🌫️EPA Approves Connecticut's Ozone Emissions Inventory Revision
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Connecticut that relate to the 2015 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The SIP revisions are for the Greater Connecticut and the Connecticut portion of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT ozone nonattainment areas. This action will approve submittals which include the 2017 base year emissions inventories for these two nonattainment areas for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Learn More🌬️Proposed Air Quality Regulations for Montana Business Compliance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve elements of a state implementation plan (SIP) submission from Montana regarding the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural components of each state's air quality management program are adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA. Additionally, EPA is proposing to approve Montana's request to update their SIP, to incorporate the most current version of the "Guideline on Air Quality Models." The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the CAA.
Learn More🌫️EPA Proposes Ozone Standards Failure for San Joaquin Valley
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the San Joaquin Valley, California area failed to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard by its June 15, 2024 "Extreme" area attainment date. This proposed determination is based on quality-assured and certified ambient air quality monitoring data from 2021 through 2023.
Learn More🌫️Proposed EPA Regulations Impacting Utah Air Quality Standards
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a portion of a Utah State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission addressing interstate transport for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The "interstate transport" provision requires that each state's SIP contain adequate provisions to prohibit emissions from within the state from significantly contributing to nonattainment or interfering with maintenance of the NAAQS in other states. In this action, EPA is only addressing the requirement prohibiting interference with maintenance, referred to as "prong 2," for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.
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🌍Ohio EPA Proposes Ozone NAAQS Maintenance Plan Updates
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP). On November 6, 2024, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) submitted the state's plans for maintaining the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) in the Columbus, Ohio; Cleveland-Akron-Lorain, Ohio; and Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana areas. EPA is proposing to approve these maintenance plans because they provide for the maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS for each area for 10 additional years as required by the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is also initiating the adequacy review process for motor vehicle emission budgets (Budgets) for each area. This action, if finalized, would make certain commitments related to maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in these areas federally enforceable as part of the Ohio SIP.
Learn More🌫️EPA Defers Sanctions in Colorado Air Quality Plan
In the Proposed Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is proposing approval of portions of State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from the State of Colorado dated June 26, 2023, May 23, 2024, and April 2, 2025. The submissions relate to Colorado Air Quality Control Commission Regulation Number 7 (Reg. 7) and Regulation Number 25 (Reg. 25) and address Colorado's SIP obligations for the contingency measures Serious ozone nonattainment area requirement for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). In this action, the EPA is making an interim final determination based on that proposed approval. The effect of this interim final determination is that the imposition of sanctions that were triggered by the EPA's November 7, 2023 disapproval are now deferred. Although this action is effective upon publication, the EPA will take comment on this interim final determination.
Learn More🌍EPA Proposes Approval for Connecticut's Air Quality Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing approval of State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Connecticut that relate to the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The SIP revisions are for the Greater Connecticut and the Connecticut portion of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT ozone nonattainment areas. The intended effect of this action is to propose approval of submittals which include a 2017 base year emissions inventory for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.
Learn More🌫️EPA Finalizes Air Quality Standards for Washington Area
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing multiple actions related to the Washington, DC-MD-VA nonattainment area (the Washington Area or the Area) for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (2015 ozone NAAQS). First, the EPA is determining that the Washington Area attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of August 3, 2024. Second, the EPA is determining that the Washington Area has clean data under the EPA's Clean Data Policy. Lastly, the EPA is taking final action on an exceptional events request submitted by the District of Columbia (DC) on March 20, 2024, and concurred on by the EPA on July 17, 2024. This action addresses the EPA's obligation under Clean Air Act (CAA) sections 179(c) and 181(b)(2) to determine whether the Washington Area attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS by the August 3, 2024 attainment date and, as set forth in the EPA's Clean Data Policy, will suspend the obligation of DC, the State of Maryland (MD), and the Commonwealth of Virginia (VA) to submit certain attainment planning requirements for as long as the Washington Area continues to attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS. This action is being taken under the CAA.
Learn More🌳EPA's Interim Final Determination Eases Sanctions for Sacramento Area
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination to stay and defer the imposition of sanctions under the Clean Air Act (CAA), based on a proposed determination that the Sacramento Metro area has attained the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by its December 31, 2024, attainment date. The proposed determination of attainment is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.
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