EPD's demonstration states that if EPA concurs, the Augusta monitor's 2023-2025 design value for the 2024 annual PM2.5 standard would fall from 9.5 µg/m3 to 9.0 µg/m3, at the level of the annual standard itself. EPA has not yet acted on the request.
IssueFranklin Countyunder consideration
Georgia EPD asks EPA to exclude 37 days of prescribed-fire smoke from Augusta's PM2.5 record
The exclusion would lower the official pollution reading used to judge whether the Augusta area meets the federal annual PM2.5 health standard.
What happens next
No next step has been documented.
At a glance
What this means now
The story
Georgia EPD's Air Protection Branch has released a draft demonstration and public notice, dated September 21, 2026, asking EPA to exclude a series of PM2.5 exceedances recorded at the Augusta monitor between 2023 and 2025 from the 2024 annual PM2.5 standard's design value. EPD attributes each exceedance to smoke from prescribed, silviculture-related burning.
The draft identifies 37 exceedance days and ties each to Georgia Forestry Commission burn permits issued within 100 km of the monitor. For example, EPD cites 31 GFC permits covering 5,881.9 acres (94.5% silviculture) issued ahead of an April 26, 2024 exceedance, and 51 GFC permits covering 2,293.5 acres (97.6% silviculture) issued ahead of a December 2023 exceedance.
To support the request, EPD's analysis calculates an overall actual fire return interval of 44.6 years for the Augusta area, which it says is far greater than the 2-6 year historic fire return interval, as part of showing the burns meet regulatory recurrence criteria for an exceptional-events exclusion.
EPD's demonstration states that if EPA concurs, the Augusta monitor's 2023-2025 design value for the 2024 annual PM2.5 standard would fall from 9.5 µg/m3 to 9.0 µg/m3, at the level of the annual standard itself. EPA has not yet acted on the request.
What happened
How this issue got here
Open any step for its supporting record. A proposal remains labeled as proposed until later evidence establishes an outcome.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on April 26, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 31 GFC permits covering
5,881.9 acres (94.5% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on April 25, 2024.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on April 26, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 31 GFC permits covering 5,881.9 acres (94.5% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on April 25, 2024.
Appeared on agendaproposedDraft Prescribed Fire Exceptional Event Demonstration for 2024 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS at Augusta, GA (2023-2025)
Draft Prescribed Fire Exceptional Event Demonstration for the 2024 Annual PM
2.5
NAAQS at Augusta, GA in 2023- 2025
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Draft Prescribed Fire Exceptional Event Demonstration for 2024 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS at Augusta, GA (2023-2025)
Draft Prescribed Fire Exceptional Event Demonstration for the 2024 Annual PM 2.5 NAAQS at Augusta, GA in 2023- 2025
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on February 21, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 113 GFC permits
covering 4,538.6 acres (88.5% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on February 20,
2024, and 111 GFC permits covering 4,165.8 acres (92.8% from silviculture) were issued in a
100-km radius on February 21, 2024.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on February 21, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 113 GFC permits covering 4,538.6 acres (88.5% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on February 20, 2024, and 111 GFC permits covering 4,165.8 acres (92.8% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on February 21, 2024.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on November 5, 2025 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A
total of 33 GFC permits covering 302.2 acres (87.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km
radius on November 4, 2025, and 43 GFC permits covering 943.7acres (95.9% from silviculture)
were issued in a 100-km radius on November 5, 2025.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on November 5, 2025 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 33 GFC permits covering 302.2 acres (87.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on November 4, 2025, and 43 GFC permits covering 943.7acres (95.9% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on November 5, 2025.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 8, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 49
GFC permits covering 518.6 acres (71.2% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
December 7, 2024, and 21 GFC permits covering 121.6 acres (76.3% from silviculture) were
issued in a 100-km radius on December 8, 2024.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 8, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 49 GFC permits covering 518.6 acres (71.2% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 7, 2024, and 21 GFC permits covering 121.6 acres (76.3% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 8, 2024.
Appeared on agendaproposedExceptional Events demonstration requesting EPA exclude 37 prescribed-fire PM2.5 exceedance days (2023-2025) at Augusta monitor from 2024 annual PM2.5 NAAQS design value
This demonstration requests concurrence that the 37 exceedances of the 2024 annual PM2.5 NAAQS measured at the Augusta site caused by prescribed fires on the dates listed in Table 1 be excluded from regulatory decision making.
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Exceptional Events demonstration requesting EPA exclude 37 prescribed-fire PM2.5 exceedance days (2023-2025) at Augusta monitor from 2024 annual PM2.5 NAAQS design value
This demonstration requests concurrence that the 37 exceedances of the 2024 annual PM2.5 NAAQS measured at the Augusta site caused by prescribed fires on the dates listed in Table 1 be excluded from regulatory decision making.
Appeared on agendaproposedExceptional Event Demonstration requesting EPA exclude 37 days of prescribed-fire-impacted PM2.5 data at the Augusta monitor from 2024 annual NAAQS calculations
Georgia EPD requests that EPA review and concur that this demonstration shows that
the 37 new prescribed fire events in Table 1 meet the requirements of the EER, resulting in
exclusion of the associated 37 daily PM2.5 concentrations from regulatory decisions for the 2024
annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
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Exceptional Event Demonstration requesting EPA exclude 37 days of prescribed-fire-impacted PM2.5 data at the Augusta monitor from 2024 annual NAAQS calculations
Georgia EPD requests that EPA review and concur that this demonstration shows that the 37 new prescribed fire events in Table 1 meet the requirements of the EER, resulting in exclusion of the associated 37 daily PM2.5 concentrations from regulatory decisions for the 2024 annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 7, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 51 GFC permits covering 2,293.5 acres (97.6% from
silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
December 7, 2023.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 7, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 51 GFC permits covering 2,293.5 acres (97.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 7, 2023.
