process. This is especially important when land use proposals

include high volumes of motorized vehicles or mechanized equipment.

:

1

E. 

 

1 BLM’s Safety and Occupational Health Program is responsible for assessing employees’ exposure to potentially 

high noise-producing work operations and activities. This is accomplished through surveys for the purpose of 

anticipating, recognizing, evaluating, and recommending feasible control measures. For further explanation, see 

BLM Handbook H-1112-2.

Smoke Management:

1. BLM's smoke management and planning activities will comply with applicable 

Federal, State, and local smoke management programs, regulations and standards.

2. BLM will conduct smoke management and planning activities in cooperation with 

regulatory agencies, other Federal agencies, and Tribal governments to collectively 

reduce public health and welfare impacts of smoke. 

3. BLM will plan the application of prescribed fire in advance, including preparing 

prescribed fire burn plans consistent with applicable prescribed fire planning and 

implementation procedures guidance (e.g., the Interagency Prescribed Fire Planning and 

Implementation Procedures Reference Guide).

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4. The application of wildland fire use will be consistent with applicable wildland fire 

use implementation procedures guidance (e.g., the Wildland Fire Use Implementation 

Procedures Reference Guide). The BLM will assist air quality regulatory agencies in the

siting and operation of emergency episode air quality monitoring stations when necessary 

to assess smoke impacts from prescribed fire, wildland fire use, or wildfire.

.07 File and Records Maintenance.

All BLM records and data related to the Air Resource Management Program will be 

managed according to established records policies to support agency missions. All 

records and data will be disposed of according to the BLM/GRS Combined Records 

Schedule; see Schedule 4 Item 11.

.08 Program Structure and Function. The Air Resource Management Program is composed 

of five major parts: 

A. Policy and Guidance: Air resource program staff recommends and implements ARMP 

policy, guidance, and procedures for BLM activities, programs, and projects and BLMauthorized activities on the public lands.

B. Technical Assistance: Air resource program staff provides technical assistance in

applying air resource information, consultation, and training to BLM staff and managers 

when activities have the potential to impact air resources. Technical assistance is often 

associated with how to adequately address potential air resource impacts associated with the 

development of land use plans, NEPA and other planning documents, air resource modeling, 

smoke management, and air resource data collection and management. 

C. Data Collection, Management and Utilization: Air resource program staff collect, 

model, and apply data and information as necessary to determine, evaluate, and analyze air 

resource conditions and trends on the public lands. 

D. External Coordination: Air resource program staff seek outside review of environmental 

analyses as appropriate, aim to understand other agency program challenges, talents, and 

responsibilities, participate in air resource management decision making and 

implementation, monitoring, modeling, permit review, planning, redesignation, and rule 

making, and review other Federal, Tribal, State, and local agencies’ processes to ensure 

BLM authorities, responsibilities, concerns, views, and needs are considered.

E. Technical Skills

.06E4

: Technical skills and subject-matter expertise required to carry out the 

major elements of the ARMP will vary periodically and between offices, and include some 

combination of training and experience in: 

1.) meteorology and climatology; 

2.) air quality management (including smoke management); 
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3.) air pollutant emission control methods and mitigation techniques; 

4.) monitoring; 

5.) modeling; 

6.) analysis methods and considerations; 

7.) regulation and policy; and 

8.) developing written analyses for NEPA and other planning and use 

authorization documents. 

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Glossary of Air Resource and Related Terms.

In the BLM Air Resource Management Program, the following terms and definitions are used for 

guidance. However, these same terms may be defined differently in other manuals or used in 

other contexts. 

Air Quality: the quality of the atmosphere as determined by the concentration of air pollutants,

visibility, odors, sound, and other energy forms (such as solar radiation) transmitted through the 

atmosphere.

Air Quality Related Values (AQRV): those attributes of a PSD (Prevention of Significant 

Deterioration) Class I or Class II area important to the purpose for which the area was 

established, which may be adversely affected by a change in air quality. Air Quality Related 

Values include, but are not limited to, visibility, flora, fauna, ecologic, geologic, historic, and 

cultural characteristics.

Air Resource: the air or atmospheric component of the ecosystem. As a management activity, 

the air resource includes climate, weather, air quality and all atmospheric components of climate 

change. Smoke management, noise, and visibility are considered components of air quality. 

Air Resource Management Program: the program within the BLM that includes applications, 

activities, and management of the air resource.

