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Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
STARBUCK FIRE
Started March 5th
50% Contained as of Marc
Total Acres bn rued:
u v G i ccjc
Acres
Total in Kansas:
Over 502,000 Acres
Ks Counties impacted: Clark, Comanche, Meade
"The 2017 Starbuck wildfire set a state record tor the most widespread single fire ever recorded in the
history of the State of Kansas, almost doubling last years record-breaking Anderson Creek wildfire."
Brief elevated levels o f PM and ozone a t the KS monitoring sites, but no exceedances. The burn scar and high winds just after the fire did cause a potential exceedance a t the Dodge City PM10 monitoring site (data has not yet been Quality Assured).
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Significant burning was observed on Friday (April 7), Monday (April 10}, and Tuesday (April 11). Lack of available burn days in the prior 14+ days was likely key in seeing a significant week. The prior two weeks landowners endured periods of heavy rain, wind, and cloudy conditions that inhibited the ability to conduct prescribed fires.
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
HMS Fire &Smoke Analysis
April 07,2017
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On April 12, smoke pushed as far north as South Dakota and Minnesota, and then eastward towards the Great
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KS Flint His Smoke Management
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Update: Mumbs- oi acres burned within tbe Flint Hills daring spring 2 0 '7 near norma!. ius? shy o-' 2 3 miliion acres This analysis includes m; burning inrougir April 22 and may include some <yf tbe sides burned on April 22 it is expected -Pot addiona! acreage burned since this analyses wili be minimal
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Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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During the period of March 1 - May 1, 2017 the KS SMP Facebook page had over 10,000 visits.
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Kansas Flint Hills S m o te Maaagemeinit
W elcome to th e Kansas Flint Hills Sm oke
M anagement W ebsite. This site provides
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sin gle locatten fo r land m anagers conducting
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prescribed burns in " he F lint Hills to obtain
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in fo rm a tio n end access to o ls to assist th e m in S iT l^ l
m aking burn decisions.
This website supports th e Flint Hills Sm oke M anagem ent Flan,
At A Glance
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Focus On A ir Division
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Smoke Awareness in Nebraska
Information Related to Kansas Flint Hills Controlled Borns and Other Events that Can Impact Nebraska's Air Quality
This web page was; designed to keep the public informed about any potential smoke issues that could impact air quality in Nebraska. The primary purpose of the page is to provide updates annually from March to mid-April, when large controlled burns In the Flint Hills area of Kansas and Oklahoma occurs and can potentially impact air quality in surrounding states.This page will also be updated If there ere other regional events that could affect air quality in populated areas of Nebraska, such as uncontrolled wildfires.
The page provides:
* updates on controlled burns from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE);
links for more Flint Hills information; * a link to federal site that provide Nebraska's air current conditions and forecast: * background regarding controlled burning; - information relating to practical steps that can be taken to avoid impacts whan air quality is
affected by smoke
Updates on Controlled Bums
Kansas Beef Council Supports FH SMP
Kansas Stasi C&uns
With spring here,, many ranchers will use carefully planned prescribed burns to manage invasive plant species [hat three, eu if ~!fn? Hiils. Property manaqea pre.cc rood ^irus< an also help reduce the risk of wildfires. These veil \ ~ i^d and controlled Purrs are much dr*e <r ' 1' i he uncontrolled, accidental and devastating mid 1 >> tt ep acros -< * >`a*a> 11 -a'h, f Ut< n. Our thoughts are with all the communities ^ iti imi U l , hr rermaift e *h** t <r as 1 tr, ..fvihnue :o rebuild.
Follow one a - h<- a u. [n e * - e er, as he explains why prescribed burns are needed in the Flint
Hills, hew he i j ' t s sun p? i ^ m eadv tor a prescribed burn, and how ranchers reiy on the Smoke
Management Plan m ten.
ke r*
Want to learn more about prescribed burns in Kansas'? Visit itft&Jiwm.kstrre. org
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j r r t i t f d urn it w er r x l a i t i n ^ ve as stewards ofiftetandsciu-cate
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Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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Environmental Prelection
Agency - Region 7 (IA, KS, MO, NE)
As KDHE explains irvtheir February 21, 017 press release, large areas of ibe Flint Hills wilalafi-ds sre burred to ne!p preserve tbs isligrsss prairie, control: invasive species sucb as Eastern Red Cedar and sumac, and provide better forage for cattle. Prescribed burning minimizes risk oiwiidfire 3rd s effective in managing wildland resources.