Appeared on agendaproposedAnalysis of prescribed-fire return interval for counties within 100 km of Augusta to show recurrence criterion is met
The overall actual fire return interval for the
Augusta area is 44.6 years, which is far greater than the 2-6 years historic fire return interval.
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Analysis of prescribed-fire return interval for counties within 100 km of Augusta to show recurrence criterion is met
The overall actual fire return interval for the Augusta area is 44.6 years, which is far greater than the 2-6 years historic fire return interval.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 18, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 40
GFC permits covering 583.8 acres (66.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
December 17, 2024, and 24 GFC permits covering 600.6 acres (92.2% from silviculture) were
issued in a 100-km radius on December 18, 2024.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 18, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 40 GFC permits covering 583.8 acres (66.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 17, 2024, and 24 GFC permits covering 600.6 acres (92.2% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 18, 2024.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on November 9, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A
total of 23 GFC permits covering 116.5 acres (60.1% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km
radius on November 8, 2023, and 18 GFC permits covering 244.5 acres (91.7% from
silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on November 7, 2023.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on November 9, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 23 GFC permits covering 116.5 acres (60.1% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on November 8, 2023, and 18 GFC permits covering 244.5 acres (91.7% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on November 7, 2023.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on November 7, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 18
GFC permits covering 491.9 acres (67.1% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
November 6, 2023, and 22 GFC permits covering 433.6 acres (72.9% from silviculture) were
issued in a 100-km radius on November 7, 2023.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on November 7, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 18 GFC permits covering 491.9 acres (67.1% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on November 6, 2023, and 22 GFC permits covering 433.6 acres (72.9% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on November 7, 2023.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 8, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 51 GFC
permits covering 2,293.5 acres (97.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
December 7, 2023, and 45 GFC permits covering 1,066.8 acres (82.2% from silviculture) were
issued in a 100-km radius on December 8, 2023.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 8, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 51 GFC permits covering 2,293.5 acres (97.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 7, 2023, and 45 GFC permits covering 1,066.8 acres (82.2% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 8, 2023.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on April 20, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 37 GFC permits covering
590.3 acres (84.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on April 19, 2023, and 39
GFC permits covering 877.5 acres (88.7% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
April 20, 2023.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on April 20, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 37 GFC permits covering 590.3 acres (84.6% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on April 19, 2023, and 39 GFC permits covering 877.5 acres (88.7% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on April 20, 2023.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 7, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 37 GFC
permits covering 1,000.8 acres (94.0% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
December 6, 2024, and 49 GFC permits covering 518.6 acres (71.2% from silviculture) were
issued in a 100-km radius on December 7, 2024.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on December 7, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 37 GFC permits covering 1,000.8 acres (94.0% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 6, 2024, and 49 GFC permits covering 518.6 acres (71.2% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on December 7, 2024.
Appeared on agendaproposedExceptional Event Demonstration to exclude PM2.5 exceedances at the Augusta monitor caused by prescribed-fire smoke on 37 dates (Nov.-Dec. 2025)
the comparisons and analyses provided in Section 3 of this demonstration support our
position that the prescribed fire events affected air quality in such a way that there exists a clear
causal relationship
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Exceptional Event Demonstration to exclude PM2.5 exceedances at the Augusta monitor caused by prescribed-fire smoke on 37 dates (Nov.-Dec. 2025)
the comparisons and analyses provided in Section 3 of this demonstration support our position that the prescribed fire events affected air quality in such a way that there exists a clear causal relationship
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on March 7, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 116
GFC permits covering 5,793.5 acres (93.2% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
March 6, 2023, and 72 GFC permits covering 7,217.5 acres (97.0% from silviculture) were
issued in a 100-km radius on March 7, 2023.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on March 7, 2023 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 116 GFC permits covering 5,793.5 acres (93.2% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on March 6, 2023, and 72 GFC permits covering 7,217.5 acres (97.0% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on March 7, 2023.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on March 13, 2025 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 103
GFC permits covering 4,254.3 acres (92.7% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on
March 12, 2025, and 117 GFC permits covering 3,858.1 acres (86.7% from silviculture) were
issued in a 100-km radius on March 13, 2025.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on March 13, 2025 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 103 GFC permits covering 4,254.3 acres (92.7% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on March 12, 2025, and 117 GFC permits covering 3,858.1 acres (86.7% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on March 13, 2025.
Appeared on agendaproposedPM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on February 20, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 77 GFC permits
covering 2,814.7 acres (80.5% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on February 19,
2024, and 113 GFC permits covering 4,538.6 acres (88.5% from silviculture) were issued in a
100-km radius on February 20, 2024.
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PM2.5 exceedance at Augusta monitor on February 20, 2024 attributed to prescribed/silviculture fire smoke
A total of 77 GFC permits covering 2,814.7 acres (80.5% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on February 19, 2024, and 113 GFC permits covering 4,538.6 acres (88.5% from silviculture) were issued in a 100-km radius on February 20, 2024.
Research the record