Utah Valley Times

Washington, D.C. – Representative John Curtis (R-UT) has introduced legislation aimed at alleviating the regulatory burden on states affected by wildfires. The proposed legislation would provide automatic waivers for air quality monitoring data that is directly attributable to catastrophic wildfires, ensuring that states like Utah are not penalized for emissions beyond their control, particularly those that occur on federal lands.

Speaking about the legislation, Rep. Curtis highlighted the disproportionate impact of wildfires on Western states and the resulting skewed data from air quality monitors. He emphasized the need to remove bureaucratic red tape and focus on recovery and rebuilding efforts, rather than dealing with EPA waivers and legal complexities.

"Western States are disproportionately affected by wildfires, skewing data that comes from air quality monitors and leading to undue penalties from the federal government," said Rep. Curtis. "Utah experiences this firsthand, and this legislation will remove the bureaucratic red tape to ensure we can focus on recovery and rebuilding, not EPA waivers and legal jargon."

Under the current system, states that experience catastrophic or controlled fires often find themselves in nonattainment for EPA reporting, which can result in potential penalties. While these states qualify for a waiver, the processing time for the waiver request exceeds the reporting timeline, forcing them to report numbers consistent with nonattainment before agencies are able to finalize the waiver.

The proposed bill seeks to address this issue by providing automatic waivers for any state that conducts a preventative controlled burn or is impacted by a catastrophic wildfire that would otherwise classify them as nonattainment. This would streamline the process and ensure that states are not penalized for emissions resulting from uncontrollable events.

The legislation aims to strike a balance between environmental regulations and the unique challenges faced by states grappling with wildfires. By removing unnecessary regulatory hurdles, states like Utah can prioritize their efforts towards recovery and rebuilding, without being burdened by excessive paperwork and time-consuming processes.

The bill is an important step towards recognizing the realities of wildfire management and the need to support states in their recovery efforts. It offers a practical solution to prevent states from being unfairly penalized for emissions beyond their control and allows them to focus on the crucial task of rebuilding communities and protecting the environment.

As the legislation moves forward, stakeholders will closely monitor its progress and evaluate its potential impact on states affected by wildfires. The proposed bill represents a proactive approach by Rep. Curtis to address the regulatory challenges faced by Western states, and it is hoped that it will pave the way for greater collaboration and support in the future.

To read the full text of the bill, please click here.