🌫️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🌫️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.
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🌿Oregon's EPA Approval for Expanded Outdoor Burning Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving and incorporating by reference 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. The 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 approving these revisions because they meet the applicable requirements of the Clean Air 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 New Emissions Limits for Carmeuse Lime in Ohio
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the addition of Director's Final Findings and Orders (DFFOs) issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) to Carmeuse Lime, Inc. into the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The DFFOs establish a new emissions limit for SO<INF>2</INF> emissions from the combined lime kiln stack that receives and emits SO<INF>2</INF> emissions from two rotary lime kilns at the Carmeuse Lime Maple Grove Facility in Seneca County, Ohio.
Learn More🌫️Wyoming EPA Approves Air Quality Regulation for Jim Bridger Units
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Wyoming on December 30, 2022, and supplemented on August 31, 2023, and November 16, 2023, addressing regional haze for Jim Bridger Units 1 and 2 (Wyoming 2022 SIP revision). Wyoming's 2022 SIP revision provides oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) emission and heat input limits that collectively allow for identical reasonable progress as part of the long term strategy during the first implementation period as the associated emission limits in the existing SIP for Jim Bridger Units 1 and 2. The EPA is also approving monthly and annual NO<INF>X</INF> and sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) emission limits for Jim Bridger Units 1 through 4 that were included in Wyoming's 2022 SIP revision. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves Iowa's Regional Haze State Implementation Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the State of Iowa as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. Iowa's SIP submission addresses the requirement that states must periodically revise their long-term strategies for making reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility, including regional haze, in mandatory Class I Federal areas. The SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the CAA.
Learn More🌫️Proposed Rule for South Carolina's Regional Haze Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a regional haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) dated March 3, 2022, as satisfying the applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second planning period. South Carolina's SIP submission addresses 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. The SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second planning period of the regional haze program. EPA is proposing this action pursuant to sections 110 and 169A of the Act.
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