DEQ seeks comment on draft emissions inventory for West Silver Valley nonattainment area
BOISE– The Idaho Department of Environment Quality (DEQ) is seeking public comment on a base-year emissions inventory for the West Silver Valley Nonattainment Area.
The inventory will be submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval.
The “2013 Base Year Inventory for the West Silver Valley PM2.5 Nonattainment Area” provides an estimate of actual emissions that occurred at the time the area was designated as nonattainment.
PM2.5 is airborne particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. When inhaled, these particles can reach deep into lung tissue and cause respiratory disease and lung damage.
The West Silver Valley, which includes the cities of Pinehurst, Smelterville, Kellogg, and Wardner, was designated as nonattainment in April 2015 for the 2012 fine particulate (PM2.5) national air quality standards.
In response to the nonattainment designation, DEQ began developing a State Implementation Plan in 2015.
However, based on certified air quality monitoring for 2014-2016, the area has attained national air quality standards, which qualifies it for a clean data determination.
With this determination, most State Implementation Plan requirements are suspended as long as the area continues to attain air quality standards, but a base-year emissions inventory is still required.
A public hearing on the inventory will be held August 11, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. PDT at Pinehurst City Hall, 106 N. Division St. Written and oral comments will be accepted at the hearing.
The inventory is available for review at DEQ’s state office in Boise and on DEQ’s website (download at right).
The deadline for submitting written comments on the inventory outside of the public hearing is August 11, 2017, at 4 p.m. PDT.
Submit comments electronically on DEQ’s website or by mail or email to:
Pascale Warren
DEQ State Office
Air Quality Division
1410 N. Hilton
Boise, ID 83706
Email: pascale.warren@deq.idaho.gov