Basic Smoke Management Practices (BSMPs) can protect the public from smoke exposure, help avoid an exceedance of a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and minimize impacts on sensitive areas such as Class 1 Areas. Documented use of BSMPs can allow for a State to flag data and seek exclusion for an exceedance of the NAAQS if appropriate Exceptional Event Rule (EER) criteria are met. BSMPs can also be considered as smoke management techniques as cited in the Regional Haze Rule (RHR) and therefore used to address visibility concerns in Class I Areas. If there are minimal impacts currently or projected from prescribed fire on wildlands, then a less structured BSMP approach may be appropriate; whereas if smoke is impacting Class I Areas or nonattainment status, then a more rigorous SMP or ESMP approach may be necessary.
For more information on BSMPs, click Here: http://www.frames.gov/files/5113/7841/1511/BSMPs_ONeill_10_2011.pdf
Source: National Wildfire Coordinating Group Smoke Committee. 2011. Basic Smoke Management Practices. Accessed on 10 September 2013. Available at: http://www.frames.gov/files/5113/7841/1511/BSMPs_ONeill_10_2011.pdf