Development and Implementation of PM and Ozone Management Plans
Under the CASA Particulate Matter and Ozone Management Framework, areas assigned to the management plan action level must develop an air quality management plan. The goal of the plan is to avoid future exceedances of the Canada-wide Standards. Plans should consider population growth, industrial activity and air quality trends.
Management plans are developed through a collaborative process; they are not imposed on stakeholders through a regulatory framework. The management plans can be implemented through a variety of regulatory and non-regulatory mechanisms. The intent of the CASA Framework is to facilitate multi-stakeholder responsibility for air quality management.
The management plans can be implemented through a variety of regulatory and non-regulatory mechanisms. The intent of the CASA Framework is to facilitate multi-stakeholder responsibility for air quality management. A management plan could, for example, involve compulsory actions (regulations and bylaws) or voluntary actions such as providing incentives for using environmentally responsible modes of transportation. Management actions can be carried out by federal, provincial or municipal governments, private sector and non-government environmental associations.
In November 2006, Alberta Environment notified the Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer areas of the need to develop air quality management plans. This was in response to the 2001-2003 particulate matter and ozone assessment, which placed these three regions in the Management Plan Action Level for ozone. Stakeholders in these three areas worked together, along with government, to develop management plans. The Alberta Capital Airshed Alliance (ACAA), West Central Airshed Society (WCAS), and Fort Air Partnership (FAP) airsheds formed a partnership to develop a management plan for the Edmonton and surrounding area. The Parkland Airshed Management Zone (PAMZ) and Calgary Region Airshed Zone (CRAZ) developed management plans for the Red Deer and Calgary regions, respectively. Airsheds submitted their plans to Alberta Environment in December of 2008.
Alberta Environment hosted several workshops to assist the airsheds in developing these plans. Alberta Environment also produced a management plan guidance document, to provide airsheds with a base level of information to support the development of the plans. A policy tools document was also developed to inform airsheds of potential actions that could be taken to reduce PM2.5 and ozone.
Links to the management plans are below:
