🌍EPA Proposes Approval for Connecticut's Air Quality Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing approval of State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Connecticut that relate to the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The SIP revisions are for the Greater Connecticut and the Connecticut portion of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT ozone nonattainment areas. The intended effect of this action is to propose approval of submittals which include a 2017 base year emissions inventory for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.
Learn More🌫️EPA Finalizes Air Quality Standards for Washington Area
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing multiple actions related to the Washington, DC-MD-VA nonattainment area (the Washington Area or the Area) for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (2015 ozone NAAQS). First, the EPA is determining that the Washington Area attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of August 3, 2024. Second, the EPA is determining that the Washington Area has clean data under the EPA's Clean Data Policy. Lastly, the EPA is taking final action on an exceptional events request submitted by the District of Columbia (DC) on March 20, 2024, and concurred on by the EPA on July 17, 2024. This action addresses the EPA's obligation under Clean Air Act (CAA) sections 179(c) and 181(b)(2) to determine whether the Washington Area attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS by the August 3, 2024 attainment date and, as set forth in the EPA's Clean Data Policy, will suspend the obligation of DC, the State of Maryland (MD), and the Commonwealth of Virginia (VA) to submit certain attainment planning requirements for as long as the Washington Area continues to attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS. This action is being taken under the CAA.
Learn More🏭EPA Approves Air Quality Plan for Lehigh Cement in New York
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a revision to the State of New York's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) related to a Source-specific SIP (SSSIP) revision for Lehigh Cement Company LLC, located at 313 Warren Street, Glens Falls, New York (the Facility). The control options in this SSSIP revision implement Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) with respect to nitrogen oxide (NO<INF>X</INF>) emissions from the relevant Facility source, which is identified as one Portland cement kiln (the Kiln). This action is being taken in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for implementation of the 2008 and 2015 ozone NAAQS. The EPA proposed to approve this rule on December 26, 2024, and received no comments. This final action will not interfere with ozone NAAQS requirements and meets all applicable requirements of the CAA.
Learn More🌫️EPA Proposes New Air Quality Regulations for California Businesses
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD or "District") portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns the District's Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") nonattainment new source review permitting program that regulates construction and modifications of major stationary sources of air pollution in nonattainment areas. We are proposing to approve a local rule that has been revised to address deficiencies previously identified by the EPA in a prior action that included a limited approval/limited disapproval of a prior version of the rule. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action. Elsewhere in this Federal Register, we are making an interim final determination that will defer the imposition of CAA sanctions associated with our previous limited disapproval.
Learn More🌿EPA Defers Sanctions for Placer County Air Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") State implementation plan (SIP) revision on behalf of the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD or "District") that corrects deficiencies concerning the District's nonattainment new source review stationary source permitting program. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, of PCAPCD Rule 502, "New Source Review." The effect of this interim final determination is to defer sanctions that were triggered by the EPA's previous limited disapproval of PCAPCD Rule 502 in 2023.
Learn More🌍Connecticut EPA Approval of Ozone State Implementation Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Connecticut. The SIP revisions are for the Connecticut portion of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT Serious ozone nonattainment area for the 2008 ozone standard. The revisions pertain to requirements relating to reasonable further progress (RFP) plans, an enhanced vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program, transportation conformity, and a clean fuels for motor vehicles program. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.
Learn More🌍EPA Proposes Approval of California CO Maintenance Plan Revision
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the California state implementation plan (SIP) that removes carbon monoxide (CO) contingency measures and monitoring requirements from the maintenance plan for three CO maintenance areas: Chico Urbanized Area, Modesto Urbanized Area, and Stockton Urbanized Area. We are proposing to approve the revision under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
Learn More🌎EPA's Partial Stay on Emission Standards for Iron and Steel Facilities
By a letter dated August 14, 2024, and supplemented by a letter dated March 5, 2025, the EPA's Office of Air and Radiation announced the convening of a proceeding for reconsideration of certain requirements in the final rule, "National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities Technology Review," published on April 3, 2024. In this action, the EPA is staying provisions establishing compliance deadlines in 2025 for requirements that were added or revised by the April 3, 2024, final rule for 90 days pending reconsideration.
Learn More🌍EPA Proposes Approval of Florida SIP Revisions on Air Quality
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on August 15, 2023. The revision seeks to remove certain Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR)-related definitions, and CAIR-related portions of certain definitions, in the Stationary Sources--General Requirements chapter of the Florida SIP because they have become obsolete. EPA is proposing to approve these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
Learn More🌫️EPA's Interim Decision on Air Quality Regulations in California
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") state implementation plan (SIP) revision on behalf of the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD or "District") that corrects deficiencies concerning the District's New Source Review (NSR) stationary source permitting program. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, of AVAQMD Rules 1301, 1302 (except 1302(C)(5) and 1302(C)(7)(c)), 1303, 1304, 1305, and 1309. The effect of this interim final determination is to stay the application of the offset sanction and to defer the action of the highway sanction that were triggered by the EPA's limited disapproval of AVAQMD Rules 1301, 1302 (except 1302(C)(5) and 1302(C)(7)(c)), 1303, 1304, 1305, 1309 on July 3, 2023.
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