Guidance Document on Air Zone Management

GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON

AIR ZONE MANAGEMENT

PN 1593

ISBN 978-1-77202-050-2 PDF

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................ i

ACRONYMS .............................................................................................................. ii

1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1

2.0 AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ............................................................ 1

2.1 Continuous Improvement and Keeping Clean Areas Clean .................................... 2

3.0 CANADIAN AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS ......................................... 2

3.1 Implementation of the CAAQS ............................................................................. 4

4.0 AIR ZONE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ......................................................... 4

5.0 ASSIGNING THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL TO AIR ZONES ............................... 6

5.1 For Pollutants with a Single CAAQS .................................................................... 6

5.2 For Pollutants with Multiple CAAQS .................................................................... 7

6.0 GUIDANCE ON ACTIONS WITH EACH MANAGEMENT LEVEL ..................... 8

6.1 The Role of Governments ..................................................................................... 9

7.0 EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT LEVEL ................................................................. 13

7.1 Addressing Management Perspective .................................................................. 13

7.2 Communicating Change in Management Levels .................................................. 13

8.0 COMMUNICATION AND REPORTING .............................................................. 14

REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 15

APPENDIX 1 – THE CANADIAN AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS ........ 16

APPENDIX 2 – THE MANAGEMENT LEVELS ..................................................... 17

TABLES

Table 5-1: Assigning the management level for pollutants with a single CAAQS ............ 6

Table 5-2: Example for assigning the ozone management level to air zones ..................... 7

Table 5-3: A NO

example for assigning the management level for pollutants with multiple

CAAQS ........................................................................................................................... 8

Table 6-1: Suggested actions under the air zone management framework ...................... 10

FIGURES

Figure 4-1: The Air Zone Management Framework .......................................................... 5

TEXT BOXES

Text Box 1: Example for the calculation of the SO

1-hour CAAQS metric value ........... 3

GLOSSARY

Air Quality

Management System

(AQMS)

A comprehensive approach for protecting and improving air

quality in Canada.

AQMS is built on a foundation of

intergovernmental collaboration and the engagement of

stakeholders and interested parties

with an emphasis on

transparency and accountability to the public.

Air zone

A finite geographic area used to manage local air quality by

the province or territory in which it is located.

Airshed

A broad geographic area that encompasses a number of air

zones and may cross provincial, territorial, and international

boundaries.

Air zone management

framework (AZMF)

A framework to manage air quality in air zones. It includes

four colour-

coded management levels which are associated

with a suite of monitoring, reporting and management

actions that become progressively more

rigorous as air

pollutant concentrations approach or exceed the CAAQS.

Canadian Ambient Air

Quality Standards

(CAAQS)

Health and environmental-based air quality objectives to

further protect human health and the environment and to

provide the drivers for

air quality improvement across the

country.

CAAQS metric value

The measured concentrations of an air pollutant calculated in

the statistical form of the CAAQS.

CAAQS reporting

station

An air quality monitoring station designated to report on the

achi

evement status of the CAAQS by the province or

territory in which it is located. All CAAQS reporting stations

must meet or exceed the quality assurance and quality control

procedures of the National Air Pollution Surveillance

(NAPS) program.

Continuous

improvement (CI)

Remedial and preventative actions to reduce emissions from

anthropogenic sources toward the long-

term goal of reducing

overall ambient concentrations of pollutants.

Keeping clean areas

clean (KCAC)

Preventative measures intended to avoid or minimize

increases in overall ambient concentrations of pollutants in

air zones in the green management level.

ACRONYMS

AQMS

Air Quality Management System

AZMF

air zone management framework

BLIERs

base-level industrial emissions requirements

CAAQS

Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards

CCME

Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment

CEPA 1999

Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999

CI/KCAC

Continuous improvement/keeping clean areas clean

exceptional events

GDAD

guidance documents on achievement determination (for each CAAQS)

GDTFEE

Guidance Document on Transboundary Flows and Exceptional Events for

Air Zone Management, 2019

NAPS

National Air Pollution Surveillance

2.5

airborne particulate matter less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in

aerodynamic diameter, also called fine particulate matter

ppb

parts per billion (by volume)

QA/QC

quality assurance/quality control

transboundary flows

µg/m³

micrograms per cubic metre

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Air quality impacts all Canadians and affects many aspects of our lives and our society,

including human health, the natural environment, buildings and infrastructure, crop

production, and the economy. Federal, provincial and territorial governments share

responsibility for air quality management. Under the Canadian Council of Ministers of the

Environment (CCME), federal, provincial, and territorial governments work collaboratively

to improve air quality by implementing the Air Quality Management System (AQMS)

This document supersedes the 2012 Guidance Document on Air Zone Management.

