Caucus hears bill requiring DEQ to submit wildfire 'exceptional event' demonstrations to EPA

Presenter told the caucus that House Bill 20‑13 requires the Department of Environmental Quality to submit an exceptional event demonstration to the Environmental Protection Agency when a wildfire occurs on federally managed land and affects the state. The presenter said the Senate amendment limits applicability to wildfires larger than 25,000 acres and attributable to smoke or land damage, and that the sponsor concurs with that change.

A member asked whether the Senate changes addressed stakeholder concerns; the presenter replied they did not, indicating outstanding issues remain. The caucus did not take a formal position during this meeting.

Why it matters: the bill changes the administrative process for air‑quality reporting and the state's engagement with federal environmental rules after large wildfires, affecting how events are documented for federal air standards.