The view ahead : identifying options for a visibility management framework for British Columbia

This paper examined policy options for the management of visible air quality in British Columbia (BC). Air management efforts in the province to date have focused on human health and impacts on ecosystems. The paper examined previous studies in visibility science as well as documents produced by a task force in the early 1990s in BC. The report provided a review of management options currently implemented by other jurisdictions and described existing policy drivers and mechanisms that can be used by air management agencies to achieve visibility protection. The report considered 5 management options: (1) retaining the current status quo; (2) the inclusion of visibility considerations in the implementation of Canada-wide standards; (3)establishing visibility values through existing policy directives; (4) establishing visually important and protected areas in BC through legislation, and (5) the development of a national visibility management program. Best practices for effective visibility management programs were also provided. 26 refs., 2 tabs., 2 figs