Under AQMS, each province and territory is responsible for delineating its territory into one

or more air zones. Air zones provide a defined area for stakeholders, other interested parties

and governments to work together to improve local air quality and maintain air pollutant

concentrations below the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards (CAAQS).

This guidance document outlines a structured approach for federal, provincial and territorial

governments in managing air quality in air zones under AQMS. The objectives of this

document are to:

• provide an understanding of the air zone management framework (AZMF)

• clarify the roles of government regarding air zone management

• provide guidance for assigning management levels to air zones and the related

monitoring, reporting and management actions

• formalize the principle that CAAQS are not “pollute-up-to levels” and encourage

governments to take action to improve air quality, considering that some pollutants can

affect human health even at concentrations below the standards

• encourage actions that prevent deterioration in air quality, promote continuous

improvement (CI), and encourage keeping clean areas clean (KCAC) in air zones with

pollutant levels well below the CAAQS.

More information on AQMS and guidance on its implementation is available on ccme.ca.

2.0 AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

AQMS provides a comprehensive approach for collaborative actions to improve air quality

across Canada to further protect the health of Canadians and the environment. Key elements

of AQMS include the following:

1. Air zones – geographical areas that are used to manage local air quality within the

provinces and territories in which they are located.

Although Québec supports the general objectives of AQMS, it will not implement the System since it includes federal

industrial emission requirements that duplicate Québec's Regulation. However, Québec is collaborating with jurisdictions on

developing other elements of the system, notably air zones and airsheds.

2. Airsheds – broad geographic areas that encompass a number of air zones and may cross

provincial, territorial, and international boundaries. They provide a framework for

interjurisdictional collaboration to address transboundary air quality issues.

3. CAAQS – health and environmental-based air quality objectives to further protect

human health and the environment and to provide the drivers for air quality

improvement across the country.

4. AZMF – a framework to manage air quality in air zones.

5. Base-level industrial emissions requirements (BLIERs) – emission requirements that

are intended to apply to major industrial sectors or equipment types to ensure that

significant industrial sources achieve a good base-level of performance.

6. Mobile sources – work that builds on the existing range of federal, provincial and

territorial initiatives aimed at reducing emissions from mobile sources.

2.1 Continuous Improvement and Keeping Clean Areas Clean

Several principles underpin AQMS including CI and KCAC.

CI refers to remedial and preventative actions to reduce emissions from anthropogenic

sources, toward the long-term goal of reducing overall ambient concentrations of pollutants.

KCAC refers to preventative measures that are intended to avoid or minimize increases in

overall ambient concentrations of pollutants in air zones that are assigned a green management

level.

The guiding principles of CI/KCAC are intended to ensure that air quality does not deteriorate

but is maintained or improved to the extent practicable. Maintaining or improving air quality

minimizes risk to human health and the environment for the benefit of future generations. The

CI/KCAC principles are inherently incorporated in the AZMF.

3.0 CANADIAN AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

All CAAQS consist of three inter-related elements:

1. an averaging time

2. a concentration “standard” (or “numerical value”) associated with the averaging time

3. the statistical form for the standard.

The CAAQS as of the date of publication of this document are listed in Appendix 1.

The averaging time refers to the averaging period over which the corresponding standard

applies. The statistical form describes the calculation method for the specific concentration

which must be used for comparison to the standard to determine if the concentrations

measured at a monitoring station exceeded the standard. For example, the 1-hour SO

standard

of 70 ppb (for 2020) means that the standard applies to 1-hour average SO

concentrations

and the statistical form of the standard means that the concentration to use to determine if 70

ppb was exceeded at a monitoring station is the 3-year average of the annual 99

percentile

of the daily-maximum 1-hour average concentrations measured at the station.

To simplify terminology, the concentrations measured at a monitoring station calculated in

the statistical form of a standard are referred to as “CAAQS metric values” or simply “metric

values.” A CAAQS is achieved at a monitoring station if the corresponding metric value is

less than or equal to the standard, otherwise it is exceeded. To ensure that consistent

procedures are used to calculate metric values, CCME publishes GDADs for each of the

pollutants that have CAAQS. These documents will be available on the CCME web site as

they are developed. Metric values are also used to determine the management level for air

zones; this is discussed in sections 4 and 5 of this document.

