The EPA is paying closer attention to the health impacts of wildfire smoke, which is one of the leading sources of particulate matter, a top agency official said on Thursday.
Very few regulatory options are on the books for controlling wildfire smoke as an air pollutant since the fires are considered “exceptional events” that don’t count against a region’s compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
But that doesn’t mean the EPA isn’t paying attention, especially as wildfire season has become increasingly more severe due to the effects of climate change.
“We really do need to take a look at ...