On August 4th, 2025, WESTAR submitted comments on EPA’s renewal information collection request (ICR) for the Air Emissions Reporting Rule (AERR). EPA is seeking approval to renew its authority to collect emissions inventory data from state, local, and Tribal air agencies, and this renewal ICR estimates the burden in time and cost of collecting emissions inventory information.
WESTAR’s comments focused on the reasonableness of EPA’s updated cost assumptions, voluntary reporting of certain data elements, and the practical challenges states face in meeting the requirements. We also acknowledged and appreciated EPA’s efforts to update labor rates and cost estimates using recent federal data, as this conservative approach better reflects the resources needed by agencies to fulfill their obligations. The comment letter can be found here.
WESTAR Comments on EPA’s Regional Haze Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
/in EPA Actions, Letters /by westaradminOn November 24, 2025 WESTAR submitted comments to the docket for EPA’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The comments addressed each of EPA’s eighteen main questions within the ANPRM from questions about a potential reasonable progress metric to interstate and Federal Land Manager consultation. WESTAR also encouraged EPA to continue working with the states to craft the regional haze rule revisions and to delay the start of the third planning period. You can read the full letter here.
WESTAR-WRAP 2025 Fall Business Meeting
/in Meetings, Workshops /by jbakerWESTAR-WRAP held its Fall Business meeting in Jackson, Wyoming this year. Thank you to staff from Wyoming DEQ for hosting us and for leading the campfire sing-along. Thanks to all of the speakers for the thought-provoking presentations and all of the participants for the questions asked and information shared. If you would like to revisit any part of the meeting you can use the agenda with links to the presentations, or rewatch the recorded sessions below.
Meeting Recordings
WESTAR joins other MJOs in letter to EPA on development of future year emissions projections
/in Uncategorized /by westaradminWESTAR and several other MJOs sent a letter to EPA urging the development of future year emissions projections data necessary for air modeling for state, local and tribal government to meet federal requirements within the Clean Air Act.
WESTAR Comments on AERR ICR
/in Letters /by westaradminOn August 4th, 2025, WESTAR submitted comments on EPA’s renewal information collection request (ICR) for the Air Emissions Reporting Rule (AERR). EPA is seeking approval to renew its authority to collect emissions inventory data from state, local, and Tribal air agencies, and this renewal ICR estimates the burden in time and cost of collecting emissions inventory information.
WESTAR’s comments focused on the reasonableness of EPA’s updated cost assumptions, voluntary reporting of certain data elements, and the practical challenges states face in meeting the requirements. We also acknowledged and appreciated EPA’s efforts to update labor rates and cost estimates using recent federal data, as this conservative approach better reflects the resources needed by agencies to fulfill their obligations. The comment letter can be found here.
WESTAR Comments on Potential Revisions to Regional Haze Rule
/in EPA Actions, Letters /by westaradminOn July 9, 2025 WESTAR sent comments to EPA related to anticipated revisions to the Regional Haze Rule. While there is no draft rule to review or comment on, we asked EPA to consider several core principles to the regional haze program as they draft the rule. WESTAR also reiterated the importance of cooperative federalism when undertaking such impactful rulemaking. You can read the full letter here.
WESTAR Comments on EPA’s QAPP and QMP Directives
/in Letters /by westaradminWESTAR submitted comments on EPA’s Quality Management Plan (QMP) Standard and Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Standard Directives (Nos: CIO 2105-S-01.0 – and CIO 2105-S-02.1). These Directives expanded QAPP and QMP requirements, creating a strain on state, local, and Tribal air agency resources. In the letter, WESTAR member agencies request that EPA reevaluate QAPP applicability, reexamine the Directives, and work with EPA regions and the air agencies in the West to effectively align QA requirements. Read WESTAR’s letter here.
WESTAR 2025 Spring Business Meeting
/in Meetings, News /by westaradminWESTAR-WRAP held its Spring Business meeting in Spokane, Washington this year. Thank you to staff from Washington Ecology and Spokane Clean Air Agency for hosting us. Thanks to all of the speakers for the thought-provoking presentations and all of the participants for the questions asked and information shared. If you would like to revisit any part of the meeting you can use the agenda with links to the presentations, or rewatch the recorded sessions below.
Meeting Recordings
Comments on EPA’s proposal to extend the third round Regional Haze deadline
/in EPA Actions, Letters /by westaradminIn a Federal Register notice, EPA proposed to extend the SIP submittal deadline for the third implementation period from July 2028, to July 2031. WESTAR commented on the proposal in the Federal Register. WESTAR agrees with EPA’s proposal and additionally, requested that EPA extend the fourth, and subsequent implementation period deadlines so that they are all ten to fifteen years long. This is consistent with Section 169A of the Clean Air Act. You can read WESTAR’s comments here.
Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming send letter to President Biden on Ozone
/in Letters /by westaradminOn April 23rd, 2024 the governors from Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming sent a letter to President Biden to raise concerns about attaining the 2015 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard.
2024 Spring Business Meeting
/in Meetings, News /by westaradmin