The Georgia Basin-Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy is a multi-agency,
international co-operative effort to address shared air quality management concerns.
What is the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound region?
The Georgia Basin-Puget Sound area is located in the western transboundary
coastal region of Canada and the United States (US), and
consists of the Georgia Basin in Canada and Puget Sound in the US. Seattle
and Vancouver are the largest communities, although the provincial capital
of British Columbia (Victoria) and the state capital of Washington (Olympia)
are also located in the basin. Click here
for detailed map of
the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound area
Historically, the Coast Salish peoples have lived in this area for
thousands of years.
"Our Ancestors learned to harvest the bounty of the lands and waters
in a responsible, sustainable way - and they gave this knowledge to
their children. Their children did the same, and thus passed thousands
of years.
While colonization, and the installation of the International Boundary
have had a profound effect on our homeland - it has not severed the
connection Coast Salish people feel towards the land, and to one another,
whether we are referred to as Tribes or First Nations.
For now and forever, we will continue to heed the teachings of our
Elders, and show respect for the lands and waters that are Sqealtses -
our homeland."
Andrew Bak of the Tsawwassen First Nation
(a Coast Salish
people)
Today, the population has grown to over seven million people in this
region, mainly in the Greater Seattle and Greater Vancouver areas. The
population increase has been significant in recent years, growing from
about six million in 1991, and is expected to increase as much as fifty
percent (to nine million people) by 2020. This growth has important
implications for regional sustainability, and environmental, social and
economic health due to greater demand for employment,
goods and services, land for housing, business and transportation expansion,
and related impacts on recreation space and associated environmental
resources.
Air pollution over the Lower Fraser Valley, British Columbia
(Source: GVRD)
GB-PS International Airshed Strategy
The Georgia Basin-Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy is
a multi-agency, international co-operative effort to address shared
air quality management concerns. These include impacts to human and
environmental health specific to this region. This strategy also aims
to prevent future deterioration of air quality, and is particularly
important due to the recent significant regional population growth,
which is expected to continue for at least the next two decades.
Government agencies in Canada & US with a responsibility
for air quality are interested in ensuring that the region's air
quality is protected for present and future generations. It is
for this reason that various governments, along with First Nations/Tribal
agencies and non-governmental organizations, are working to develop
the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy.
The Georgia Basin-Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy aims
to achieve the following through international and regional co-operation
and collaboration:
- Reduce the impacts of air pollution to human health, ecosystems,
and visibility in the GB-PS airshed;
- Prevent future deterioration and work towards continuous improvement
of air quality in the GB-PS region; and,
- Establish practical and effective instruments to address shared concerns
regarding transboundary air pollution in the GB-PS region.
It supports the "keeping clean areas clean" goal of the Canada-wide
Standards implementation process.
(A description of the initiatives is
available, as is a list of Participating Agencies ).
The Canada-US “Border Air Quality Strategy”
The Canada-US “Border
Air Quality Strategy” was announced by Canada’s federal Environment Minister and the
US Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator in June 2003.
Both governments agreed to increase their cooperation to reduce cross-border
pollution.
Three joint projects were announced under this cross border strategy
including the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy,
the Great Lakes Basin Airshed Management Framework and a study on the
feasibility of emissions Trading for NOx (nitrogen oxides) and SO2 (sulphur
dioxide).
Health Impacts from Air Quality
Air contaminants are known to cause serious health
effects,
ranging from lung irritation to premature death. Recent science seems
to show that there are no safe levels of air pollution, which means that
significant impacts can occur in relatively clean airsheds such as the
GB-PS.
Although some air contaminants (such as lead) have declined in
recent years, others still pose significant risks to human health and
the environment.
Health scientists are most concerned about fine particulate
matter (PM) that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs (especially from
diesel fuel)
and ozone. Significant health risks are also posed by other contaminants,
such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and toxics (such as dioxins and furans).
In addition, these pollutants can cause serious impacts to the environment
(such as damage to agricultural crops and impacts to water quality) and
can also reduce visibility in the region (which is important for both
local residents and tourists).
What is an Airshed?
An "airshed" or "air basin" is a volume of air that is separated from
other airsheds by geographical and/or meteorological constraints.
An airshed is affected by emissions
from urban, suburban, marine, and agricultural activities, natural sources
and their subsequent transformation in ambient air.
Air Quality in the Region
Air quality in the area typically meets both US and Canadian standards;
however, important air quality management issues in this international
airshed still exist. These are due to findings that significant health
effects occur at or below current air quality levels. In addition, projected
growth in
population,
economic activity and motor vehicle use in Vancouver,
Seattle and surrounding areas will contribute to increased air pollution
if this growth is not well managed.
Some of the main sources of air pollution in this area include:
automotive emissions, non-road engine emissions (e.g. construction equipment,
locomotives, etc.), wood burning emissions, marine emissions, agricultural
operations, and industrial
and power plant
emissions.
View from Grouse Mountain, British Columbia
(Source: Environment Canada)
What is being done?
The emphasis of the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound International Airshed
Strategy is co-operation and information sharing between Canadian and
US agencies regarding potential and actual transboundary air pollution
issues.
The sharing of information enables a common understanding of the air
pollution issues and concerns of the area and allows those agencies responsible
for air quality management to make informed decisions regarding the protection
of human and environmental health in the region. Through the Georgia
Basin-Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy, government partners
are co-operatively:
- developing a system to prioritize air quality issues for action
by the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy;
- scientifically characterizing the current air quality in the airshed,
and predicting future air quality by using computer models;
- working to more efficiently exchange transboundary air quality data
between agencies;
- providing information on air quality management practices via the
Internet;
- increasing information sharing and improving notification procedures for significant new sources of transboundary air pollution; and,
- actively working toward regulations ensuring cleaner
vehicles and fuels in the region.
Partner agencies are also participating
in many greenhouse gas reduction activities that are associated with
air pollution abatement.
Here are just a few examples:
Participating agencies are also engaged in additional activities related to air quality management
in the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound area.
Click to see the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound map or
click here to see a topographical map of the Georgia Basin-Puget Sound
Select link to obtain a list of the participating
agencies in
the Georgia Basin / Puget Sound International Airshed Strategy.
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