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MSGIG/GENADMIN/SECNAV WASHINGTON DC/-/OCT //

SUBJ/AIR QUALITY//

RMKS/1.  This summer, the continental United States experienced widespread 
poor air quality attributable to smoke from wild fires in Canada.  According 
to the US Forest Service, the height of the Western fire season is in late 
summer, meaning similar impacts may continue to occur.  Additionally, we are 
witnessing wildfires in areas with previous limited exposure, as we have most 
recently seen with the devastation in Maui and increasing wildfires in the 
Western United States, and around the world.

2.  Wildfire risk depends on a number of factors, including temperature, soil 
moisture, and the presence of trees, shrubs, and other potential fuel. Hence, 
land use and forest management are key to ensuring our installations remain 
resilient against threats like drought and wildfires.

3.  Climate change has also been a key factor in increasing the risk of 
wildfire occurrence due to longer duration and higher intensity drought 
conditions, creating a longer fire season.  Climate change is a destabilizing 
force which poses serious readiness challenges, and has contributed to the 
increasing risk and extent of wildfires.  To help combat the climate change 
effects on wildfire risk, among other effects, the Department of the Navy's 
(DON) Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) directed DON installation planning 
staff to integrate nature-based resilience solutions into their policy, 
planning and practice through CSO Serial Three.  This document highlights how 
the DON leverages the power of nature in the ecosystem to protect our ability 
to train and test, to preserve our infrastructure and capabilities, to 
empower our Sailors, Marines, and civilian workforce, while benefitting a 
wide range of species critical habitat.  The full CSO Serial Three can be 
viewed at: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/Climate/Pages/Resources.aspx.

4.  Air quality generally depends on the weather and pollutants in the air.  
For example, temperature, humidity, and winds can all significantly affect 
air quality.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified fine 
particulate matter as one of the pollutants impacting air quality, and 
particulate pollutants are components in wildfire smoke and the principal 
public health threat.  These and other impacts to air quality have the 
potential to seriously disrupt DON operations and activities and affect DON 
personnel.

5.  The EPA developed the Air Quality Index (AQI) to communicate daily air 
quality using color coded categories that can inform your daily activity, 
particularly for those with young children or those with underlying medical 
problems.  Another helpful planning tool is the EPA's AirNow mobile 
application, which provides a simple interface for quickly checking current 
and forecast air quality information to inform daily activities necessary to 
protect your health.

6.  DON personnel must ensure we do our part to prepare for and mitigate air 
quality challenges.  If you live in a region experiencing poor air quality, 
monitor the AQI and adjust your plans to reduce unnecessary exposure.  The 
DON as a whole will also continue to take steps to reduce our greenhouse gas 
emissions, and manage our lands to reduce wildfires and increase the 
resilience of our forces.

7.  We can all take steps to protect ourselves, our families, and our 
personnel by maintaining awareness of the hazards we all face.  With your 
engagement, attention, and vigilance, the DON can continue to protect our 
most valuable asset - our people.
Learn more at:  https://www.secnav.navy.mil/Climate/Pages/Resources.aspx

8.  Released by the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy.//

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