🌍Proposed Rule for Arizona's Air Quality on Dry Cleaning Solvents
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision clarifies definitions used in a rule that limits volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emissions from petroleum solvents used in dry cleaning. We are proposing to approve the rule revisions 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🌍EPA Determines Attainment for Sacramento Metro Area Ozone Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing our determination that the Sacramento Metro, California area attained the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by its December 31, 2024 attainment date. This determination is based on quality-assured and certified ambient air quality monitoring data from 2022 through 2024. We are also finalizing a determination that the requirement for the State to have contingency measures for reasonable further progress (RFP) and attainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS no longer applies for this area.
Learn More🌬️EPA Proposes Revision to Alabama Air Permit Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Alabama State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on December 20, 2023. The proposed SIP revision consists of minor changes to certain air permit regulations that have been revised by the State agency since EPA last approved those provisions. EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revision pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
Learn More🌬️EPA's Air Quality Regulations Update for California 2024
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 source- specific requirements and certain local and regional California air district rules, is the fourth of a series of actions intended to change the format for the entire California SIP.
Learn More🌬️North Carolina Air Quality Regulation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve separate but related State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ). First, EPA is proposing to approve a SIP revision submitted by NCDAQ on behalf of the State of North Carolina on October 27, 2023, to remove certain exemptions available at the discretion of a State official for emissions exceeding otherwise applicable SIP emission limitations. Second, EPA is proposing to approve a SIP revision submitted by NCDAQ on behalf of Mecklenburg County Air Quality (MCAQ or Mecklenburg County) on October 25, 2023, to remove a parallel local exemption analogous to the State's for emissions exceeding otherwise applicable SIP emission limitations. In addition, EPA is proposing to approve minor and administrative changes to certain regulatory provisions that have been revised by the State and Mecklenburg County since EPA's last approval of those provisions. EPA is proposing to approve these SIP revisions pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
Learn More🌬️New EPA Regulations on Sulfur Dioxide Emissions in North Carolina
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Division of Air Quality (DAQ) on November 28, 2023, for the purpose of revising regulations that establish sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) emission limits and compliance parameters for SO<INF>2</INF>-emitting combustion sources in the State. EPA is proposing to approve these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA regulations.
Learn More♻️EPA Approves Alter Metal Recycling Permit Modification in Iowa
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions to the Iowa State Implementation Plan (SIP) to include a permit modification for Alter Metal Recycling. This final action will amend the SIP to incorporate revisions 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 a portion 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 approval of this revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Learn More🌫️EPA Proposes Redesignation of Detroit for Sulfur Dioxide Attainment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to find that the Detroit, Michigan area is attaining the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and to act in accordance with a request from Michigan 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 Michigan's maintenance plan for the Detroit area. Michigan submitted the request for approval of the Detroit nonattainment area's redesignation and maintenance plan on May 5, 2025. EPA approved Michigan's attainment plan for the Detroit area on May 19, 2025.
Learn More🌬️EPA Finds Huntington County Failed Sulfur Dioxide Air Quality Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is determining that the Huntington County, Indiana nonattainment area failed to attain the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by the applicable attainment date of April 9, 2023. EPA is also approving revisions into the Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) intended to provide for attainment of the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS for the Huntington County nonattainment area. These SIP revisions include Indiana's attainment demonstration and other planning elements required under the Clean Air Act (CAA), and an order issued by the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management containing enforceable emission limits. Further, EPA is determining that the provisions of Indiana's SIP submittal adequately provide for attainment of the NAAQS and that the plan meets all other applicable CAA requirements. EPA proposed to approve this action on June 18, 2025, and received no adverse comments.
Learn More🌫️Georgia Air Pollution Rule Updates
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) on July 18, 2024, regarding updates to the State's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) emissions trading programs. The SIP revision incorporates by reference (IBRs) certain amendments EPA has made to the regulations for the Federal CSAPR trading programs for annual emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) and sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) and the Federal CSAPR trading program for NO<INF>X</INF> emissions during the ozone season from May 1 to September 30, all three of which apply to large electric generating units (EGUs). EPA created these Federal trading programs in 2011 as market-based mechanisms for Georgia and certain other states to address their obligations to downwind states under the Clean Air Act's (CAA's) good neighbor provision with respect to the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) and ground-level ozone. The SIP revision also updates the definition for "Volatile Organic Compound." EPA is proposing to approve Georgia's July 18, 2024, SIP revision because it is consistent with EPA's good neighbor CSAPR trading programs and the CAA.
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