FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS' AIR QUALITY RELATED VALUES WORKGROUP (FLAG)
PHASE I REPORT
(December 2000)

D. Subgroup Reports: Technical Analyses and Recommendations

1. Subgroup Objectives and Tasks

Subgroups were formed to address the four key issues relevant to AQRV identification and evaluation issues: policy (and procedures), visibility, ozone, and deposition. Each of these subgroups reviewed the commonalities among the FLMs then addressed the tasks assigned to them by FLAG. One of their first tasks was to differentiate between Phase I tasks, those which could be resolved in the short term without significant additional resources, and Phase II issues, those that would require a longer period or greater effort.

Subgroups were asked to reach common ground among the FLMs on the issues. The intent was to develop, to the extent possible, consistent policies, processes, and terminology that could be used when identifying AQRVs and evaluating impacts on AQRVs. This involves recommending consistent approaches for identifying air pollution effects on AQRVs, for determining adverse impacts, and for attributing adverse impacts to specific pollution sources. In addition, the FLMs consider that AQRV protection from visibility, ozone, and deposition impacts are equally important. However, we also recognize that given the current state of the science, attributing adverse impacts to specific sources are easier to document for visibility than for deposition and ozone, and easier for deposition than ozone.

The individual subgroup reports document the common policies, procedures, and definitions identified or developed during Phase I activities. The Visibility, Ozone, and Deposition subgroup reports are included below. The FLAG Policy Subgroup Report was used as the basis for much of the rest of this FLAG Phase I Report, including much of Section B. "Background" and Section C. "Federal Land Managers' Approach to AQRV Protection."