🌫️Florida Haze Plan Approval & Business Compliance Implications
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a regional haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on October 8, 2021, and supplemented on June 14, 2024, and October 28, 2024, as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act ("CAA" or "Act") and EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second planning period. Florida's SIP submissions were submitted to address the requirement that states must periodically revise their long-term strategies for making reasonable progress toward the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas (hereinafter referred to as "Class I areas"). These SIP submissions also address other applicable requirements for the second planning period of the regional haze program. EPA is taking this action pursuant to sections 110 and 169A of the Act.
Learn More🚧California's Cement Kiln Sanction Relief by EPA Announcement
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a revised rule on behalf of the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD) that addresses deficiencies in its Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning reasonably available control technology (RACT) ozone nonattainment requirements for controlling emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) from Portland cement kilns. This determination is based on a proposed approval of the submitted revised rule, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. 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 proposed approval of EKAPCD's submittal, relief from these sanctions will become permanent.
Learn More🏭Proposed Regulation on Portland Cement Kiln Emissions in California
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 Portland cement kilns. 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🌫️California Air Plan Approval
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising the format for materials submitted by the State of California that are incorporated by reference into the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). The regulations and other materials affected by this format change have all been previously submitted by the State of California and approved by the EPA. This format revision will primarily affect the "Identification of plan--in part" sections, as well as the format of the SIP materials that will be available for public inspection at the EPA Regional Office and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). This action, which only relates to local ordinances and certain local and regional California air district rules, is the second of a series of actions intended to change the format for the entire California SIP.
Learn More🌫️EPA Proposes Rule for Mariposa County Air Quality Standards Compliance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the Mariposa County nonattainment area in California ("Mariposa area"), classified as "Moderate" for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or "standard"), attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS by the August 3, 2024 attainment date. Our proposed determination of attainment is based upon the exclusion of exceedances of the 2015 ozone NAAQS that occurred on multiple days in 2021 and 2022, because the exceedances are due to exceptional events. This action, if finalized as proposed, will fulfill the EPA's statutory obligation to determine whether the Mariposa area attained the NAAQS by the August 3, 2024 attainment date.
Learn More🌫️Clean Data Determination for Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making a clean data determination (CDD) for the Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin ("South Coast") air quality planning area in California based on our determination that the area is attaining the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). As a result of this CDD, certain Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements that have applied to California will be suspended for so long as the area continues to meet the 2006 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. The EPA is also approving a revision to California's state implementation plan (SIP) consisting of the 2018 base year emissions inventory for the South Coast PM<INF>2.5</INF> nonattainment area, submitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on December 29, 2020.
Learn More♻️EPA Proposes Revisions to Alter Metal Recycling Permit in Iowa
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing approval of revisions to the Iowa State Implementation Plan (SIP) to include a permit modification for Alter Metal Recycling. The SIP revision addresses modifications to the air construction permit for Alter Metal Recycling included in the State's 2008 Lead (Pb) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) attainment plan for portions of Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, IA. These revisions do not impact the stringency of the SIP or have an adverse effect on air quality. The EPA's proposed approval of this rule revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Learn More❄️Proposed Rule Delays Enforcement for Central AC and Heat Pumps
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to delay the applicability of certain product-specific enforcement provisions related to the controls verification procedure established in a recently published final rule amending the test procedures for central air conditioners and heat pumps. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on the proposal.
Learn More♻️Alabama's Hazardous Waste Program Authorization and Business Impact
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action on the authorization of changes to Alabama's hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended. These changes were outlined in a July 11, 2024, application to the EPA. We have determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed for final authorization.
Learn More🔥Proposed Regulation for Outdoor Burning in Lane County, Oregon
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve into the Oregon State Implementation Plan (SIP) the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) revised outdoor burning rule revisions submitted by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) on July 1, 2024, in coordination with LRAPA. The revised rule, applicable in Lane County, Oregon, clarifies terminology, revises formatting, and expands the residential outdoor burning season to allow burning of woody yard trimmings on approved burn days within Lowell city limits from October 1 through June 15. ODEQ included in the submittal a technical demonstration that the requested expansion of the residential outdoor burning season will not interfere with attainment and maintenance of the NAAQS and other applicable Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements. The EPA is proposing to approve this rule because it meets the applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act.
Learn More