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🌍EPA Reinstates Ohio Air Nuisance Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to correct a November 19, 2020, rulemaking removing the Air Nuisance Rule (ANR) from the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP). This action is in response to a February 10, 2023, decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Sixth Circuit or Court) to remand without vacatur EPA's removal of the ANR from the Ohio SIP. Because the Court did not vacate EPA's removal of the ANR, the ANR is currently not in Ohio's SIP. After reevaluating EPA's November 19, 2020, rulemaking, upon remand, EPA proposed to determine that its November 2020 final action was in error, and to correct that action by reinstating the ANR as part of the Ohio SIP. EPA proposed to take this action on February 22, 2024 and received both supportive and adverse comments. EPA is finalizing this action as proposed, and upon the effective date of this action, the ANR will be reinstated into the Ohio SIP.

🌍EPA Defers Sanctions for San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Compliance

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 San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD 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 SJVUAPCD Rules 1020, 2020, and 2201. The effect of this interim final determination is to defer sanctions that were triggered by the EPA's limited disapproval of SJVUAPCD Rule 2201 in 2023.

🌍EPA Denies Petition Against Shell Chemical's Operating Permit

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an Order dated December 19, 2024, denying a petition dated June 11, 2024, from Air Alliance Houston (the Petitioner). The petition requested that the EPA object to a Clean Air Act (CAA) title V operating permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to Shell Chemical LP, for its Deer Park Chemical Plant located in Harris County, Texas. In addition, and as a part of the Order, the EPA Administrator found that cause exists to reopen the Shell Chemical Deer Park Chemical Plant permit pursuant to 40 CFR part 70.7.

🌍EPA's Clean Air Act Permit Decision and Business Implications

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator signed an order dated December 30, 2024, granting in part and denying in part a petition dated September 6, 2024, from the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club. The petition requested that the EPA object to the renewal of a Clean Air Act (CAA) operating permit issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to Suncor Energy (U.S.A.), Inc. for its Commerce City Refinery, Plant 1 (West) & Plant 3 (Asphalt Unit) located in Adams County, Colorado.

🌍Environmental Impact Statements

🌍EPA Title V Permit Issued to Deseret Generation in Utah

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final permit decision under title V of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to Deseret Bonanza and Transmission Co-operative (Deseret) for the operation of Deseret's Uintah County, Utah, Bonanza Power Plant (Bonanza).

🏭EPA Approves Permit for Viejas Pit Stop Gas Station in California

This notice announces that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 9, issued an approval to the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians under the Clean Air Act's Tribal Minor New Source Review (NSR) Program. The EPA approved the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians' Request for Coverage under the General Air Quality Permit for New or Modified Minor Source Gasoline Dispensing Facilities in Indian Country within California for the Viejas Pit Stop. This approval authorizes the construction of the Viejas Pit Stop under the Tribal Minor NSR Program.

⚖️Proposed Consent Decree Under Clean Air Act – January 2025

🌍EPA Withdraws Rule on Excess Emissions Compliance Requirements

Due to the receipt of adverse comment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the November 26, 2024, direct final rule to partially withdraw two final actions finding that 13 States and/or local air pollution control agencies failed to submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) in a timely manner to address the EPA's 2015 findings of substantial inadequacy and "SIP calls" for provisions applying to excess emissions during periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM). The EPA will address all comments received in a subsequent final rule for which the EPA will not institute a second comment period.

🌍EPA Defers Sanctions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the State of Alaska has submitted state implementation plan (SIP) revisions that satisfy outstanding Clean Air Act requirements. This interim final determination defers the imposition of sanctions for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) Fairbanks North Star Borough PM<INF>2.5</INF> nonattainment area. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published in the "Proposed Rules" section of this Federal Register, of the SIP revisions, submitted by the State of Alaska (Alaska or the State) on December 4, 2024, to address Clean Air Act requirements for the 2006 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).