On September 29, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA) of 2026, sponsored by California Senator Alex Padilla. The bill advanced unanimously from the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee earlier in September and now moves to the House.
Since 2016, EPA’s exceptional events rule has allowed emissions from prescribed fires to be excluded when determining compliance with federal air quality standards. However, EPA has never approved a prescribed fire exceptional event, leaving states concerned that fuel reduction burns could count against their air quality standing. WEPA would establish a separate pathway specific to prescribed fire while leaving the treatment of other exceptional events unchanged. The bill could reduce air quality compliance risk for states, counties, and land managers carrying out prescribed fire and hazardous fuels reduction projects.
For more information, contact RCRC Senior Policy Advocate, Staci Heaton.