🌫️EPA Approves San Joaquin Valley Ozone Maintenance Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the "2023 Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request for the Revoked 1-Hour Ozone Standard" ("San Joaquin Valley Maintenance Plan" or "Plan") as a revision to the state implementation plan (SIP) for the State of California. The San Joaquin Valley Maintenance Plan includes, among other elements, an emissions inventory consistent with attainment and contingency provisions. The EPA is also finalizing its finding that the State of California's request to redesignate the San Joaquin Valley area from nonattainment to attainment for the revoked 1979 1-hour national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or "standard") for ozone ("1979 ozone NAAQS," "1-hour ozone NAAQS," or "1-hour ozone standard") meets all the Clean Air Act (CAA or "the Act") criteria for redesignation. Therefore, the EPA is terminating all anti-backsliding obligations for the San Joaquin Valley area for the revoked 1-hour ozone NAAQS.
Learn More🌱Virginia Updates Regulatory Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision (Revision A23) submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. This revision pertains to an amendment made to the definition of volatile organic compound (VOC) in the Virginia Administrative Code (VAC) to align with the EPA's regulatory definition of VOC. The EPA is approving this revision to update the definition of VOC in the Virginia SIP.
Learn More🚗Proposed Revisions to Oregon's Vehicle Inspection Program 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve revisions to the Oregon State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on April 3, 2025. The SIP revision updates rules for the Vehicle Inspection Program (VIP) which is applicable in the Portland and Medford areas, and includes a demonstration that the requested revisions will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) or with any other applicable requirement of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves Missouri's Revised State Implementation Plan for Air Quality
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the State of Missouri related to Definitions and Common Reference Tables used in Missouri rules. EPA has also previously approved this rule as part of the air planning and permitting program. Some of the definitions are associated with those programs, even though many of the definitions pertain only to the SIP. These revisions do not impact the stringency of the SIP or have an adverse effect on air quality. The EPA's final approval of this rule revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves Washington Regional Haze SIP
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the regional haze State implementation plan (SIP) revision, submitted by Washington on January 28, 2022, to address applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the regional haze program's second implementation period.
Learn More🌬️Approval of West Virginia Air Quality Standards by EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of West Virginia. This revision updates West Virginia's incorporation by reference (IBR) of EPA's national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and the associated monitoring reference and equivalent methods. EPA is approving these revisions to the West Virginia SIP in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Learn More🌫️Proposed Expansion of Northern Wasatch Front Ozone Nonattainment Area
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a request to expand the boundary for the Northern Wasatch Front (NWF) 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) nonattainment area (NAA). The request was submitted by the State of Utah on February 27, 2023. The newly expanded portion of the NWF NAA will have the same classification as the original NWF NAA under the 2015 ozone NAAQS and all applicable Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements will become applicable to the newly designated portion upon the effective date of the final action. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the CAA.
Learn More🚗Delaware's New Vehicle Emissions Regulation Impact on Businesses
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware. The SIP revision addresses Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for the enactment of a Basic vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program for the Delaware portion (i.e., New Castle County) of the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE Nonattainment Area (Philadelphia NAA) for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
Learn More🌫️EPA's Determination on Ozone Standards in California
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that the San Joaquin Valley, California area failed to attain the 1997 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by its June 15, 2024 "Extreme" area attainment date. This determination is based on quality-assured and certified ambient air quality monitoring data from 2021 through 2023. As a result of this determination, the State of California is required to implement nonattainment contingency measures and the stationary source fee program required under Clean Air Act (CAA) section 185.
Learn More🏭EPA Proposes New VOC Emissions Limit for Ohio Manufacturing
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a May 2, 2025, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submittal from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). The SIP submittal consists of an alternate control technology emission limit of 5.9 pounds of volatile organic compounds per gallon (lbs VOC/gallon) for RFD Beaufort, Inc.'s life raft manufacturing plant at 1420 Wolf Creek Trail, Wadsworth, Ohio. This limit applies to the facility's nylon reinforced polyurethane adhesive process. The limitation is established through the Ohio SIP for control of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from stationary sources and is listed as an enforceable condition in the facility's operating permit, issued by Ohio EPA on March 25, 2025.
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