Committee approves DEQ docket to incorporate federal air regulations, align state rules with EPA updates

Tiffany Floyd, air quality division administrator with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, presented docket 58‑0101‑2401, the agency's annual incorporation‑by‑reference of federal air‑quality regulations into Idaho rules. Floyd said incorporation keeps Idaho's rules consistent with federal changes through July 1, 2024 and preserves DEQ primacy so the state—not EPA—remains the implementing authority.

Floyd highlighted several federal actions that affect Idaho: EPA's approval of the removal of the vehicle inspection and maintenance program from the Northern Ada County carbon‑monoxide nonattainment plan; the removal of an "emergency defense" provision from Title V permitting (leaving enforcement discretion to states); updates to the PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (annual standard lowered from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter effective May 6, 2024); and updates affecting Idaho's lone lead‑smelter facility. She said most monitoring data in Idaho are anticipated to meet the new PM2.5 standard but that Pinehurst, St. Maries and Salmon are communities "hovering near that standard," and DEQ is continuing outreach on proper wood‑stove practices and other local sources of fine particulate matter.

Floyd also said the docket corrects long‑standing inadvertent deletions of definitions (toxic air pollutant, carcinogenic/noncarcinogenic increments, CAS number, open burning) that were intended to be moved into the relevant rule sections in a prior rulemaking; DEQ received one public comment from Idaho Conservation League and decided no change to the proposal was necessary because the definitions were previously in the rules.

Senator Van Orden moved to approve docket 58‑0101‑2401, Senator Harris seconded, and the committee approved the docket on a voice vote.