Assessment: A judgment about or application of criteria to measure the condition of the 

resources that the agency manages and to inform an evaluation, which can be used to make or 

support a management decision. Assessments do not account for causality. Rather, they are 

judgments on the condition of a resource. Assessments are conducted at a point in time using 

qualitative or quantitative measurements from new or available information, including inventory 

and monitoring.

Attainment Area: a geographic area in which the concentration of one or more criteria pollutants 

is routinely better than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). PSD 

requirements apply in attainment areas.

Best Available Control Technology (BACT): technology which provides the maximum degree of 

reduction of a regulated pollutant achievable by any major emitting facility, taking into account, 

on a case-by-case basis, energy, environmental, and economic impacts and other costs, through 

application of production processes, available control methods, systems and technologies.

Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART): additional control technology as required under 

Section 169A of the Clean Air Act to remedy existing visibility impairment in mandatory PSD 

Class I areas.

Class I Area

Glossary, Page 1

: an area designated under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration program with 

the most stringent degree of protection from future degradation of air quality. The Clean Air Act 

designates as mandatory Class I areas each national park over 6,000 acres and each wilderness 
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area over 5,000 acres established as of August 7, 1977 (Section 162(a)). In addition, State and 

Tribal Governments may redesignate Class II areas as Class I, based on a prescribed regulatory 

process.

Class II Area: an area designated under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration program with 

a moderate degree of protection from future degradation of air quality (Section 162(b)).

Class III Area: an area designated under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration program 

with the least degree of protection from future degradation of air quality. However, no Class III 

areas have been established. 

Climate: composite or generalized weather conditions of a specific region, such as temperature, 

pressure, humidity, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, averaged over a specific time 

interval (usually several decades).

Climate Change: a change of climate, which may be attributed to a variety of factors, including, 

directly or indirectly, human activity that may alter the composition of the global atmosphere and 

natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.

Climatology: the study of the statistical collection of weather conditions during a specified time 

interval (usually several decades) at a specified area.

Concentration: a measure of the quantity of air pollutants specified in terms of pollutant mass per 

unit volume of air (typically in micrograms per cubic meter), or in terms of relative volume of 

pollutants per unit volume of air (typically in parts per million).

Conformity Rule: When there is a proposal for a Federal action in a nonattainment or 

maintenance area, Federal agencies are required to analyze if the action is subject to the General 

Conformity Rule, and if so, to demonstrate that the action will not cause or contribute to a new 

violation, or will not delay the timely achievement of applicable air quality standards. This 

process includes an applicability analysis, and, if necessary, a conformity determination with 

public participation. This process is to assure that a Federal action conforms to a State, Tribal, or 

Federal Implementation Plan. Some common activities where conformity analysis may apply 

include: special use authorizations, prescribed fire activities, recreation activities, and land use 

authorizations. See 40 CFR parts 6, 51, and 93. Some exceptions where the conformity rule 

does not apply include: continuing and recurring activities such as permit renewals where 

activities conducted will be similar in scope and operation to activities currently being 

conducted; and planning, studies, and provision of technical assistance. See 40 CFR 93.153.

Criteria Pollutants: those air pollutants for which National Ambient Air Quality Standards have 

been set (See section 108). Criteria pollutants include carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), 

nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter of less than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in 

diameter, particulate matter of less than 10 microns (PM10) in diameter, and sulfur dioxide (SO2), 

subject to change per the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule revisions. 

Dispersion

Glossary, Page 2

: the physical process of diluting the concentration of a substance by molecular and 
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turbulent motion; e.g., smoke in air.

Emissions: the act of discharging into the atmosphere an air contaminant, an effluent which 

contains an air contaminant, or the effluent discharged indirectly into the atmosphere (such as 

through evaporation.).

Emissions Inventory: a quantitative statement of the types and quantities of air pollutants emitted 

for specified source categories within a specified place or region over a specified period of time. 

For any pollutant, emissions usually are expressed in terms of tons per day, pounds per hour, or 

grams per second.

Emission Standards: legally defined and enforced prescriptions which limit the emission of a 

pollutant from a specifically designated source or sources, limit the operation of a source, limit 

the use of a type of fuel or product, or require the use of a type of equipment, fuel, or air 

pollution control system.

Hazardous Air Pollutants: those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other 

serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental 

effects.

Increments: the amount of additional pollution, above a specified baseline level, which may be 

allowed in a particular PSD area. The amount of allowable increment varies with whether the 

area is Class I, Class II, or Class III, although the baseline level is fixed.

