🌫️EPA Approves Washington Regional Haze SIP
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the regional haze State implementation plan (SIP) revision, submitted by Washington on January 28, 2022, to address applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the regional haze program's second implementation period.
Learn More🚗Delaware's New Vehicle Emissions Regulation Impact on Businesses
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware. The 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🌫️Proposed Expansion of Northern Wasatch Front Ozone Nonattainment Area
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a request to expand the boundary for the Northern Wasatch Front (NWF) 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) nonattainment area (NAA). The request was submitted by the State of Utah on February 27, 2023. The newly expanded portion of the NWF NAA will have the same classification as the original NWF NAA under the 2015 ozone NAAQS and all applicable Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements will become applicable to the newly designated portion upon the effective date of the final action. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the CAA.
Learn More🌫️EPA's Determination on Ozone Standards in California
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that the San Joaquin Valley, California area failed to attain the 1997 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by its June 15, 2024 "Extreme" area attainment date. This determination is based on quality-assured and certified ambient air quality monitoring data from 2021 through 2023. As a result of this determination, the State of California is required to implement nonattainment contingency measures and the stationary source fee program required under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 185.
Learn More🌬️EPA Proposes Redesignation of Indiana's Sulfur Dioxide Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to find that Huntington Township, Indiana (referred to in this proposed rule as the Huntington County, Indiana area) is attaining the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and to propose approval of Indiana's request to redesignate the area to attainment for the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS, because the request meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is also proposing to approve Indiana's maintenance plan for the area, which, once approved, will become part of Indiana's federally enforceable State Implementation Plan (SIP).
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves San Joaquin Valley Ozone Maintenance Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action 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 finalizing its finding 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 terminating all anti-backsliding obligations for the San Joaquin Valley area for the revoked 1-hour ozone NAAQS.
Learn More⚗️TSCA Risk Evaluation Procedures Proposed Amendments by EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, "the Agency") is proposing to amend the procedural framework rule for conducting existing chemical risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). When conducting an existing chemical risk evaluation under TSCA, EPA must determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without consideration of costs or non-risk factors, including unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation identified as relevant to the risk evaluation, under the conditions of use. In this action, EPA proposes to rescind or revise certain 2024 amendments to the procedural framework rule to effectuate the best reading of the statute and ensure that the procedural framework rule does not impede the timely completion of risk evaluations or impair the effective and efficient protection of health and the environment.
Learn More🐟2025 Temporary Closure of Commercial Red Snapper in South Atlantic
NMFS implements an accountability measure for red snapper in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects that commercial landings of red snapper will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) for the 2025 fishing year. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for red snapper in the South Atlantic EEZ. This closure is necessary to protect the red snapper resource.
Learn More📑EPA Acquisition Regulation Update on Contracting Methods
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a direct final rule to revise a requirement for contracting officers. The requirement updates special contracting methods, transferring the approval authority for certain contracting actions from the Service Center Manager (SCM) to the Head of the Contracting Activity (HCA). This change reflects an internal reorganization of EPA's contracting functions and aims to enhance efficiency and streamline decision-making within the Agency. Because this amendment only affects EPA contracting officers, we expect no adverse impact on the public and are proceeding with a direct final rule.
Learn More🌬️EPA Approves Guam Air Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing an approval of a revision to the Guam state implementation plan (SIP). This revision governs the Guam Environmental Protection Agency's (GEPA) issuance of permits for stationary sources and focuses on the preconstruction review and permitting of major sources and major modifications under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "the Act").
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