The proposed bill would amend current statutes by adding a requirement for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) to submit an exceptional event demonstration to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when a wildfire larger than 25,000 acres occurs on federally managed land and affects Arizona through smoke or land damage. This new provision is intended to ensure that significant wildfires are properly documented and addressed in terms of their impact on air quality.

In addition to this new requirement, the bill maintains the existing language regarding the establishment of substantive policy statements for identifying air quality exceptional events, which must consider Arizona's unique geological, geographical, and climatological conditions. The insertion clarifies the conditions under which ADEQ must act, thereby updating the current law to reflect the specific circumstances of large wildfires and their effects on air quality in the state.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 49-424
House Engrossed Version: 49-424
Senate Engrossed Version: 49-424