🌱Intent to Publish Emissions Value Request Process for Clean Fuels
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) provides notice of intent to publish the Emissions Value Request Process in support of the U.S. Department of the Treasury's (Treasury) and Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) administration of the clean fuel production credit. Additionally, DOE invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves Air Quality Redesignation for Liberty-Clairton Area
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's request to redesignate to attainment the Liberty-Clairton, Pennsylvania nonattainment area (Liberty-Clairton Area) for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or standard). The EPA has determined that the Liberty-Clairton Area attained both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS and has met the statutory requirements for redesignation. The EPA is approving, as a revision to the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP), the Commonwealth's plan for maintaining the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS through 2035 for the Liberty-Clairton Area. Additionally, the EPA is approving the maintenance plan for the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania nonattainment area (Allegheny County Area) for the 2012 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS through 2035. The maintenance plan includes 2017, 2026, and 2035 mobile vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for mobile sources of PM<INF>2.5</INF> and nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) for the Allegheny County Area for the 2012 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS, which the EPA is approving for transportation conformity purposes. This action does not redesignate the Allegheny County Area to attainment for the 2012 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. Both the redesignation request and maintenance plan were submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP or Pennsylvania) on behalf of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). This action is being taken under the CAA.
Learn More⚡Regulatory Relief for Coal-Fired Power Plants and Energy Security
The proclamation outlines regulatory relief for certain stationary sources related to emissions standards for coal-fired electricity generation. It emphasizes the critical role of coal in ensuring a reliable power grid while granting a two-year exemption from stringent compliance requirements, citing the unavailability of required technology and national security concerns.
Learn More🌱EPA Withdraws Proposed Regulations on Emissions Accounting
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the proposed rule titled "Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR): Regulations Related to Project Emissions Accounting" that published in the Federal Register on May 3, 2024. Based on comments received, the EPA has determined that there is insufficient justification for the proposed rule revisions to the New Source Review (NSR) program applicability provisions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and that the proposed revisions could result in unnecessary additional burden on regulated entities and State, Tribal, and local air agencies that implement the NSR regulations.
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🌫️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🌫️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.
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