Inventory: Inventories are the systematic acquisition of resource information needed for 

planning and management purposes. An inventory can be an initial collection of baseline data, 

but it may be repeated over time to establish a new baseline. Inventories are conducted at a point 

in time utilizing qualitative or quantitative measurements.

Land Use Authorizations: BLM documents and processes, which authorize private uses of public 

lands and resources, such as leases, permits, easements and rights-of-way.

Maintenance Area: a geographic area in which the concentration of one or more criteria 

pollutants once exceeded National Ambient Air Quality Standards, but currently achieve those 

standards, subject to a formal plan to prevent future violations. 

Monitoring: Monitoring is the periodic collection of information to be used to evaluate progress 

in meeting management objectives and/or evaluate resource conditions. Monitoring captures 

qualitative and/or quantitative information, with reproducible results, over a period of time to 

detect resource change. 

Meteorology: the study of short-term atmospheric phenomena and variations such as stability, 

wind speed, wind direction, temperature, etc.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): the allowable concentrations of air 

pollutants in the ambient (public outdoor) air specified in 40 CFR 50. The NAAQS are based on 

Glossary, Page 3
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the air quality criteria and divided into primary standards (allowing an adequate margin of safety 

to protect the public health) and secondary standards (allowing an adequate margin of safety to 

protect the public welfare). Welfare is defined as including (but not limited to) effects on soils, 

water, crops, vegetation, man-made materials, animals, wildlife, weather, visibility, climate, and 

hazards to transportation, as well as effects on economic values and on personal comfort and 

well-being.

Natural Background Level: the concentration of a pollutant that would exist in the absence of 

anthropogenic (human-caused) pollution.

Nonattainment Area: an area, such as a county, where measurements of one or more of the 

criteria air pollutants have demonstrated violation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

(NAAQS) and EPA has designated such status. 

Predictive Services: A program to enhance proactive wildland fire management by integrating 

climate, weather, fuels, fire danger, situational and resource status, and expecting fire activity. 

Prescribed Fire: any fire ignited by management actions to meet specific objectives. A written, 

approved prescribed fire plan must exist, and NEPA requirements (where applicable) must be 

met prior to ignition.

Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD): the air quality management and permit process 

(specified in Part C of the Clean Air Act) designed to limit the amount of additional 

(incremental) air quality degradation above specified baseline levels, and/or adverse impacts of 

Air Quality Related Values in attainment areas, while maintaining a margin for future air 

pollutant emission growth. 

Primary Standards (primary ambient air quality standards): the concentration level of criteria 

pollutants, with respect to averaging time, at which the U.S. EPA has set limits on to protect 

public health, including the health of sensitive populations such as children and the elderly. 

Secondary Standards (secondary ambient air quality standards): the concentration level of 

criteria pollutants, with respect to averaging time, at which the U.S. EPA has set limits on to 

protect public welfare, including protection against visibility impairment, damage to animals, 

crops, vegetation, and buildings.

State Implementation Plan (SIP): a document developed by each State government, and 

approved by EPA, which provides for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of air 

quality laws, standards, regulations, programs, and air pollutant emission control strategies. 

Similar documents are called Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs, implemented by EPA) or 

Tribal Implementation Plans (TIPS, implemented by Tribal governments).

Visibility

Glossary, Page 4

: the optical quality of the atmosphere, sometimes quantified as the Standard Visual 

Range, or the maximum distance at which it is just possible to differentiate (with the unaided 

eye) a prominent dark object against a uniform horizon sky. Other measurement units include 
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extinction (how light attenuates as it passes through the atmosphere) and deciviews.

Wildfire: an unplanned, unwanted wildland fire including unauthorized human-caused fires, 

escaped wildland fire use events, escaped prescribed fire projects, and all other wildland fires 

where the objective is to put the fire out. 

Wildland Fire: Any non-structure fire that occurs in the wildland. The three distinct types of 

wildland fire are wildfire, wildland fire use, and prescribed fire. 

Wildland Fire Use: the application of the appropriate management response to naturally-ignited 

wildland fires to accomplish specific resource management objectives in pre-defined designated 

areas outlined in Fire Management Plans. A written, approved wildland fire use plan must exist, 

and NEPA requirements (where applicable) must be met prior to natural ignition.

Wildland/Urban Interface

Glossary, Page 5

: The area or zone where humans and their structures or other 

development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels.