The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is submitting to Environmental Protection Agency the revision to the State Implementation Plan for a new crop residue burning program in Idaho.

Field burning has been prohibited in Idaho since January 2007 as a result of a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling.

DEQ accepted comments on the proposed revision to the SIP earlier this year, and DEQ Air Quality Program Manager Robert Wilcosz says after addressing all comments, the department has finalized the SIP revision.

Program Manager Robert Wilcosz comments

The program was developed by a negotiating committee comprised of representatives of DEQ, Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Safe Air for Everyone, the Idaho Farm Bureau, grain and grass growers, Tribes, and others. Under the agreement, DEQ will administer the program, and the ISDA will play an advisory role.

Wilcosz continues

The revision to the SIP must be approved by the EPA before it can take effect. If that occurs soon, field burning could resume in late-summer or early-fall. Until then, no field burning is allowed.

The SIP revision is available at DEQ’s State Office and in PDF format on DEQ’s Web site at www.deq.idaho.gov.