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HomeMy WebLinkAbout33 - Fire Rings - PowerPointAgenda Item #33 November 26, 2013 FIRE RINGS November 26, 2013 Newport Beach City Council Why We're Here Air Quality /Health Impacts From Wood Smoke: Particulate matter (PM) in the <2.5 micron size range. W.H.O. classified PM as Group 1 human carcinogen. One fire ring's PM2.5 emission rate = three diesel trucks or second -hand smoke from 800 cigarettes. 30 fire rings' PM2.5 emission rate = "an average large south coast refinery." Why We're Here, Contd. ❑ Air Quality /Health Impacts From Wood Smoke: o Impacts beach areas and extends into communities. r 1 -hour average PM2.5 concentrations can exceed public health guidance levels. 4 N M' m 4M • 1 f dftL /OP r v +- rw� 1 0 r am-AA Big Corona Balboa Pier Big Corona 27 wood - fueled rings 19,700 SF r � r Balboa Pier North /West: 15 wood - fueled rings 1 1,528 SF South /East: 18 wood - fueled rings 12,524 SF AQMD's Rule 444 (d)(3)(G) Open Burning ... A person is prohibited from open burning for ...: Effective March 1, 2014, beach burning, unless: PM2.5 AQI of 100 or less has been forecast for the coastal source receptor area; and AQMD's Rule 444 (d)(3)(G) Beach burning occurs in devices that are: at least 700' from the nearest residence; or L at least 100' from one another; or ■ at least 50' apart from one another, if there are no more than 15 devices per contiguous beach area within the city's boundaries. AQMD's Rule 444 (d)(4) ...if a city or county has declared ... that designated beach burning devices within its boundaries cause a nuisance ... due to wood smoke exposure, then those devices may not be made available by a state or local authority. AQMD's Alternative -Fuel Fire Ring Demonstration Project In December 2013. AQMD Board will consider two vendors: Earth's Flame (Corona, CA) Blazing Design (Essex Jct, VT) If Board moves forward: .J AQMD set aside $600,000 to design, permit, install in: ■ Newport Beach (if we're interested) Possible state park site — such as Doheny SB Examples — theme only Neither of these are from Earth's Flame or Blazing Design Proposed Plan — Balboa Pier (Phase 1 � f ni �1 4. �t it r North /West: 7 wood - fueled rings 1 group alt- fueled ring D South /East 8 wood - fueled rings r 1 group alt -fuel ring L 3 single alt- fueled rings Proposed Plan —Big Corona Y PMse II !-r II 11'r 9� r 12 wood - fueled rings 5 alt- fueled rings, as 2nd Phase of Pilot Project Proposed Plan Phase I Space Wood Rings to 50' at Big Corona, Balboa Pier Leaves 12 at Big Corona, 15 at Balboa Pier Limit fuel source to natural firewood and /or low - emission logs. Sell at the beach. Appropriate enforcement. Participate with AQMD in natural gas demo project, starting with Balboa Pier. Appropriate supervision. Proposed Plan, Contd. Phase II If it works, expand alt -fuel to Big Corona Phase III See if more wood - fueled rings can be transitioned (in place) to alt -fuel rings. Concerns We've Heard Enforcement Safety of alternative fuel rings Maintenance /reliability of alt -fuel rings Clash of the Titans AQMD and Coastal Input from Coastal, AQMD Who's Weighed In Coastal Commission staff (letter of 1 1 -26 -1 3): o Prefer no net loss in # of rings. o Must analyze all feasible alternatives to losing rings. i CDP required for any modification to type, location, number of beach fire rings. Supports the AQMD — City demonstration project. But installation = CDP Any temporary closure of rings, reservation system = CDP Disagrees with Rule 444's nuisance override. Who's Weighed In AQMD Staff (letter of 1 1- 26 -13) City incorrectly uses the 50' spacing — intended not for NB, but for large cities like City of LA. While Rule 444 does not define "contiguous beach area ", the administrative record does. 0 City would be subject to penalty and /or fine for non- compliance with Rule 444 if City implements the 50' spacing. AQMD staff (phone call — 11-26-13, paraphrasing) Would prefer that ring "equivelancy" remain after March 1, 2104 and be accommodated through alt -fuel program and 100' spacing across larger footprint of beach. Contiguous Beach Area Rule 444 does not define it. July 2013 AQMD written documents: Staff Report said: "...the contiguous beach area condition is intended to consider beaches separately, in terms of rule applicability, if a city has beaches that are separated by another city's or unincorporated area's beaches" Power Point that the Board heard said: "50' spacing allowed if small number of rings on the beach" Contiguous Beach Area BALBOA PIER C E A N BALBOA ISLAND THE WEDGE `S fl,, p19 Hq �F 99 1 P � 1Q p 3 S4_ IE 4; _ oFE4N �rli B��O z BIG CORONA L Qoe` � m m v N y-1 1.27 miles between Bal Pier (S) and Big Corona �, 1P P� a What's Next AQMD approval of Alt -Fuel demonstration project City would execute agreement with AQMD Coastal Commission review /approval of: City's dispersal plan City's plan to install alt- fueled fire rings