Text Box 1 provides an example for the calculation of metric values for the 1-hour SO

CAAQS. The 3-year period for this example is 2018-20 and this implies that it is the 2020

standard of 70 ppb which applies. The 99

percentile of the measured daily-maximum 1-hour

average SO

concentrations were first calculated for each station and for each year in the 3-

year period 2018-20 based on the procedures specified in the GDAD for SO

. The 3-year

average of the annual 99

percentiles were then calculated and rounded as specified in the

GDAD, and these rounded averages are the 1-hour CAAQS metric values which are used for

comparison to the standard of 70 ppb. For the 3-year period 2018-20, the SO

1-hour CAAQS

for 2020 was achieved at Station A (since the metric value of 44 ppb is less than the standard

of 70 ppb) and exceeded at Station B.

Text Box 1: Example for the calculation of the SO

1-hour CAAQS metric value

For most pollutants CAAQS were established for more than one averaging time, as shown in

Appendix 1, because the effects of some pollutants on health and environment can occur over

various exposure times and at various concentrations. For example, SO

has both a 1-hour

CAAQS and an annual CAAQS.

Federal, provincial and territorial governments work together to develop CAAQS through a

consensus-based process with industry stakeholders, non-governmental health and

environmental organizations, and Indigenous organizations. CAAQS are designed to become

Annual 99

percentile of the SO

Dmax 1-hour

2018 2019 2020

Station A 39.4 ppb 55.6 ppb 38.0 ppb

Station B 92.7 ppb 85.6 ppb 70.5 ppb

3-year average of the annual 99

percentile

1-hour SO

CAAQS metric

value for 2018-2020

Station A (39.4+55.6+38.0)÷3 =133÷3 = 44.333 ppb 44 ppb

Station B (92.7+85.6+70.5)÷3 =248.8÷3=82.933 ppb 83 ppb

increasingly more stringent over time and periodically reviewed to ensure continuous

improvement to further protect the health of Canadians and the environment. Once endorsed

by CCME, the federal government establishes the CAAQS as environmental quality objectives

under sections 54 and 55 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.

3.1 Implementation of the CAAQS

AQMS recognizes jurisdictional flexibility as a key principle that enables jurisdictions to

implement the CAAQS in a manner that is consistent with their specific management practices

and circumstances. Jurisdictions may consider a number of principles and guidelines as they

implement the CAAQS such as

• CAAQS are intended to drive continuous improvement in air quality and should not

function as “pollute-up-to” limits.

• While CAAQS are established to further protect health and the environment, measures

mandated to achieve the CAAQS and associated management levels should take into

account technical achievability, practicality, and implementation costs.

• CAAQS are intended to be used in air zones as standards for ambient air quality

management, consistent with the information presented in this guidance document as

well as other CCME guidance, including the AQMS Roles and Responsibilities

document, GDADs for each CAAQS and the GDTFEE.

• CAAQS were not developed as facility level regulatory standards. Rather, they are used

by provinces and territories to guide air zone management actions intended to reduce

ambient concentrations below the CAAQS and prevent CAAQS exceedances.

• Management actions should consider all important sources of air pollution emissions

in an air zone. In the context of management actions, provinces and territories have

primary regulatory authority governing local aspects of environmental management,

including policy frameworks for land-use and resource management, as well as

establishing environmental regulations and standards, and issuing permits and

authorizations.

Provinces and territories may consult with different stakeholders or interested parties to guide

the prioritization and implementation of air zone management actions that are informed by

the AZMF discussed in section 4.

4.0 AIR ZONE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK

Under AQMS, each province and territory is responsible for delineating air zones in its

jurisdiction. Air zones are geographic areas that may be delineated by considering

meteorology, wind patterns, topography, level of industrial activity, population density, and

other factors that may contribute to similar air quality characteristics and trends in the area.

Although Québec supports the general objectives of AQMS, it did not implement the System since it includes federal

industrial emission requirements that duplicate Québec's Regulation. However, Québec is collaborating with jurisdictions on

developing other elements of the system, notably air zones and airsheds.

AQMS includes the AZMF which provides guidance to jurisdictions on the level of

monitoring, reporting and management actions to implement in air zones depending on the

level of prevailing concentrations of air pollutants. The AZMF includes four air quality

management categories, or levels, denoted by the colours green, yellow, orange and red. Each

of these management levels is associated with a corresponding range of concentrations of air

pollutants which were established during the CAAQS development process. The management

levels that have been developed as of the date of publication of this guidance are presented in

Appendix 2. Prevailing air quality in the red management level corresponds to exceedances

of standards, while prevailing air quality in the green management level corresponds to clean

air quality.

