The Department of Environmental Protection invites public comments on a report it prepared on the Air Quality Impacts Of The 2016 Fort McMurray Fires In Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada on Pennsylvania air quality.  (formal notice)

The purpose of the report is to document the impacts of this “Exceptional Event” on air quality monitoring for nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds and particulates in the Commonwealth.

Using satellite imagery and and review of meteorological conditions, DEP demonstrated smoke from the wildfires traveled across the state from May 24 to 26, 2016.

DEP’s analysis and modeling demonstrated the Fort McMurray fires did cause “abnormally high” ozone concentrations from May 24 to 26, 2016 and fine particulate concentrations were elevated.

DEP said 43 air quality monitors in the state were affected and daily 8-hour ozone concentrations were impacted by the wildfire smoke.

Based on this analysis, “the Department is requesting that the U.S. EPA concur with this request and allow the first through fourth high ozone concentrations of the monitors outlined in Tables 1 and 2 from May 24 to May 26, 2016 to be flagged as exceptional event data, thereby excluding those days for consideration when determining the attainment status of these monitors as they relate to the 2015 ozone NAAQS.”

Click Here for a copy of the report.  Questions should be directed to Sean Nolan, DEP Bureau of Air Quality, 717-772-3377 or send email to: senolan@pa.gov.

Click Here for background on the damage caused by this catastrophic wildfire.

Comments on the report are due January 2 and can be submitted to DEP’s eComment webpage or be email to: ecomment@pa.gov. Written comments may be submitted to the Policy Office, Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, P.O. Box 2063, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2063. Use ''EE Analysis on Fort McMurray Fires'' as the subject line in written communication.

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[Posted: Dec. 1, 2017]

12/4/2017