🌍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 Proposes Attainment Determination for Sacramento Ozone Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine 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 proposed determination is based on quality-assured and certified ambient air quality monitoring data from 2022 through 2024. If we finalize this determination as proposed, the requirement for the State to have contingency measures for reasonable further progress (RFP) and attainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS will no longer apply for this area. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action. Elsewhere in this Federal Register, we are making an interim final determination that will stay and defer the imposition of Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") sanctions associated with a disapproval action related to the contingency measures requirement for this area.
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.
Learn More🌫️EPA Finalizes Emissions Statement Requirements for California
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions, under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"), to portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) regarding emissions statements (ES) requirements for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). In addition, we are approving that the following California nonattainment areas meet the ES requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS: Tuscan Buttes, Kern County (Eastern Kern), and San Diego County.
Learn More🌍Proposed Rule for Ozone Attainment Date Extension in Coachella Valley
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to grant a one-year extension of the "Extreme" attainment date for the 1997 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) to the Riverside County (Coachella Valley) ozone nonattainment area ("Coachella Valley"). This action is based on the EPA's evaluation of air quality monitoring data and the extension request submitted by the State of California. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
Learn More🌍New SIP Deadlines and Compliance Requirements Under Ozone Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing deadlines for submission of state implementation plan (SIP) revisions and implementation of the relevant control requirements that will apply for nonattainment areas reclassified as Moderate, Serious, and Severe under the current and any future ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) as a result of either failing to attain the standard by the applicable classification attainment date or the EPA granting a voluntary reclassification request. This final rule articulates the implementation requirements and timeframes that will apply for all such areas once reclassified. The EPA is also finalizing regulatory revisions to codify its existing interpretation that following reclassification, a state is no longer required to submit SIP revisions addressing certain, but not all, requirements related to the prior classification level for an ozone nonattainment area.
Learn More🌍Regulatory Notice on 8-Hour Air Quality Standards and Business Impact
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Implementation of the 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone (EPA ICR Number 2347.05, OMB Control Number 2060-0695) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through January 31, 2025. Public comments were previously requested, via the Federal Register, on August 15. 2024 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
Learn More🌍Ohio's Air Quality Regulation Impacts for Businesses in 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the following portions of Ohio's State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission for the Cleveland 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard) Moderate nonattainment area: the base year emissions inventory, the reasonable further progress (RFP) demonstration, the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program, and the nonattainment new source review (NNSR) program. EPA is proposing to approve these portions of the State's submission as a SIP revision pursuant to section 110 and part D of the CAA and EPA's regulations. EPA is also initiating the adequacy process and proposing approval of the 2023 motor vehicle emissions budgets (budgets) associated with the Cleveland Moderate ozone nonattainment RFP demonstration.
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