The structure of the AZMF is outlined in Figure 4-1. Key objectives of the AZMF are KCAC,

support CI and prevent the CAAQS from being exceeded. By its very nature, the AZMF

stipulates that the CAAQS are not pollute-up-to levels and that proactive actions be taken to

prevent CAAQS exceedances. Accordingly, under the AZMF actions become progressively

more rigorous as air quality deteriorates from the green to the red management level. The

AZMF applies to all air pollutants for which CAAQS have been established. Detailed

information on the guidance for the suite of monitoring, reporting and management actions

under each management level is provided in section 6.

Figure 4-1: The Air Zone Management Framework

Green Management Level

The lowest level of air quality management

Objective: To maintain good air quality through

Proactive Air Management Measures to Keep Clean

Areas Clean

Orange Management Level

The second highest level of air quality management

Objective: To improve air quality through Active Air

Management and Prevent exceedance of the CAAQS

Red Management Level

The highest level of air quality management

Objective: To reduce pollutant levels below the

CAAQS through Advanced Air Management Actions

Yellow Management Level

The second lowest level of air quality management

Objective: To improve air quality using Early and

Ongoing Actions for Continuous Improvement

Actions

become

progressively

rigorous as

air quality

deteriorates

from Green

to Red

5.0 ASSIGNING THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL TO AIR ZONES

As mentioned in section 4, under AZMF provinces and territories assign management levels

to their air zones for each of the pollutants with CAAQS. In the simplest case, assigning the

management level to an air zone essentially involves determining which management level

the highest CAAQS metric values fall into, and then assigning to the air zone that management

level. The next two sections provide detailed procedures for assigning management levels. In

assigning management levels, jurisdictions have the options of considering the influence of

transboundary flows (TF) and exceptional events (EE). Information on the consideration for

TF-EE influences can be found in the GDTFEE.

5.1 For Pollutants with a Single CAAQS

Pollutants with a single CAAQS are pollutants for which CAAQS have been established for a

single averaging time. For example, ozone CAAQS have been established only for an 8-hour

averaging time (as of the date of publication of this guidance). The main steps for assigning

managements level to air zones for CAAQS with a single averaging time are provided in Table

5-1. Specifically note that management levels are to be assigned based on the highest metric

value in the air zone.

Table 5-1: Assigning the management level for pollutants with a single CAAQS

Action

Step 1

Calculate the actual CAAQS metric value

for each reporting station in the air

zone.

Step 2

Optional – consider influences of TF-EE and calculate the (TF-EE) adjusted metric

values

as applicable.

Step 3

Select the highest metric value in the air zone – including both the actual metric

values for stations not influenced by TF-EE, and the adjusted metric values for

stations influenced by TF-EE.

Step 4

Determine in which management level the highest metric value falls by comparing

the highest metric value to the management levels provided in Appendix 2.

Step 5 Assign to the air zone the colour-coded management level determined in Step 4

Table 5-2 provides an ozone example for assigning management levels to air zones using the

steps in Table 5-1. The ozone management levels are presented in Table A2-1 in Appendix 2.

The 3-year period for this example is 2019-21, meaning that it is the 2020 ozone management

levels that apply.

Actual CAAQS metric values are those calculated based on all measured concentrations.

Adjusted CAAQS metric values are those calculated after the removal of concentrations found to be influenced by TF-EE.

Table 5-2: Example for assigning the ozone management level to air zones

Air Zone

CAAQS

reporting

station

Actual

metric

value

(ppb)

Adjusted metric

value after

consideration of

TF-EE

(ppb)

Highest

metric value

in air zone

(ppb)

Air zone

management

level

A 1 61 Not applicable 61 Orange

1 75

63 Red 2 58 51

3 54 Not applicable

In this example, Air Zone A has only one CAAQS reporting station and the actual metric

value (before consideration of TF-EE) is 61 ppb. Analyses indicated that this station was not

influenced by TF-EE, and this implies that the actual metric value is used to determine the

ozone management level. The metric value of 61 ppb falls in the orange level (Table A2-1)

and therefore Air Zone A is assigned the orange management level.

