U.S. EPA Issues Policy Guidance to Remove Barriers for Prescribed Fires

October 16, 2025 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued policy guidance directing regional offices to work with local, state, tribal, and federal partners to remove barriers in State Implementation Plans (SIPs) that discourage prescribed fires. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA’s Exceptional Events Rule, prescribed fires are eligible to be treated as an exceptional event, meaning air quality data resulting from these strategic fires does not need to be taken into account when determining if an area meets National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Therefore, the EPA will not require inclusion of air quality regulatory provisions in SIPs that limit the strategic use of prescribed fires. 

The memorandum directs EPA’s ten regional offices to engage with local, state, tribal, and federal partners to develop approaches consistent with the CAA that will not limit the use of wildland prescribed fires. EPA regional offices must also collaborate with state air agencies to evaluate provisions already incorporated into SIPs, and those proposed for inclusion into SIPs, to ensure they are consistent with the CAA and do not limit the strategic application of wildland prescribed fires. Finally, to enable more effective coordination and collaboration on smoke and air quality management, EPA regional offices will work to promote recordkeeping and smoke management practices associated with prescribed fire activities.