The following discussion addresses the seven decision-making points that are a part of the approval process for the use of in-situ burning in marine waters. The discussion briefly identifies the nature of each point and also provides the rationale for each decision point. The number points correspond to the numbers aside the boxes in the Burning Decision Tree (previous page). If the proposed zone of in-situ burn is 35 miles off-shore and falls within the criteria of the Federal pre-approval zone, then an in-situ burn has already been federally authorized by the RRT. State and local jurisdictions will be notified consistent with the provisions outlined in the LOA. Most of the marine waters off California must be considered environmentally sensitive areas due primarily to the presence of foraging seabirds, migrating marine mammals, offshore islands (with bird colonies and marine mammal rookeries and haul outs), and the productive rocky intertidal and subtidal regions and associated kelp forests. This specific path of the decision-making process would be rarely taken but it is included for purposes of completeness. There are no foreseeable situations under which an oil spill would not pose a threat to environmental resources. If the unlikely situation occurred where environmental resources were not threatened, the FOSC/UC would rely heavily on the recommendation of the local air districts for a burn/no burn decision. Local Air District Quick Approval Zones Local Air Districts may have stipulated areas of their offshore air jurisdiction where they will consider that area as falling into a Approval if “Quick Zone” prevailing winds during a proposed in-situ burn operation are blowing offshore or parallel to shore. These distances from shore for each Air District are shown below: Quick Approval Zone Air District (minimum distance from shore) North Coast AQMD miles from shore ≥ .5 Mendocino AQMD .5 miles from shore ≥ Bay Area AQMD miles from shore ≥ .5 Northern Sonoma AQMD miles from shore ≥ .5 Monterey Bay Unified No Quick Approval Zone San Luis Obispo County 3 miles from shore ≥ Santa Barbara County 3 miles from shore ≥ Ventura County APCD .5 miles from shore ≥ South Coast AQMD 8 miles from shore ≥ San Diego AQMD .5 miles from shore ≥
The following discussion addresses the seven decision-making points that are a part of the approval process for the use of in-situ burning in marine waters. The discussion briefly identifies the nature of each point and also provides the rationale for each decision point. The number points correspond to the numbers aside the boxes in the Burning Decision Tree (previous page). If the proposed zone of in-situ burn is 35 miles off-shore and falls within the criteria of the Federal pre-approval zone, then an in-situ burn has already been federally authorized by the RRT. State and local jurisdictions will be notified consistent with the provisions outlined in the LOA. Most of the marine waters off California must be considered environmentally sensitive areas due primarily to the presence of foraging seabirds, migrating marine mammals, offshore islands (with bird colonies and marine mammal rookeries and haul outs), and the productive rocky intertidal and subtidal regions and associated kelp forests. This specific path of the decision-making process would be rarely taken but it is included for purposes of completeness. There are no foreseeable situations under which an oil spill would not pose a threat to environmental resources. If the unlikely situation occurred where environmental resources were not threatened, the FOSC/UC would rely heavily on the recommendation of the local air districts for a burn/no burn decision. Local Air District Quick Approval Zones Local Air Districts may have stipulated areas of their offshore air jurisdiction where they will consider that area as falling into a “Quick Approval Zone” if prevailing winds during a proposed in-situ burn operation are blowing offshore or parallel to shore. These distances from shore for each Air District are shown below: Air District Quick Approval Zone (minimum distance from shore) North Coast AQMD ≥ .5 miles from shore Mendocino AQMD ≥ .5 miles from shore Bay Area AQMD ≥ .5 miles from shore Northern Sonoma AQMD ≥ .5 miles from shore Monterey Bay Unified No Quick Approval Zone San Luis Obispo County ≥ 3 miles from shore Santa Barbara County ≥ 3 miles from shore Ventura County APCD ≥ .5 miles from shore South Coast AQMD ≥ 8 miles from shore San Diego AQMD ≥ .5 miles from shore
4600%20Dispersant%20Plan%20Regional%202014.docx