Air zone B has three reporting stations. The actual metric values are 75, 58 and 54 ppb

respectively. Analyses indicated that the first and second stations were influenced by EE while

Station 3 was not influenced by TF-EE. Consideration of EE leads to adjusted metric values

of 63 ppb for Station 1 and 51 ppb for Station 2. With these adjusted metric values, and the

actual metric value for station 3, the highest metric value is now 63 ppb and this value falls

in the red level. Air Zone B is therefore assigned the red management level for ozone.

5.2 For Pollutants with Multiple CAAQS

Pollutants with multiple CAAQS are pollutants for which CAAQS have been established for

more than one averaging time. For example, nitrogen dioxide (NO

) CAAQS have been

established for a 1-hour and annual averaging times. For these pollutants, only a single

management level will be assigned to the air zone, corresponding to the highest of the

management level associated with each averaging time.

The steps for assigning the management level to air zones for pollutants with multiple

averaging times essentially involves first determining a management level associated with

each averaging time based on steps 1-4 in Table 5-1, and then assigning to the air zone the

highest of these management levels.

Table 5-3 provides a NO

example for assigning the management level for pollutants with

multiple CAAQS. For this example, a management level associated with each averaging time

was first determined by applying steps 1-4 in Table 5-1. The air zone was next assigned the

higher of the 1-hour and annual management levels.

Table 5-3: A NO

example for assigning the management level for pollutants with

multiple CAAQS

Air Zone

1-hour CAAQS

management

level

Annual CAAQS

management

level

management level assigned

to air zone

A Green Yellow Yellow

Red

Orange Red

C Orange Green Orange

6.0 GUIDANCE ON ACTIONS WITH EACH MANAGEMENT LEVEL

Table 6-1 at the end of this section provides guidance for the suite of monitoring, reporting

and management actions that are associated with each management level. Jurisdictions can

help improve air quality by developing and implementing an air quality management plan for

a given pollutant based on the assigned management level. These plans:

• should consider the potential for co-benefits of multiple pollutant reduction programs

• should consider interactions between air pollutants to determine where a decrease in

one air pollutant may result in increased concentrations of another air pollutant

• may engage a broad range of participants, communities, health and environmental

organizations and Indigenous organizations to ensure that all participants are

represented and have the opportunity to contribute to improving air quality.

Jurisdictions should also consider implementing actions for continuous improvement of air

quality regardless of the management level, because some air pollutants (e.g. PM

2.5

, ozone,

) can have negative impact on human health even at concentrations below their standards.

The suggested actions in Table 6-1 relate to medium or long-term measures to improve air

quality. During poor air quality episodes where meteorological conditions contribute to

producing elevated concentrations of air pollutants

, jurisdictions may choose to issue air

quality advisories and could request immediate actions by local community members to

It should be noted that the highest management level that can be assigned is red. This means that for a given pollutant

with CAAQS for multiple averaging times, once it is assessed that a metric value is in the red level for a given averaging

time, the air zone will necessarily be assigned the red management level for that pollutant.

Real-time and forecasted health risk associated with air pollution is available for many communities across Canada through

the web-based Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) at:

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index.html.

reduce the contribution of air pollutants. Some jurisdictions have the authority to issue

mandatory emission curtailment orders during air pollution episodes

6.1 The Role of Governments

Air quality management is a responsibility shared by federal, provincial and territorial

governments

. These governments have agreed to work collaboratively to implement AQMS,

recognizing that

• good air quality is important for Canadians to protect health and the environment

• air quality is affected by many factors such as meteorological conditions,

anthropogenic sources (e.g., industrial activities, mobile sources and residential wood

burning), natural sources (e.g., wind-blown dust), TF, and EE (e.g., forest fires)

• Canadians and all orders of government have a responsibility to prevent the air quality

from deteriorating.

Provinces and territories are responsible for managing air quality in their air zones with early

efforts focussed on areas where the standards are exceeded or where a significant population

is at risk of pollutant exposure. For emission sources and lands that fall under federal authority

(such as transportation sources, federal lands and national parks) the federal government will

collaborate with provinces and territories on air quality management.

Regarding the influence of transboundary flows from one Canadian jurisdiction to another,

the affected downwind jurisdiction should engage in discussions with the upwind source

jurisdiction. The federal government collaborates with provinces and territories to better

understand the flow of air pollution among airsheds. For transboundary flows from the United

States, the federal government uses provisions set out under the Canada-United States Air

Quality Agreement and lead the discussions in collaboration with the affected provinces or

territories.

An outline of the federal, provincial and territorial roles and responsibilities to improve air

quality under AQMS can be found on the CCME website.

For example, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks can issue orders for the curtailment of the

operation of sources of air pollution during air pollution episodes under Ontario Regulation 419/05.

