News Releases

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Burn ban canceled for Whatcom’s Columbia Valley area

A Stage 2 air quality burn ban has been canceled for the Columbia Valley urban…

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San Juan County rejoins NWCAA

The county was among the original founders of NWCAA.

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Wildfire smoke continues to impact local air quality, report says

April 23, 2025 Wildfire smoke that smothered Washington communities at times with harmful fine particles…

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In the News

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Climate change and air pollution impacts on children’s health

Researchers: Air pollution and impacts from a changing climate are constant threats.

August 17, 2022

UN report: Risk of uncontrollable wildfires will rise and spread globally

Extreme wildfires may increase 14 percent by 2030, even with deep cuts to greenhouse gas…

February 23, 2022

Debunking 3 myths about air pollution

Watch environmental journalist Beth Gardiner debunk three myths about air pollution.

April 11, 2021

People more likely to die on smoky days, new UW research says

Local scientists are beginning to understand how smoke exposure affects mortality in the Northwest.

January 21, 2020

Study: Minorities breathe more pollution than they make

Authors looked at pollution from highways, coal-fired power plants, hog farms, other sources.

March 13, 2019

Coast Guard seeks comments on establishing ship anchorages

Comment period continues through Aug. 9; Samish Island residents concerned.

August 3, 2017

Public Notices

Your participation in the public process is essential. To keep you informed about where and when you can provide input on our work, we are committed to posting these types of public notices with information about how you can engage in the public process:

Types of Public Notices

NOTICE OF PERMIT APPLICATION RECEIVED

All proposed sources of air pollutants must submit a permit application to us for review prior to the construction of a new facility or the expansion or modification of an existing operation. The application is called a notice of construction (NOC) application or construction permit application. We are required to post a public notice for a minimum of 15 days when we receive a construction permit application. You can request a public comment period or a public hearing during this 15-day period.

SEPA NOTICES

Review under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) identifies possible adverse environmental effects of a proposed activity. We can be the lead agency for SEPA review of local projects that may affect air quality. Projects that are likely to significantly degrade environmental quality are required to perform an analysis called an environmental impact statement (EIS). The EIS evaluates ways to eliminate or reduce the effects of a project. If a project is unlikely to adversely affect air quality, we will issue a determination of non-significance (DNS). For projects where we are the SEPA lead agency, we will post notices about SEPA actions, comment periods and determinations here.

PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS

We post notices inviting public comment on documents and actions such as draft air operating permits, certain construction permit applications, rules and fee schedule changes.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

We schedule public hearings when they are required or when we are taking an action that we know is of significant public interest.

How to comment or request a hearing

Submit public comments or request public hearings, in writing, by the deadline in the public notice. Each public notice contains specific contact information for requesting a hearing. In addition, you can comment or request hearings by:

Mail: 1600 S. 2nd Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Fax: 360-428-1620
Email: [email protected]
Questions? Please call our front desk at 360-428-1617.

Notice Type

Permit Applications Received

Name

HF Sinclair Puget Sound Refinery

Date

April 2, 2026

Address

8505 South Texas Road, Anacortes

Description

New, 500 kW, diesel fired, standby engine and generator to replace the emergency generator in Control Room #2.

What You Can Do

Request public comment period by Apr. 17, 2026 on permit application 1439.

Contact

Robyn Nabstedt

Document

Relevant Documents

Zoom Link

Notice Expires

Apr. 17, 2026

Notice Type

Hearings, Public Comment Periods

Name

NWCAA Rule Change

Date

April 1, 2026

Address

1600 S 2nd Street

Description

Rule change action primarily to update NWCAA Section 367 and NWCAA Appendix A to reflect changes in monitoring technologies and updated federal regulations programs

What You Can Do

Submit comments by April 28, 2026 at 4pm. A public hearing will be held in-person at the NWCAA office and by video and teleconference (Meeting ID: 827 2931 3759; Phone: (253) 215-8782) at 10am on April 28, 2026

Contact

Lyn Tober

Document

Relevant Documents

Zoom Link

Notice Expires

Apr. 28, 2026 at 4pm

Notice Type

Permit Applications Received

Name

Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant (SSI)

Date

March 23, 2026

Address

200 McKenzie Street, Bellingham

Description

Replace the existing 78,000-gallon sludge storage tank with two 50,000-gallon tanks (100,000 gallon combined total). The existing tank will be decommissioned.

What You Can Do

Request public comment period by Apr. 07, 2026 on permit application 1437.

Contact

Jason Bouwman

Document

Relevant Documents

Zoom Link

Notice Expires

Apr. 07, 2026

Notice Type

Permit Applications Received

Name

HF Sinclair Puget Sound Refinery

Date

March 23, 2026

Address

8505 South Texas Road, Anacortes

Description

Install two above-ground fixed-roof API oil-water separators and support equipment including pumps, sludge decanting tank, slop oil tank, and vapor collection/control equipment at the existing wastewater treatment plant. The new equipment will replace existing API oil-water separators and support equipment which will be decommissioned.

What You Can Do

Request public comment period by Apr. 07, 2026 on permit application 1438.

Contact

Robyn Nabstedt

Document

Relevant Documents

Zoom Link

Notice Expires

Apr. 07, 2026

Burn ban canceled for Whatcom’s Columbia Valley area

San Juan County rejoins NWCAA

Wildfire smoke continues to impact local air quality, report says

News Releases

In the News

Climate change and air pollution impacts on children’s health

UN report: Risk of uncontrollable wildfires will rise and spread globally

Debunking 3 myths about air pollution

People more likely to die on smoky days, new UW research says

Study: Minorities breathe more pollution than they make

Coast Guard seeks comments on establishing ship anchorages

Public Notices

Types of Public Notices

How to comment or request a hearing

Board Meetings, Hearings, and Other Events

Upcoming Events

Board of Directors Meeting