DEQ seeks comment on 2022 and 2023 exceptional event demonstrations

Accepting comments from December 13, 2024, through January 13, 2025.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is seeking comment on the 2022 and 2023 exceptional events demonstrations. This data will be used to request the exclusion of certain PM2.5 monitor values impacted by wildfire smoke.

In 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for PM2.5 and will use the new standards to designate areas as attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable. Under the Clean Air Act, agencies can submit exceptional event demonstrations and ask that certain air quality data be excluded from attainment calculations. DEQ is requesting the exclusion of 52 wildfire dates in 2022 for the St. Maries, Pinehurst, and Salmon monitors and 23 wildfire dates in 2023 for the St. Maries and Pinehurst monitors.

The draft demonstrations are available for review on DEQ’s Public Comment Opportunities web page, DEQ’s State Office (1410 N. Hilton Street, Boise, Idaho), and at DEQ’s regional offices. Written comments will be accepted through January 13, 2025, at 5 p.m. (MDT). When submitting comments or requesting additional information, please reference the 2022 and/or 2023 exceptional event demonstrations document title.

Comments can be submitted electronically using the form below or via mail or email to:

Dianne Hobbs
1410 North Hilton Street
Boise, Idaho 83706
Dianne.hobbs@deq.idaho.gov 
(208) 373-0440

Related Documents

Draft exceptional event demonstrations

Accessibility Services: The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality will provide reasonable language access services and/or disability services for documents at no charge. To request an accommodation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or Americans with Disabilities Act, contact DEQ’s nondiscrimination coordinator at (208) 373-0271 or accessibility@deq.idaho.gov. Para obtener información en español, visite https://www.deq.idaho.gov/about-us/accessibility/.