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B.C. Air Quality

New Ambient Air Quality Criteria for PM2.5: Development Process

Introduction

On April 9, 2009, the Province set ambient air quality criteria for PM2.5, recognizing the significant health benefits associated with decreasing ambient PM2.5 levels. The development of these criteria was guided by the Air Action Plan and the B.C. Government's commitment to “...lead the world in sustainable environmental management with the best air and water quality...bar none” (Great Goal #4).

Developing the new criteria was originally led by the Ministry of Environment, followed by the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport (MHLS) in mid-2008. MHLS relies on a strong partnership with the Ministry of Environment to create and implement air quality criteria, policies and regulations.

The development process involved the following stages (see below these bullets for details):

  • Scoping — including a review of the science and regulatory approaches used in other jurisdictions;
  • Consultation — early consultation with affected stakeholders, signaling the government’s intent to develop new provincial criteria for PM2.5. Further consultation with stakeholders and the general public following the government's intentions paper;
  • Intentions Paper — outlining the government’s proposed air quality criteria and associated information; and
  • Implementation — including development of additional guidance for government staff and external stakeholders on implementation of the new criteria.


Scoping (Science and Regulatory Review)

Summary Report: Development of Options for a New Provincial PM2.5 Air Quality Objective
December 2005 (PDF: 72 pages)

Phase 1 Report: Review of Criteria in Other Jurisdictions, and Recommendations for British Columbia
December 2005  (PDF: 238 pages)

Phase 2 Report: Role of Cost-Benefit Analysis in Setting Air Quality Standards
December 2005  (PDF: 87 pages)

Consultation

Provincial Ambient Air Quality Criteria for PM2.5: Ministry Intentions Paper — Summary of Public Comment 
March 2008 (PDF: 129 KB/14 pages)
This report summarizes the stakeholder submissions regarding the intentions paper.

Consultations on Proposed Options for Provincial Air Quality Objectives and an Airshed Planning Framework (Three Reports):

Report 1: Consultations on Proposed Options for Provincial Air Quality Objectives and an Airshed Planning Framework: Summary Notes
March 2006 (PDF: 416 KB/11 pages)

Report 2: A Provincial Airshed Planning Framework: Consultation Discussion Paper
June 2006 (PDF: 178 KB/12 pages)

Report 3: A Provincial Airshed Planning Framework: Summary of Findings from Stakeholder Consultations
July 2006 (PDF: 685 KB/12 pages)

Intentions Paper

Provincial Ambient Air Quality Criteria for PM2.5: Ministry Intentions Paper
January 2008 (PDF: 281 KB/7 pages)

Posted in January 2008 for consultation, this paper outlines the B.C. Government's intentions to establish provincial ambient-air-quality criteria for PM2.5. It includes background information about particulate matter and health concerns, a summary of the process for establishing the proposed criteria, and the government's intentions.

Implementation

Guidance on Application of Provincial Air Quality Criteria for PM2.5
(PDF: 182 KB/18 pages).

Prepared by the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport in co-operation with the Ministry of Environment, this guide provides an overview of how air quality criteria are considered in regional decision making. It also includes specifics related to applying the new PM2.5 criteria to decisions on authorizations, air quality advisories and airshed planning.

More Information

Updating B.C. Provincial Air Quality Objectives: An Options Discussion Paper   
May 2002 (PDF: 728 KB/40 pages)

Background Concentrations of PM2.5 and Ozone in British Columbia, Canada
March 2006 (PDF: 465 KB/27 pages)

Canada-wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone: Five Year Report: 2000-2005 (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment)
November 2006 (PDF: 17 pages)


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