A new technical analysis prepared for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA) finds that wildfire and prescribed fire smoke significantly affected Ohio air-quality readings in 2023 and 2024, including ozone and fine-particle pollution known as PM2.5.

The report, prepared by Alpine Geophysics, recommends that regulators give full and consistent consideration to smoke-affected data under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Exceptional Events Rule. When data show monitored concentrations were affected by wildfire or prescribed fire smoke, the report says those readings should be flagged and excluded from regulatory calculations.

The issue has major implications for Ohio manufacturers. If atypical smoke-driven readings remain in the regulatory record, they could affect permitting requirements, State Implementation Plan obligations, transportation conformity analyses and future emissions-reduction strategies. That means manufacturers could face added regulatory burdens tied to extraordinary smoke events outside their control.

“Ohio manufacturers should not be penalized for air-quality readings driven by smoke events hundreds or thousands of miles away,” said James Lee, OMA managing director of public policy services. “Accurate data matters, especially when it can affect permitting, compliance obligations and future investment decisions. Members interested in this issue should contact me to get involved.”

OMA will continue urging regulators to ensure Ohio’s air-quality decisions are based on representative data and sound science, not extraordinary events that distort the record and create unnecessary uncertainty for employers. 6/11/2026