🌫️EPA Proposes Approval of Guam's Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to Guam's State Implementation Plan (SIP) under section 110(k)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or "the Act"). This revision concerns the base year emissions inventory for the Piti- Cabras, Guam sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) nonattainment area ("Piti-Cabras area" or NAA) for the 2010 1-hour SO<INF>2</INF> National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS, "standard," or "2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS"). We are taking comments on a proposed approval of this revision and are simultaneously publishing a final action approving this revision in a direct final rule.
Learn More🌫️Colorado Regional Haze Regulation and Business Implications
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove a regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) submission submitted by the State of Colorado under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. Colorado's 2022 SIP submission addresses the requirement that states revise their long-term strategies every implementation period to make reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas. We propose to base our partial disapproval of Colorado's long-term strategy on its inclusion of insufficiently justified enforceable source closures that are not consistent with statutory requirements. Colorado's 2022 SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. Concurrently, the EPA is proposing to approve a revision to Colorado's SIP consolidating existing regional haze provisions into the same regulation where the State's new, second planning period provisions are located.
Learn More🌫️Ohio EPA Finalizes Air Quality Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the following portions of Ohio's State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission for the Cleveland 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard) Moderate nonattainment area: the base year emissions inventory, the reasonable further progress (RFP) demonstration, the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program, and the nonattainment new source review (NNSR) program. EPA is approving these portions of the state's submission as a SIP revision pursuant to section 110 and part D of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's regulations. EPA is also finding adequate and approving the 2023 motor vehicle emissions budgets (budgets) associated with the Cleveland Moderate ozone nonattainment RFP demonstration. EPA proposed to approve this action on January 3, 2025, and received no comments.
Learn More🌬️Draft General Conformity Determination Reevaluation for Gas Pipeline
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has released a Draft General Conformity Determination Reevaluation for the Northeast Supply Enhancement Project by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company, LLC. The evaluation focuses on potential air quality impacts and emissions reductions, indicating necessary compliance with state implementation plans for air quality in New York and New Jersey. The public is invited to comment on this draft assessment.
Learn More🌍Implications of New Air Quality Regulations for San Joaquin Valley
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the "2023 Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request for the Revoked 1-Hour Ozone Standard" ("San Joaquin Valley Maintenance Plan" or "Plan") as a revision to the state implementation plan (SIP) for the State of California. The San Joaquin Valley Maintenance Plan includes, among other elements, an emissions inventory consistent with attainment and contingency provisions. The EPA is also proposing to find that the State of California's request to redesignate the San Joaquin Valley area from nonattainment to attainment for the revoked 1979 1-hour national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or "standard") for ozone ("1979 ozone NAAQS," "1-hour ozone NAAQS," or "1-hour ozone standard") meets all the Clean Air Act (CAA or "the Act") criteria for redesignation. Therefore, the EPA is proposing to terminate all anti-backsliding obligations for the San Joaquin Valley area for the revoked 1-hour ozone NAAQS.
Learn More🌫️Indiana's Regional Haze Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the Indiana regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM or Indiana) on December 29, 2021, as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. EPA proposes to find that IDEM's SIP submission addresses the requirement that States must periodically revise their long-term strategies for making reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas, and also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. EPA is taking this action pursuant to sections 110 and 169A of the CAA.
Learn More🚗Delaware's EPA Proposal for Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware. 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 Delaware portion (i.e., New Castle County) of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, Pa-NJ-MD- DE Nonattainment Area (Philadelphia NAA) for the 2015 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Learn More🌎EPA's NOx SIP Call Extension
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NO<INF>X</INF> SIP Call (EPA ICR Number 1857.13, OMB Control Number 2060-0445) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through May 31, 2025. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on September 5, 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
Learn More⚡Adjusted Emissions Budgets for Indiana Under CSAPR
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking interim final action to adjust the Revised Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) Update "budget" for nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) emissions from Indiana electricity generating units (EGUs) during the May-September "ozone season" for 2024 and subsequent years. Relatedly, EPA is also adjusting the default unit-level allocations of emission allowances to Indiana EGUs for 2024 and subsequent years in accordance with the adjustments to the state emissions budget. When originally establishing state emissions budgets and default unit-level allocations for 2024 and subsequent years in the Revised CSAPR Update rulemaking, EPA relied in part on announcements from EGU owners regarding their plans to retire certain EGUs before the 2024 ozone season. The purpose of the adjustments being made in this action is to account for the subsequent decisions by some EGU owners to defer or cancel the previously announced retirement plans.
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves Air Quality Regulation for Mojave Desert Region
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 oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) from industrial, institutional, and commercial boilers, steam generators, and process heaters. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act").
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