California Air Quality & Energy Information

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is dedicated to implementing conservation practices that improve air quality and promote energy conservation.

California is home to some of the worst air quality in the nation with much of the state not meeting federal ambient air quality standards for one or more air pollutants. The air pollutants posing the greatest health concerns in California's ambient air are ozone and particulate matter. In addition, through the implementation of California Assembly Bill 32 (California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006), the State of California has adopted aggressive environmental and energy goals and plans that include: reduce climate change or greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 20 percent of 1990 levels by 2050; provide at least 33 percent of electricity demand in 2020 from renewable sources; and establish deadlines for maximizing production of bioenergy and biofuels in California.

To assist with meeting California's air quality and energy challenges, the NRCS established the California Air Quality Initiative. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Air Quality Initiative provides technical and financial assistance to address air quality, climate change, and energy conservation resource concerns. Administered by the NRCS, EQIP was reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and awards payment assistance to projects that provide significant environmental benefits. The practices eligible for payment assistance and the environmental score is calculated based upon ranking criteria developed with input from Local Work Groups, Stakeholders, and the State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC).

The NRCS Air Resource Concerns are:

• Ozone Precursors
  • Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
• Particulate Matter
  • Respirable particulate matter (PM10)
  • Fine particulate matter (PM2.5)
• Odors
• Greenhouse Gases and Carbon Sequestration
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • Nitrous Oxide (N20)

The Energy Conservation Resource Concerns are associated with inefficient use of energy in farm and field operations, which increases dependence on non-renewable energy sources that can be addressed through improved energy efficiency and the utilization of on-farm renewable energy sources:

• Inefficient Energy Use – Equipment and Facilities
• Inefficient Energy Use – Farming/Ranching Practices and Field Operations

NRCS Resource Concern Information

Note:  Some of the following documents require Acrobat Reader.

• Ozone Precursors (PDF; 143KB)
• Particulate Matter (PDF; 145KB)
• Odors (PDF; 142KB)
• Greenhouse Gases (PDF; 142KB)
• Energy Conservation

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Air Management Practice Standards (Link to eFOTG)
• EQIP Fiscal Year 2013 Program Information
• 2013 National Air Quality Initiative
• 2013 National On-Farm Energy Initiative

Energy and Air Quality Conservation Activity Plans

A Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) is developed by a USDA NRCS Technical Service Provider to assist producers with identifying the applicable conservation practices needed to address specific natural resource concerns. These plans are specific to certain kinds of land uses and include developing management plans that address energy or air quality concerns. With a CAP, producers can then apply for financial assistance to implement the needed conservation practices.

These documents require Acrobat Reader.

122-Agriculture Energy Management Plan-Headquarters (AgEMP) (PDF; 142 KB)
A detailed documentation of energy consuming components and practices of the current operation, the previous year’s on-farm energy consumption, and the strategy by which the producer will explore and address their on-farm energy conservation concerns, objectives, and opportunities.

124-Agricultural Energy Management Plan-Landscape (AgEMP) (PDF; 102 KB)
Contains the strategy by which the producer will explore and address producer/grower on-farm energy savings and opportunities on the working land (crop, forest, pasture, range).

126-Comprehensive Air Quality Management Plan (CAQMP) (PDF; 97 KB)
These plans assess practices and strategies adopted by agricultural operations to address environmental concerns directly related to air quality and atmospheric change.

Conservation Innovation Grants

• California Conservation Innovation Grant Program
• National Conservation Innovation Grant Program
• NRCS Greenhouse Gas Conservation Innovation Grants – Resources and Information

USDA NRCS Technical Service Provider Registry

For assistance, please contact your local Service Center.

2013 EQIP Fact Sheets

• Chemically Treated Wood Stake Disposal (Code 500)
• Chipping of Orchard or Vineyard Removal (Code 384)
• Combustion System Improvement (Code 372) Mobile Off-Road Engines
• Conservation Tillage Residue Management (Code 329 and 345)
• Tillage Pass Reductions (Code 756)
• Dust Control on Unpaved Roads and Surfaces (Code 373)
• Manure Injection Waste Utilization (Code 590)
• Precision Pest Control Application (Code 595)
• Stationary Irrigation Engines (Code 372)
• Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment Around Confined Animal Facilities (Code 380)

West National Technology Support Center

• USDA Agricultural Air Quality Task Force
• NRCS National Air Quality and Atmospheric Change Team
• NRCS National Energy Team

Links

• Air Quality and Atmospheric Change
• Energy

Contacts

Ted Strauss, Director of Air Quality, Climate Change and Energy Conservation
Phone: 559-252-2191, ext 110
Ted.Strauss@ca.usda.gov

Jacqueline Gaskill, California Energy Conservation Specialist
Phone: 530-792-5669
Jacqui.Gaskill@ca.usda.gov

Lucinda Roth, California Climate Change Specialist
Phone: 209-491-9320, ext 125
Lucinda.Roth@ca.usda.gov

Johnnie Siliznoff, California Air Quality Specialist
Phone: 559-252-2191, ext 112
Johnnie.Siliznoff@ca.usda.gov

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