EPA’s $2.48 million grant will support efforts to enhance air quality, protect people, in Idaho’s West Silver Valley

Backing expected to energize local efforts to breathe cleaner air

(Seattle, Washington - October 22, 2015) The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has received a $2.48 million E.P.A. grant to reduce pollution and protect air quality in northern Idaho's West Silver Valley. The grant is part of EPA's 2015 Targeted Air Shed Grant Program.

The West Silver Valley suggestion aims to reduce harmful particulate matter emissions from wood stoves and open burning in the valley. Planned plans include:

• Woodstove change-outs
• Building wood-drying sheds
• Providing more efficient and cleaner burning fire logs during colder weather
• Upgraded home weatherization
• Promoting residential yard waste and logging debris removal instead of open burning
• Sustained outreach and education to ensuring plan longevity.

Since early 2014, the West Silver Valley Air Quality Citizens Advisory Committee has been working with IDEQ to develop a project to reduce emissions in the West Silver Valley and bring the area's particulate matter back to healthy levels for community members of all ages. The Backing from the Targeted Air Shed grant will further the community's ability to implement its projects to reduce particulate emissions.

Scientific studies have repeatedly linked exposure to particulate matter with serious human health problems including premature death in people with heart and lung disease; nonfatal heart attacks; and increased hospital admissions and doctor and emergency room visits for respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Particulate matter are tiny particles approximately 1/30th the size of a human hair.

For more information, visit our Web page on particulate matter.

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