In some areas of Canada air quality management is a responsibility also shared with municipal (e.g. Montréal, Metro

Vancouver) governments.

Although Québec supports the general objectives of AQMS, it did not implement the System since it includes federal

industrial emission requirements that duplicate Québec's Regulation. However, Québec is collaborating with jurisdictions on

developing other elements of the system, notably air zones and airsheds.

Table 6-1: Suggested actions under the air zone management framework

Action Green Yellow Orange Red

Responsible

jurisdiction

Characterizing air

pollutant

concentrations in

air zones

Basic monitoring to

establish baseline

concentrations and

trends, potentially via

passive sampling,

remote sensing or

modeling. Refer to the

NAPS monitoring

protocol.

Ensure air pollutant monitoring is adequate to capture spatial and

temporal variability in concentrations. Refer to the NAPS QA/QC

guidelines. Air quality modelling may be a useful tool for jurisdictions when

choosing monitoring locations.

Provinces and

territories with

assistance from

federal government as

required and as

possible.

Compilation of

emission

inventories in air

zones

Not applicable (NA)

Compile, as required, emissions inventory for air zones to evaluate main

sources of air pollutants. Use of national, provincial, and territorial

emissions inventories, supplemented with local emissions may assist this

activity.

Airshed

coordination

NA Initiate airshed coordination if there are transboundary issues.

The federal

government will

collaborate with

provinces and

territories to better

understand the flow of

air pollution among

airsheds.

The federal

government leads

international air

pollution discussions.

Stakeholder

engagement

Engage local

stakeholders as

appropriate.

Engage local stakeholders with roles and

deliverables identified.

Provinces and

territories.

Action Green Yellow Orange Red

Responsible

jurisdiction

Development of

an air zone

management plan

Develop an air

zone management

plan if required to

prevent air quality

deterioration.

Consider all

important sources

of air pollutants,

and provincial and

territorial policies.

The plan should

consider CI/KCAC

and may consider

current and future

projections of air

quality, defined air

zone goals, the role

of stakeholders,

priority emission

sources,

mechanisms to

achieve air quality

improvements, and

any additional

monitoring and

inventory required.

Develop a

comprehensive air

zone management plan

to improve air quality.

Consider all important

sources of air

pollutants, provincial

and territorial policies,

including short,

medium and long-term

milestones and targets.

The plan should

consider CI/KCAC and

may identify key

emissions sources,

consider current and

projected air quality

based on ambient air

pollutant trends, and

set out actions to be

undertaken by

governments and

stakeholders to reduce

emissions.

Develop a comprehensive

air zone management

plan to reduce

concentrations below the

CAAQS. Consider all

important sources of air

pollutants, provincial and

territorial policies,

including short, medium

and long-term milestones

and targets.

The plan should consider

CI/KCAC and current and

future directions in air

quality based on trends or

projections, and include:

actions to be undertaken

by governments and

stakeholders to reduce

emissions with short,

medium and long-term

milestones and targets;

and detailed modeling to

show how planned

actions will improve air

quality.

Provinces and

territories to lead the

development of air

zone management

plans.

All orders of

government have a

responsibility to ensure

that pollutant levels do

not increase and that

CAAQS are not

exceeded.

Implement air

zone

management plan

Implement the air zone management plan that outlines the roles and

responsibilities of all participants, estimated timelines, and the process for

review.

Provinces and

territories to lead. All

orders of government

have a responsibility to

ensure CAAQS are not

exceeded.

Action Green Yellow Orange Red

Responsible

jurisdiction

Publish air zone

management plan

Provinces and territories review and publish the air zone management

plan, ensuring it is achievable and consistent with provincial/territorial

policies.

Provinces and

territories.

Assess progress NA

Assess progress in implementing the air zone management plan, track the

implementation of the management plan, and demonstrate how the

management actions contribute to improved air quality. The air zone

management plan to be revised as needed to achieve continuous

improvement in air quality.

Provinces and

territories.

Air zone reports

Prepare and publish annual reports summarizing current ambient air quality levels, ambient and

emissions trends, air zone management levels, and management actions to reduce air pollutant

levels.

Provinces and

territories.

Public outreach

Educate the public on local air quality. Publish best practices guides on how the public may contribute

to improving air quality. Include information on websites about actions individuals can undertake to

improve air quality.

Provinces and

territories.