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Choked up about Kansas smoke? Collaboration might help more than legal action, attorney says
ZACH PLUHACEK L in c o ln jo u r n a l S ts r A p r 1 1 ,2 0 1 7 U n c is te d A p r 2& 201 7 (65
Local view: Burns necessary for land
BARB COGKS.EY Apr 155,201 ? % ( 6 j
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Loot spring, Kansas prairie fires raised questions about air quality In Nebraska s winds tarried smoky h a ts Into Omaha sod Lincoln schools In both metropolitan areas can; ad planned sporting activities, and city officials urged residents to stay indoors.
As we approach another spring gracing season. If is im portant to understand why farmers and ranchers purposefully burn their pastores. Ccntroiiad fires are an essential to erf fo r sustainable forestry and prairie restoration, and bath the U S. Forest Service and the U.S, Natural Resource Conservation Service promote prescribed burning as a best management practice.
Prescribed burning Is die process: a t applying fire to a predetermined area, under specific environmental! conditions, fo achieve a desired outcome. This unique tool Is used throughout the United States to manage the health of various ecosystems, including in parts o f Appalachia, the Pacific Northwest end the Midwest.
Farmers and ranchers in Nebraska use controlled bums to m alntainthe health o f the nativa
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While Nebraskans cursed Saturday's smoky surprise from Kansas, a group o f H in t Hills ranchers on horseback m errily flicked matches into the grass and watched it kindle.
Latest news
10 tim e s w e Nebraskans
The c ity in e\ highest jo b c
Veteran on h tim e (to} say
friends*
Man indictee sheriff, judge
^ * - Attorney for
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler sent a letter Tuesday to the director of the Division of Environment at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment regarding controlled burns and the health of people in the capital city.
Beutler'would like the KDHE to update Flint Hills Smoke Management Plan to r! pv ssfIsPVu* Vpuf3 Vru*si3r!rOn' n! !f! srOocp*Vn/ f'ch
"The 2010 Plan's recommendations, based on 40 year old research, should be updated with consideration given to current studies questioning the necessity of abbreviated burn periods," said Beutler.
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Air quality still bad for some people; IPS elementary children kept inside
Lincoln journal Star Apr ; X 2 0 :7 %0)
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Mayor sends letter to Kansas about unhealthy air from Flint Hills fires
NAMCV rii'GKS Lincoln journal SEsr Apr 19. 7
Api'sJL 91 v ^ (9J
Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler wants Kansas ranchers to pay more attention to the health of Lincoln residents, downwind from their annual grass burns.
Lintoin Mayor Chris Bender wants Kansas ranchers pay mote attention to the health o f Lincoln residents, downwind from their annuel grass barns.
The mayor questioned the current Kansas burn plan, which allows burns In the Flint Hills area to be concentrated Into a short period of time.
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Kansas
Apri! 24. 201:
RECEIVED
Mayor 55 South 10!-:| Sfregi. Suit 30' Lincoln, NE 08508
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Dear Mr. Boulter,
{ have received your April 18<30i 7, ^tter and appreciate your retiediog out to me regarding the affects of the burning in the Fisnt Hills, The Kansas Department of Health and Environment CKOHIT) urttiefstanefe and acknowledges V*o concerns you have for the welfare of your citizens, KDH has worked diligently to mitigate the attests of the burning In the Flint Hills on oil downwind residents, whether Kansans, Nebraskans, or others.
KDHS .appreciates that the City of Lincoln recognissc the importance of fire io the genent sod sumvabitky of the tellgrsos prairie ecosystem In the Flint Hills, The Flint Hills o' kon?,<$ and thn Osage Mfiss of northern Oklahoma am the last substantia! contiguous stand of t il n ,iv pr, m North Amerrca. and one of the world's most endangered ecosystems. Taiigmss prom f& \w ? firn on a relatively frequent basis to prevent the encroachment of woody spades and rrsamtamthe integrity of plant communities, The Filet Hills is a unique ecosystem that is largely owned by private landownersThd$ private landowners have assumed the rote of stewards of ibis ecosystem. KDHE continues to work with these landowners within Its statutory authority regarding burning in the Flint Hilts,
As the state environmental agency, KOHE is aware of tne potential health effects associated with smoke generated by proscribed fires in the wlkftends of the Flint Hilts sod surrounding areas. Our agency has worked diligently for many years to educate and inform those conducting prescribed bums of the potential effects the smoke can nave on downwind communities, in 2Gi O, we increased our efforts and worked with numerous stskeholders to develop the Flint HiS-s Smoke Management Flan. This plan, although voluntary. Includes techniques that can bo used to mitigate ejects that smoke may have on downwind areas, it includes n modeling tool to assist the proscribed fire community in visualising the effect that smoke from the tiros may have in downwind areas. This tool allows mnehets end other land managers to make informed decisions on what effect their smoke may have downwind of a fire. The modeling tool Is updated yearly to account for updated Infoimefron, and in 2014, KDHE added m monitors in Lincoln end Omaha to its mode! to help address potenka! ejects of the smoke In those cities.
