States Grapple With Wildfire Smoke As EPA Faulted Over ‘Events’ Waiver

State air regulators are wrestling with how to use EPA’s “exceptional events” waiver policy to excuse high pollution readings driven by increasingly prevalent wildfires, amid renewed criticism of the waiver rule from environmentalists and others who are concerned the policy provides a “loophole” for unhealthy air. One state source says that the increasingly pressing issue is being addressed by state groups, such as the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, representing state and local regulators across the country, which is...