Air Quality Resource Concerns

Overview

The NRCS utilizes the concept of “resource concerns” in conservation planning.  There are four broad categories of air-related resource concerns:  particulate matter, ozone precursors, odors, and greenhouse gases and carbon sequestration.  This course provides an overview of each of these four air quality resource concerns and how they can most effectively be addressed in the NRCS planning framework.   Principal air emissions from agricultural operations are discussed, and how each of these is related to one or more of the air resource concerns.  Finally, a variety of mitigation strategies are presented for managing emissions and improving these four air quality concerns.

Objectives

Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to:

• Identify the four primary air quality resource concerns and the emissions that contribute to these concerns
• Identify the effects of particulate matter, ozone precursors, and odors on air quality
• Discuss greenhouse gases as an atmospheric change issue
• Derive potential solutions to reduce agricultural emissions of particulate matter, ozone precursors, odors, and greenhouse gases
• List and locate additional resources that can be used to expand knowledge of these topics

Prerequisites

1.       Air Quality, Climate Change and Energy

2.       Why Should We Care About Air Quality

Delivery Method

This program is Web-based.

Duration

Approximately 50 minutes.

Target Audience

The course is designed for all NRCS employees, but particularly for State Air Quality and Energy Contacts, conservation planners, partnership employees, and conservation technical assistance providers to assist them in integrating air quality into conservation planning and programs.

NEDC Contact

NEDC Webmaster.

Technical Contact

Greg Johnson

Enrollment for Air Quality Resource Concerns

Enrollment instructions are provided below.  Be sure to select the appropriate link to ensure successful enrollment. 

USDA Employees

Proceed to the Aglearn to login using your USDA eAuthentication ID and password.  This is the same as your WebTCAS ID and password.
Select Catalog, Select Natural Resources Conservation Service under Subject Area Menu, Choose the course name by selecting either the button Launch content or Add to Learning Plan to register and complete the course.

District Employees with Aglearn account

Proceed to the Aglearn to login using your USDA eAuthentication ID and password. This is the same logon ID and password used for the TechReg TSP application or profile.
Select Catalog, Select Natural Resources Conservation Service under Subject Area Menu, Choose the course name by select the button Launch content or Add to Learning Plan to register and complete the course.

If you do not have an account.  Specific instructions on securing a USDA user account and password are located at getting started.  For further assistance contact the USDA state office in your state for assistance in obtaining an eAuthentication ID and password and AgLearn account.

Technical Service Providers

Proceed to the Aglearn to login using your USDA eAuthentication ID and password. This is the same logon ID and password used for the TechReg TSP application or profile.
Select Catalog, Select Natural Resources Conservation Service under Subject Area Menu, Choose the course name by select the button Launch content or Add to Learning Plan to register and complete the course.

If you are anticipating becoming a Technical Service Provider please review the entire process at TechReg.  Please familiarize yourself with this process if you have not already done so.  Specific instructions on securing a USDA user account and password are located at getting started.

Other USDA Customers

For those not in the above categories contact the USDA state office in your state for assistance in obtaining an eAuthentication ID and password and AgLearn account.
To obtain this contact information for your state you can go to the Aglearn website click on contact us. Scroll down to NRCS and click on the link that says state contacts.

Air Quality Resource Concerns (NEDC-NRCS-000258)