🌱EPA Defers Sanctions for California Air Quality Compliance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a rule on behalf of the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD or "District") that addresses deficiencies in its Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) from stationary gas turbines. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, of EKAPCD Rule 425 that regulates this category of sources. The effect of this interim final determination is that the application of offset sanctions that was triggered by a previous limited disapproval by the EPA in 2023 is now stayed, and the application of highway sanctions is now deferred. If the EPA finalizes its approval of EKAPCD's submission, relief from these sanctions will become permanent.
Learn More🌍EPA Delegates NESHAP Authority to Oklahoma for Air Quality Management
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has submitted updated regulations for receiving delegation and approval of its program for the implementation and enforcement of certain National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for all sources, as provided for under previously approved delegation mechanisms. The updated State regulations incorporate by reference certain NESHAP promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as they existed through June 30, 2022. The EPA is providing notice that it is taking final action to approve the delegation of certain NESHAP to ODEQ. The final delegation of authority under this action applies to sources located in certain areas of Indian country as discussed herein.
Learn More🌍New York Air Plan Approval for Fuel Composition and Use Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the New York State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the control and reduction of sulfur and particulate matter emissions from facilities in New York State. The SIP revisions consist of amendments to regulations outlined within New York's Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) for sulfur in fuel limits and the use of waste oil as fuel. The intended effect of the revisions is to approve control strategies, required by the Clean Air Act (CAA), which will result in emission reductions that will help attain and maintain National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter emissions throughout New York State. Additionally, the revisions will establish applicability criteria, composition limits, and permitting requirements for waste oils; provide monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements for facilities that are determined eligible to burn waste oil; update conditions required for the firing of waste oils in space heaters at automotive maintenance/service facilities to align with both Federal and New York State hazardous waste regulations; and simplify and streamline implementation of the regulation through the correction of typographical errors and elimination of obsolete regulatory references within provisions. This action is being taken in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.
Learn More🌫️Air Plan Approval in Texas and Oklahoma
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule "Air Plan Approval; Texas and Oklahoma; Texas Regional Haze Plans for the First and Second Implementation Periods and Five-Year Progress Report; Oklahoma Regional Haze Plan for the First Implementation Period" that was published on May 23, 2025. The proposal provided for a public comment period ending June 23, 2025. The EPA is extending the comment period to July 23, 2025.
Learn More🌬️Proposed EPA Rule for Eastern Kern Air Quality
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD or "District") portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) from stationary gas turbines. We are proposing to approve a local rule to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
Learn More🌍Proposed Clean Data Determination for Guam's Piti-Cabras Area
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a clean data determination (CDD) for the Piti-Cabras, Guam sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) nonattainment area ("Piti-Cabras area") based on our determination that the area has attained the 2010 1-hour SO<INF>2</INF> National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS, "standard," or "2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS"). In designated nonattainment areas where air quality data demonstrate that a NAAQS has been attained, the EPA interprets certain requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as no longer applicable for so long as air quality continues to meet the standard. Under this Clean Data Policy, the EPA may issue a determination of attainment, known as a CDD, that a nonattainment area is attaining the relevant NAAQS. If finalized, this proposed CDD would suspend the obligation to submit certain attainment planning requirements for the Piti-Cabras area for as long as the area continues to attain the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS or until the area is formally redesignated.
Learn More💰Proposed Repeal of Emission Standards for Coal and Oil Utilities
In this action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to repeal specific amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs), commonly referred to as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), that were promulgated on May 7, 2024. The amendments that the EPA is proposing to repeal include the revised filterable particulate matter (fPM) emission standard, which serves as a surrogate for non-mercury hazardous air pollutant (HAP) metals for existing coal-fired EGUs; the revised fPM emission standard compliance demonstration requirements; and the revised mercury (Hg) emission standard for lignite-fired EGUs.
Learn More💧EPA Considers Approval of Texas Class VI UIC Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) has received a complete Underground Injection Control (UIC) program revision application from the State of Texas, requesting primary enforcement responsibility (primacy) for Class VI injection wells under Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1422. The EPA's approval would allow the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) to issue and enforce compliance with UIC Class VI permits for injection wells used for geologic carbon sequestration. In this action, the EPA proposes to approve Texas' application to implement the UIC program for Class VI injection wells located within the State, except those on Indian lands.
Learn More⚖️Proposed Rescission of “Ten-Day Notices” in Surface Mining Regulations
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is proposing to rescind the "Ten-Day Notices and Corrective Action for State Regulatory Program Issues" Rule adopted on April 9, 2024. We are undertaking this change to align the regulations with the single, best meaning of the statutory language in the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). This proposed rule would streamline the process for OSMRE's coordination with State regulatory authorities to minimize duplication of efforts in the administration of SMCRA and appropriately recognize that State regulatory authorities are the primary regulatory authorities of non-Federal, non-Indian lands within their borders. We solicit comment on all aspects of this proposed rule.
Learn More🌫️EPA Proposes Air Quality Regulation Approvals for Colorado Businesses
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve state implementation plan (SIP) submittals under the Clean Air Act (CAA) that address Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) requirements for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for the Denver Metro/North Front Range (DMNFR) ozone nonattainment area. The requirements at issue relate to the area's previous Serious nonattainment classification. The EPA is proposing approval of the RACT SIP submittals, proposing to find that the State has met the applicable CAA requirements for Serious area RACT, and proposing that the State has addressed EPA's prior disapproval concerning specific RACT determinations. In this issue of the Federal Register the EPA is concurrently making an interim final determination to defer application of CAA sanctions associated with the prior disapproval. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the CAA.
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