🌫️EPA Approves South Dakota’s Regional Haze State Implementation Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of South Dakota on July 29, 2022 (South Dakota's 2022 SIP submission), as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to CAA.
Learn More🌬️EPA Denies Petition Against Tennessee Valley Authority Operating Permit
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an order dated July 10, 2025, denying a petition dated December 20, 2024, from Kentucky Resources Council, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and Kentucky Conservation Committee (Petitioners). The petition requested that EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit proposed by the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ) to Tennessee Valley Authority, Shawnee Fossil Plant (Shawnee Plant) for its facility located in McCracken County, Kentucky.
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves Emission Rule Revision in Mojave Desert Air Quality Management
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) from internal combustion engines. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the "Act"). The EPA is also making additional administrative updates to the MDAQMD portion of the California SIP by correcting text in the Code of Federal Regulations.
Learn More🌬️EPA's Proposed Consent Decree for Kentucky Air Quality Compliance
In accordance with the Clean Air Act, as amended (CAA or the Act), notice is given of a proposed consent decree in Commonwealth of Kentucky v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, No. 3:24-CV-600-CHB (W.D. Ky.). On October 16, 2024, Plaintiffs the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Energy and Environment Cabinet (KY EEC); Rebecca Goodman, Secretary of the KY EEC; and the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville Division. Plaintiffs allege that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) failed to perform certain non-discretionary duties in accordance with the Act to timely approve or deny a request to redesignate the Kentucky portion of the Louisville, Kentucky-Indiana, 2015 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (the Area) to attainment for the 2015 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards). The proposed consent decree would establish deadlines for EPA to approve or deny the request to redesignate.
Learn More🌬️Texas Air Plan Approval
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the portion of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal from the State of Texas demonstrating that the State satisfies the interstate transport requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), also known as the "good neighbor" provision of the CAA, for the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The good neighbor provision requires each State's implementation plan to contain adequate provisions prohibiting the interstate transport of air pollution in amounts that will contribute significantly to nonattainment, or interfere with maintenance, of a NAAQS in any other State.
Learn More🌫️Proposed EPA Consent Decree's Impact on Air Quality Standards
In accordance with the Clean Air Act, as amended (CAA or the Act), notice is given of a proposed consent decree in Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health v. Lee Zeldin, No. 4:25-cv-03143-HSG (N.D. Cal). On April 8, 2025, Plaintiffs the Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Environmental Health filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to perform its mandatory duties in accordance with the Act to determine whether the Mariposa County, California, and Phoenix-Mesa, Arizona non-attainment areas attained the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by the Moderate attainment date. The EPA is providing notice of this proposed consent decree, which would resolve all claims in the case by establishing deadlines for the EPA to take final action as specified in the decree.
Learn More🌬️Proposed Revisions to Arkansas Air Quality Implementation Plan
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Arkansas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted to the EPA on February 4, 2025. The revisions address the codification of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (APC & EC) Rule 19 and Regulations 9, 26, and 31 into the Code of Arkansas Rules (CAR). The revisions are non-substantive and administrative in nature, and do not add or relax any provisions in the approved SIP.
Learn More🚗Proposed Rule for Pennsylvania Vehicle Emission Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This SIP revision addresses Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for the enactment of a Basic vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program for the five counties comprising the Pennsylvania portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington- Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE Moderate nonattainment area (Philadelphia nonattainment area) for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
Learn More🚛Proposed Rules for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspections in California
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove or, in the alternative, to fully approve a submission by the State of California to revise its State Implementation Plan (SIP) relating to the control of emissions from non-gasoline combustion vehicles over 14,000 pounds. EPA is proposing to disapprove the State's "Heavy-Duty Inspection and Maintenance Regulation" to the extent it applies to vehicles registered out-of-state or out-of-country. The EPA has substantial concerns that the State has not provided adequate assurances under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2)(E)(i) that implementation of the SIP is not prohibited by Federal law. EPA seeks comment on this and other aspects of this proposed rule. If finalized as a partial approval and partial disapproval, this rule would allow certain aspects of the covered State regulations to go into effect and would not trigger CAA section 179 sanctions because the submittal is not a required submission under CAA section 110(a)(2). If finalized as an approval, this rule would allow all covered State regulations to go into effect.
Learn More🌬️EPA Proposes Redesignation of Muscatine, IA Air Quality Status
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to redesignate the nonattainment area in Muscatine County, Iowa to attainment for the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The EPA is also proposing to approve Iowa's maintenance plan for the 2010 1-hour SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS for the Muscatine nonattainment area and approve modifications to source-specific permits in the Iowa State Implementation Plan (SIP). The EPA's proposed approval of this rule revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
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