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108 <br /> <br />Kittitas County Public Health Department <br />Substandard Air Quality Response <br />Table of Contents <br /> <br /> <br /> Topic Page <br /> <br /> <br />XVI. Purpose <br /> <br />XVII. Planning Assumptions <br /> <br />XVIII. Policies <br /> <br />XIX. Responsibilities <br /> <br />XX. Concept of Operations <br /> <br /> <br />XVI. Purpose <br />The Substandard Air Quality Response refers to the ability to coordinate with agency <br />partners to notify the public of air quality issues as a result of wildfires or any smoke related <br />emergency or disaster, to provide resources and recommendations, and in the case of <br />hazardous air quality implement health orders ceasing activities. In addition, the purpose <br />includes the ability to assess indoor air quality, specific to public places, which may request <br />assistance in gauging the risk of poor indoor air quality caused by smoke. <br /> <br />XVII. Planning Assumptions <br />Kittitas County has responded to wildfires in previous years caused by lightning strikes, <br />arson, and other human and natural factors. Multiple counties within the region may <br />experience wildfires simultaneously. Hazardous levels of outdoor air quality may constitute <br />the declaration of emergency, regardless of the wildfire location. <br />A. The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) will be the lead agency <br />in determining the outdoor ambient air quality and Kittitas County will follow the <br />Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA). <br />B. Monitoring may become unavailable via Ecology. If monitoring becomes <br />unavailable, KCPHD may coordinate with Ecology to utilize other monitoring <br />resources. <br />C. The region may not have the resources or expertise, locally, to assess indoor air <br />quality during wildfire emergencies or smoke related incidents. State and federal <br />resources to assist with indoor air monitoring may not be available. <br />D. Indoor air quality monitoring via KCPHD may not be available for all requesting <br />agencies. <br />E. Private locations and public places may use private environmental consulting <br />agencies for indoor air monitoring. <br />F. Indoor air monitors, E-samplers, are not adequate for outdoor monitoring.