AQ_GEN_PIO_20241206_MISC_PressRls_English

Dec. 6, 2024
REMINDER: Public Invited to Comment on DAQ Exceptional Events
Demonstration Analyzing 2023 Canadian Wildfire Particulate Matter
Impacts
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air
Quality (DAQ) is accepting public comments on an analysis of smoke impacts in North
Carolina from the 2023 Canadian wildfires. This analysis, called an Exceptional Events
Demonstration, is intended to support DAQ’s recommendation that the state be
designated in attainment with a stricter air quality standard for fine particulate matter.
The Exceptional Events Demonstration is available on the Division’s website for public
review through Dec. 20, 2024. The Division will also hold a public hearing on that date,
if it receives a request to do so.
Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is any extremely small particle emitted by manmade
(cars, industry, fires) or natural (wildfire smoke, dust, plants, animals) sources.
Breathing air with high levels of PM2.5 for extended periods is linked to health effects
including shortness of breath and heart conditions.
After reviewing the latest scientific evidence, the Environmental Protection Agency in
May tightened the annual standard for PM2.5 from 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter of
air to 9.0 micrograms per cubic meter. EPA says that the revised standard will save
lives, reduce cases of asthma, prevent lost workdays and save billions in public health
spending, especially in communities of color and other vulnerable populations.
North Carolinians are breathing the cleanest air in decades. North Carolina has seen a
49% decline in PM2.5 emissions between 1990 and 2020, and maintained statewide
compliance with the previous PM2.5 standard. Based on air quality monitoring data from
2021-2023, 19 out of 21 monitoring sites in North Carolina are meeting the revised
standard.
However, monitoring sites in Mecklenburg and Davidson counties were slightly above
the revised standard due to influences of Canadian wildfire smoke in 2023. EPA has yet
to make the final determination as to which areas of North Carolina will be designated in
attainment with the revised PM2.5 standard, and will base its determination on air quality
data from 2022-2024.
DAQ plans to recommend that EPA designate all of North Carolina as in attainment with
the revised PM2.5 standard, because the Canadian wildfires were exceptional events
outside of the state’s control. This would allow DAQ to focus on pollution reduction
strategies that are within its control to ensure ongoing attainment with the revised
standard.
To support that recommendation, the state prepared an Exceptional Events
Demonstration that clearly shows that for both the Davidson and Mecklenburg county
monitors, Canadian wildfire smoke negatively impacted air quality data. Because this
exceptional event was outside the control of the state, a small number of days in June
and July 2024 can be removed from the calculation when determining compliance with
the revised PM2.5 standard, if EPA approves the Exceptional Events Demonstration.
Exceptional Events Demonstrations are authorized under the Clean Air Act and EPA
governs how states can use these provisions.
The public is invited to review the Division’s analysis and submit comments. All
comments received by Dec. 20, 2024, will be reviewed and considered.
A hybrid public hearing will be held in Raleigh on Dec. 20 if the Division receives a
request to hold such a hearing on or before Dec. 13. (NOTE: This is an extension of the
original Dec. 4 deadline to request a public hearing previously announced). If the
Division does not receive a request to hold a public hearing by this date, the public
hearing will be cancelled.
Speaker signup will be available upon arrival at the public hearing. To register to speak
virtually at the hearing, please fill out this online form. Please indicated in your
registration if you require live Spanish interpretation services. More information is in the
public notice.
Comments and requests for a public hearing can be made via email
to [e-mail] (please type “EE Demonstration” in the subject
line) or left via voicemail by calling 919-707-8495. Comments can also be mailed to:
Tammy Manning
NC Division of Air Quality
1641 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1641
The Division of Air Quality must submit the Exceptional Events Demonstration to EPA
by Feb. 7, 2025. EPA would then have until Feb. 6, 2026, to make final attainment
decisions.
More information about the revised PM2.5 standard is on DAQ’s website.
If you need this information in Spanish or another language, please call 919-707-8446
or email [e-mail].
Si necesita más información en español o en otro idioma, llame al 919-707-8446 o
envíe un correo electrónico a [e-mail].

For More Information
Contact: Shawn Taylor
Phone: [phone]