🌲Proposed Rule Changes for Roadless Areas Impacting Local Businesses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is initiating an environmental impact statement (EIS) and rulemaking concerning management of inventoried roadless areas on approximately 44.7 million acres of National Forest System lands, including in Alaska. The proposed rule would rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule (2001 Roadless Rule) (66 FR 3244, 36 CFR Subpart B (2001)), which prohibits road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas, with limited exceptions. State-specific roadless rules for Idaho and Colorado at 36 CFR 294 Subparts C and D will be retained and are excluded from this notice. Rescinding the 2001 Roadless Rule is intended to return decision making for road construction, road reconstruction, and timber harvesting in inventoried roadless areas to local officials, in conjunction with Forest-level land management planning. As directed by Executive Order 14153: Unleashing Alaska's Extraordinary Resource Potential, the proposed rule will expressly exclude the Tongass National Forest from the 2001 Roadless Rule. The EIS will evaluate the impacts of the proposed rule rescission and study alternatives for roadless area conservation on National Forest System lands, including the Tongass National Forest, in the context of multiple use resource management. USDA invites written comments on alternatives or effects and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposal.
Learn More🌫️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🌫️Proposed Amendments to Connecticut's Air Pollution Regulations by EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve regulatory amendments that revise two previous program approvals from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). The revisions include amendments to the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies (RCSA) that revise the Connecticut State Operating Permit Program and amendments to RCSA that revise limitations on potential to emit Clean Air Act (CAA) pollutants. A significant aspect of this action involves revising the definition of "hazardous air pollutant" in the RCSA in response to EPA adding 1- bromopropane to the list of hazardous air pollutants. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.
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🌫️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🚗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🌬️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🌬️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 Proposes Approval of Ohio's Ozone Regulation Revisions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) Chapters 3745-21 and 3745-110 into the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP). The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency ("Ohio" or "Ohio EPA") submitted these revisions on March 30, 2022, and supplemented the submittal on February 1, 2023, and August 28, 2023. EPA is proposing to approve parts of OAC Chapters 3745-21 and 3745-110 as satisfying some of the Moderate Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) and Nitrogen Oxide (NO<INF>x</INF>) RACT requirements for the Cleveland, OH nonattainment area (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit counties) under the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard ("NAAQS" or "standard"). Finally, EPA is proposing to approve OAC rule 3745-15-03, submitted by Ohio on February 9, 2023, and supplemented on December 1, 2023, and December 30, 2024.
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.
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