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Dear Mr. MicMb
Vv approdate ths KDHE's iarspaiissi offhc problem, ita wsUmgaess io improve th sraoke PMsassmem pian, and pia-Jp t work wtrtt ih N ebtaka Deportateli! o f EnviKtatt&raai Quatity. Dieso oro pana Des steps sud v,:e sppiaud KJJHki's respessisesess.
Mosvevor, baajnmnga bave te beeomc eiecsioc action to pianai sbs bpibh of Unosh; anni ctear dia! a bang ofpraelices masi ocear o aitevbw ihe ctwnfia uiiaccopiaibe situatwti. i'aikii'i: f ilio esisiina pian angjtests inai new ( s w t a siasi bo both esiaSidished and enibrc svili fla'hav coordinate wilh sur own sia auiiteriiics befon ftedaug Linctshi'a ex! stesa, boss ys afe pimi:) ibis m a on vour troni barsot.
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FEATURE
Kansas smoke plan not protecting Lincoln health, local health officials say
NiCHOLAS 6ERGJN Lincoln jo u rn a l Star Apr 24. 202 7 Updated Apr 28, 2017 % (8 )
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Gov. Pete Ricketts' office referred a request for comment on how the administration will respond efforts in Kansas to manage prescribed burns to the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.
The plan to manage spring fires in Kansas is not protecting Nebraskans from potentially harmful smoke, according to local health officials. But state officials say they won't seek federal intervention, instead they'll continue informal discussions with Kansas.
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Posted A pte 29, 2 0 1 7 KAO? p m U p d a ted A p te 70, 2017 04:58 am By T im C arpenter t im o hy.ca rps n i e ngicjon Sine.com
Burning Questions: Tradition, economics cloud debate on prairie burning
4 | 2. Com m ents a 130 Share
A spring firs o f Hint Hills pastore starts a process that promotes growth o f nutrient-rich grassier liwstadcgrsd deters invasive plants enti trees, (j!LL HUteteBSiSUBNlirrEDi
STRONG Q 'T Y ...Brian Obermeyers hiking boots clawed at sV
ground in the Taiigrass Prairie National Preserve intenfionaik
|: fire the previous fall to bum away dry roughage and promoti
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Fine Particulate Pollution NAAQS (PM2.5)
Averaging Time
24 hours
Level 35 (jg/m3
LLCHD PM2 5 Response from Different Samplers (ug/m3)
Date
Continuous P rim a ry PPM BAM
Collocated FRM
BAM-Primary Difference Or Bias
4/4/17 4/7/17 4/10/17 4/13/17 4/16/17
8.4 33.4 0/ .0/ 26.7
7.1
............ 3 .8
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............ 3X)..............
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nd 29.9 nd 19.5 nd Average
+ 4.6 + 4.8 +3.6 + 7.4 +4.3 +4.9
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
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The Lincoln exceedances:
1. Saturday, April 8, 2017 = 43.7 2. Wednesday, A
The FRM sampler is us operates every 3rd d the days Ihe BAM rec
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The highest 8-hour ozone average in Wichita was 0.070 ppb on Tuesday, April T1, 2017.
Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA
Fini H is A creag e Burned [February IS - M a y 1.. 2017}
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Bureau o fAir, KDH
Counties B a te Chase C h a w ia rK p a C offey Cowley Etk Bessy G reenw ood Lyon M arion Morris Osage {KS} Pottaw atom ie Rley
Wiison Woodson Nowata {&} Osage {OK} Washington (OKJ Kay {OK}
Acres Bunted 2 9,202 273,088 59,276 84,203 * 99,788 124520 62,133 351,035 151,617 68,156 118,721 67,152 * 125,331 63,677 194,908 31,074 100,620 24,835 173,317 14,611 27,676
Total
2,437,138
'*w*" +-s* _~v * <vr-eparf..yo r G & r r p te i& y z o <=r&-3 e> c:>c, ct?du^-ig
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