7.0 EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT LEVEL

Annual variations in emissions of air pollutants and meteorological conditions can cause

variations in CAAQS metric values and this in turn can cause variations in the management

level assigned to an air zone between years. For example, an air zone could be in the red

management level for sulphur dioxide in one year and in the yellow the next. This raises

possible issues from management and communication perspectives.

7.1 Addressing Management Perspective

When an air zone is in the red management level (for example) in a reporting-year, the

jurisdiction should initiate the development and implementation of actions to try to improve

air quality below the CAAQS and try to prevent future exceedances.

Developing and implementing an action plan to improve air quality is a process that can

span many years. As such, if an air zone drops from a higher management level in one year

to a lower level the next, the jurisdiction must choose what course to follow for the

management plan. Depending on the air zone situation, the jurisdiction may:

• amend the development and implementation of the plan to manage instead at the

lower level, which could include scaling back actions proposed in the original

implementation plan

• continue developing and implementing the plan at the higher level.

Unless improvements in air quality have occurred to make a return to a higher management

level unlikely, jurisdictions are encouraged to maintain actions at a consistent management

level, even if the management level in subsequent years drops to a lower level. This

approach is recommended to protect air quality and reduce the risk of deterioration. This

would also be consistent with the principle of continuous improvement.

7.2 Communicating Change in Management Levels

Jurisdictions can communicate in their air zone reports variations in management levels

between years. Some options for this communication include:

1. report only the “reporting-year” management level, which is the management level

obtained for the reporting period under consideration (e.g. 2016 to 2018)

2. report the management level which is actually (or effectively) being implemented

based on a higher level from a previous year

3. report both the reporting-year management level and the management level actually

being implemented.

For cases where the actions being developed and implemented are those from a higher

management level from a previous year, the jurisdiction should consider communicating

this in its air zone reports. For option 3, the reports could say that while the reporting-year

management level for an air zone is yellow, for example, the air zone is actually assigned

a higher level because in a previous year the management level assigned to the air zone

was higher and the zone is still being managed to the higher level.

8.0 COMMUNICATION AND REPORTING

Communicating with the Canadian public is an important component of AQMS. Each

jurisdiction will regularly publish reports on air quality for each of their air zones and these

reports will include the actual metric values and achievement status of the CAAQS for each

CAAQS-reporting station and air zone. Other common elements which could be part of

these reports include:

1. adjusted metric values (as applicable) after the consideration of TF-EE influences

2. achievement status of the CAAQS for each CAAQS-reporting station and air zone

based on adjusted metric values

3. weight of evidence analyses to support the occurrence of influences from TF-EE

4. reporting-year management level (after consideration of TF-EE as applicable) for

the air zone and the effective management level (as applicable)

5. management actions taken to reduce emissions or preventing emissions from

increasing

6. information on any management plan being developed or implemented (as

applicable).

Air zone reports are typically available on the web site of each jurisdiction. In addition,

CCME also provides an interactive web-based State of the Air report titled Canada’s Air.

Canada’s Air provides an overview of the status of air quality across Canada, including:

• information on ambient concentrations of air pollutants and emission sources

• the impact of air pollutants on human health and the environment

• actions Canadians can undertake to improve air quality.

Canada’s Air is updated regularly to complement annual air zone reports compiled by

jurisdictions.

REFERENCES

CCME (Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment). Canada’s Air. Available online:

www.ccme.ca

CCME 2012. The Air Quality Management System Federal, Provincial and Territorial Roles and

Responsibilities. CCME, Winnipeg. Available online: www.ccme.ca

CCME 2019. Guidance Document on Transboundary Flows and Exceptional Events

for Air Zone

Management. CCME, Winnipeg. Available online: www.ccme.ca

Environment and Climate Change Canada. Guidelines and Objectives. Available online:

http://www.ec.gc.ca/lcpe-cepa/default.asp?lang=En&n=E9DBBC31-1

(viewed 2018-02-26).

Environment and Climate Change Canada. NAPS Data Products. Available online:

http://maps-

cartes.ec.gc.ca/rnspa-naps/data.aspx (viewed 2018-02-26).

Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada. Air Quality Health Index. Available online:

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index.html

(viewed 2018-02-26).

Environment Canada. 2004. National Air Pollution Surveillance Network Quality Assurance and Quality

Control Guidelines. EC, Ottawa. Available online:

https://docs.neb-one.gc.ca/ll-

eng/llisapi.dll/fetch/2000/90464/90552/548311/956726/2392873/2449925/2451574/2797907/C234-

12-3_-_attachment_1_-_Evidence_IR_Response_-_A4R3F2.pdf?nodeid=2796900&vernum=-2

(viewed 2018-02-26).

