Comment Log Display

Comment Log Display

Below is the comment you selected to display.
Comment 1 for Public Workshop: 2022 Scoping Plan Update – Natural and Working Lands Technical Workshop (nwl-2021-tech-ws) - 1st Workshop.


First Name: Andrew
Last Name: Mutziger
Email Address: amutziger@co.slo.ca.us
Affiliation: SLO Co. Air Pollution Control District

Subject: Policy Changes for Disposal of Ag Woody Waste & Dead & Dying Trees that Sequester Carbon
Comment:
During today's NWL Workshop presentation, CARB asked whether it is
clear what they need for policy objectives. My comment is relevant
to the dead, above ground biomass in the NWL inventory and policy
changes that will result in carbon sequestration and co-benefits.

Although we know San Joaquin Valley will phase out agricultural
burning, growers in the rest of the state will continue to burn
woody ag waste. Dead and dying trees in forests may also be managed
through burning. If these ag and forest woody materials are not
burned, they will often lose their carbon over time through natural
degradation. 

However, there are disposal methods of these woody wastes that
preserve carbon. Changes to California policies for managing these
materials can drive on the ground, implementable actions to help
NWL meet its target. For example, there are better ways to burn
than traditional methods (top lit conservation & kiln burns,
carbonizers, and pyrolysis systems) that sequester carbon in the
form of biochar and have co-benefits of criteria pollutant emission
reductions. Further, the produced biochar has beneficial uses (e.g.
biochar can be integrated into CDFA's Healthy Soils program with
co-benefits such as improved water holding capacity). 

While your current focus on existing research to inform the NWL
target setting is important, also important is for CARB to infuse
pending and future research that improves the portfolio of NWL
carbon sink strategies. There are observations and sound theory
that the biochar producing alternative burning methods provide GHG
and criteria pollutant emission reductions and carbon
sequestration. What are the quantified benefits is the question and
CAPCAO is part of a near shovel ready proposal (see attached file
entitled "LowEmissionBurnProposalToCARBresearchConceptCall.msg") to
help answer that question. 

Would you please weigh in on how CARB intends to integrate pending
or future knowledge to help drive California policy changes that
improve NWL's contribution to the State's carbon neutrality goal?
Also, are alternative burn methods like I have outlined in this
comment on CARB's current NWL list of strategies and if not, what
is the prospect of them being added to the NWL portfolio of
solutions? 


Sincerely,
Andy Mutziger   Division Manager
Planning, Monitoring & Grants
SLO County Air Pollution Control District

Attachment: www.arb.ca.gov/lists/com-attach/1-nwl-2021-tech-ws-AGxQOQN1VmAKYQdu.msg

Original File Name: LowEmissionBurnProposalToCARBresearchConceptCall.msg

Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2021-07-20 16:58:15



If you have any questions or comments please contact Office of the Ombudsman at (916) 327-1266.


Board Comments Home

preload