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Air Quality: Docket No. 58-0101-1901

Rulemaking initiated to update the rules applicable to prescribed fire to ensure that smoke from this type of burning is properly managed and public health is protected.

Status

Negotiated rulemaking meeting October 25, 2023.

  • Over the past three years, DEQ and IDL together have participated in numerous conversations and developed a potential smoke management program for prescribed fire. This program is designed to retain existing air quality rules and commitments and addresses all burning activity under IDL’s authorities. The program would meet the air quality requirements of IDAPA 58.01.01.614 and be governed by existing IDL and DEQ authorities.
  • DEQ and IDL together will present the draft interagency smoke management program for prescribed fire.

Presentation and Supporting Materials

Use this link to view the materials the agencies have developed to share the proposed smoke management plan. Stakeholders are encouraged to review this material prior to the October 25, 2023, meeting.

Overview

Prescribed fire has long been used as a forest management tool in Idaho, and its use is expected to increase due to large wildfires becoming more frequent in the Western U.S. However, if not managed properly, smoke from prescribed fire may endanger human health. DEQ’s air quality rules include prescribed fire as an allowable form of open burning when smoke emissions are managed. The prescribed fire rules have two goals:  protect public health and provide flexibility to land managers to use prescribed fire as a management tool.

DEQ initiated this rulemaking to update the rules applicable to prescribed fire to ensure that smoke from this type of burning is properly managed and public health is protected. With the increase in the use of prescribed fire, the management of smoke from it is becoming more important.

Meeting Details

Open EVENT DETAIL below for meeting information and agenda.

Method for Participating and Submitting Comments

Those interested in participating in the negotiated rulemaking process are encouraged to attend the scheduled meeting.

For those who cannot participate by attending the meeting, public comment opportunities will be made available throughout the rulemaking process. To sign up for meeting attendance or email notifications, contact Paula Wilson.

Submit all written comments and direct questions to:

Mark Boyle
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
2110 Ironwood Parkway, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
mark.boyle@deq.idaho.gov

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Information pending

Negotiated Rule Documents and Meeting PresentationsDate PostedDate of Meeting DiscussionWritten Comment Deadline
Negotiated Rule Draft No. 39/15/20

9/29/20 – Short Duration

10/01/20 – Minor

10/06/20 – Major and Recognized Smoke Management Group

10/20/20
Version 1 Draft Field Guide9/15/20

9/29/20

10/01/20

10/06/20

N/A
Summary / Status of Prescribed Burning Rulemaking2/19/202/11/20N/A
Prescribed Burning Negotiated Rulemaking Meeting 5 November 25, 2019 – DEQ PowerPoint Presentation12/2/1911/25/191/8/20
Negotiated Rule Draft No. 211/15/1911/25/191/8/20

Prescribed Burning Negotiated Rulemaking Meeting 4 August 1, 2019  DEQ PowerPoint Presentation

DEQ Real-Time Air Monitoring

DEQ Annual Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan

8/5/198/1/198/30/19
Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)7/25/198/1/198/30/19

Prescribed Fire Negotiated Rulemaking June 20, 2019  DEQ PowerPoint Presentation

National Emissions Inventory (NEI)

The 2017 NEI has not been posted on the EPA website. The most recent NEI is for 2014.

Idaho DEQ’s Open Burning Map

Crop Residue Burning Operating Guide (This link is provided as an example of the type of information found in an operating guide.)

6/21/196/20/19N/A
Prescribed Fire Negotiated Rulemaking May 10, 2019  DEQ PowerPoint Presentation5/13/195/10/195/30/19

Prescribed Fire Negotiated Rulemaking April 9, 2019  DEQ PowerPoint Presentation

Montana/Idaho Airshed Group (resource for current burn map provided in the April 9, 2019 DEQ PowerPoint Presentation)

BLM PowerPoint Presentation

4/10/194/09/19 4/16/19
A preliminary draft rule was not posted for public review prior to the first meeting. The first meeting has been scheduled for the purpose of discussing the current state of smoke management in Idaho, an overview of the
ecology of fire, and the future of prescribed fire activity.
   
CommentSubmitted ByDate Received
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 3The Nature Conservancy in Idaho10/20/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 3 and Version 1 Draft Field GuideRiley Stegner and Associates on behalf of Bennett Lumber Products, Hancock Forest Management, Molpus Woodlands Group, and Stimson Lumber Company10/20/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 3Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry (IACI)10/20/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 3 and Version 1 Draft Field GuideIdaho Forest Group (IFG)10/19/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 3John Kinne, Kootenai, Idaho10/19/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 3 and Version 1 Draft Field GuidePotlatchDeltic10/19/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 3 and Version 1 Draft Field GuideAssociated Logging Contractors (ALC)10/19/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 3Jim Rehder, Cottonwood, Idaho10/15/20
Comment on negotiated rulemaking meeting formatAssociated Logging Contractors (ALC)10/05/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2Idaho Forest Owners Association6/22/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2The Nature Conservancy in Idaho1/8/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry1/8/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2Riley Stegner and Associates on behalf of Bennett Lumber Products, Hancock Forest Management, Idaho Forest Group, Molpus Woodlands Group, PotlatchDeltic, and Stimson Lumber Company1/8/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2U.S. Forest Service1/8/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2John Kinne1/6/20
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2Mike Reggear12/30/19
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2Idaho Conservation League (ICL)12/20/19
Comment on Negotiated Rule Draft No. 2Associated Logging Contractors (ALC)11/22/19
Comment on Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)U.S. Forest Service8/30/19
Comment on Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)Riley Stegner and Associates on behalf of Bennett Lumber Products, Hancock Forest Management, Idaho Forest Group, Molpus Woodlands Group, PotlatchDeltic, and Stimson Lumber Company8/29/19
Comment on Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)Glen Burkhardt, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)8/28/19
Comment on Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)Associated Logging Contractors (ALC)8/26/19
Comment on Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)Jim Rehder, Cottonwood, Idaho8/6/19
Comment on Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)CapitolWest Consultants on behalf of Associated Logging Contractors (ALC)8/2/19
Comment on Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)Joseph Adamski, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)8/1/19
Comment on Preliminary Draft Rule (Draft No. 1)John Kinne, Kootenai, Idaho8/1/19
Comment on 6/20/19 meeting presentationAssociated Logging Contractors (ALC)6/24/19
Comment on 5/10/19 meeting presentationAdams County Commissioner Viki Purdy6/7/19
Comment on 5/10/19 meeting presentationWashington County Commissioners5/30/19
Comment on 5/10/19 meeting presentationJacob Odekirk5/28/19
Comment on 5/10/19 meeting presentationKevin Chaffee, NCF5/10/19
Comment on 4/9/19 meeting presentationIdaho Conservation League (ICL)4/15/19
Comment on 4/9/19 meeting presentationJim Rehder, Cottonwood, Idaho4/11/19
Comment on 4/9/19 meeting presentationIntermountain Society of American Foresters Snake River Chapter4/9/19

Information pending

Information pending

Information pending

Information pending

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