APPENDIX 1 – THE CANADIAN AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

Consult the CCME web site for the most up to date list of CAAQS.

The metric values for comparison to the standard must be rounded to the same number of digits as the standard.

2015 and 2020 CAAQS established as ambient air quality objectives by the federal government on May 25, 2013; 2025

CAAQS on June 29, 2019 (Canada Gazette Part 1).

Established as ambient air quality objectives by the federal government on May 25, 2013 (Canada Gazette Part 1).

Established as ambient air quality objectives by the federal government on October 28, 2017 (Canada Gazette Part 1).

Established as ambient air quality objectives by the federal government on December 9, 2017 (Canada Gazette Part 1).

Pollutant

Averaging

time

Standard

(numerical value)

Statistical form of the standard

2015

2020 2025

Ozone

8-hour 63 ppb 62 ppb 60 ppb

The 3-year average of the annual

highest of the daily- maximum

8-hour average concentrations.

Fine

particulate

matter

(PM

2.5

)

24-hour

28 µg/m

27 µg/m

The 3-year average of the annual

percentile of the daily 24-hour

average concentrations.

1-year

(annual)

10.0 µg/m

8.8 µg/m

The 3-year average of the annual

average of the daily 24-hour

average concentrations.

Sulphur

Dioxide

(SO

)

1-hour 70 ppb 65 ppb

The 3-year average of the annual

percentile of the daily-

maximum 1-hour average

concentrations.

1-year

(annual)

5.0 ppb 4.0 ppb

The arithmetic average over a

single calendar year of all 1-hour

average concentrations.

Nitrogen

Dioxide

(NO

)

1-hour 60 ppb 42 ppb

The 3-year average of the annual

percentile of the daily-

maximum 1-hour average

concentrations.

1-year

(annual)

17.0 ppb 12.0 ppb

The arithmetic average over a

single calendar year of all 1-hour

average concentrations.

APPENDIX 2 – THE MANAGEMENT LEVELS

Table A2-1: Management levels for ozone

Management level 2015 2020 2025

Red > 63* ppb > 62 ppb > 60 ppb

Orange 57 to 63 ppb 57 to 62 ppb 57 to 60 ppb

Yellow 51 to 56 ppb

Green < 50 ppb

*The concentrations have the same statistical form as the corresponding CAAQS and the metric values for comparison

to the concentrations must be rounded to the same number of digits as the shown concentrations.

Table A2-2: Management levels for PM

2.5

Management

level

2.5

24-hour PM

2.5

annual

2015 2020 2015* 2020

Red

> 28* µg/m

> 27 µg/m

> 10.0 µg/m

> 8.8 µg/m

Orange

20 to 28 µg/m

20 to 27 µg/m

6.5 to 10.0 µg/m

6.5 to 8.8 µg/m

Yellow

11 to 19 µg/m

4.1 to 6.4 µg/m

Green

< 10 µg/m

< 4.0 µg/m

*The concentrations have the same statistical form as the corresponding CAAQS and the metric values for comparison

to the concentrations must be rounded to the same number of digits as the shown concentrations.

Consult the CCME web site for the most up to date list of management levels.

Table A2-3: Management levels for sulphur dioxide

Management

level

1-hour SO

annual

2020 2025 2020* 2025

Red > 70* ppb > 65 ppb > 5.0 (CAAQS) > 4.0 ppb

Orange 51 to 70 ppb 51 to 65 ppb 3.1 to 5.0 ppb 3.1 to 4.0 ppb

Yellow 31 to 50 ppb 2.1 to 3.0 ppb

Green ≤ 30 ppb ≤ 2.0

*The concentrations have the same statistical form as the corresponding CAAQS and the metric values for comparison

to the concentrations must be rounded to the same number of digits as the shown concentrations.

Table A2-4: Management levels for nitrogen dioxide

Management

level

1-hour NO

annual

2020 2025 2020* 2025

Red > 60 ppb > 42 ppb > 17.0 ppb > 12.0 ppb

Orange 32 to 60 ppb 32 to 42 ppb 7.1 to 17.0 ppb 7.1 to 12.0 ppb

Yellow 21 to 31 ppb 2.1 to 7.0 ppb

Green ≤ 20 ppb ≤ 2.0 ppb

*The concentrations have the same statistical form as the corresponding CAAQS and the metric values for comparison

to the concentrations must be rounded to the same number of digits as the shown concentrations.