Search Results for keywords:"air quality"

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a change to the Washington State Implementation Plan, removing a ban on small recreational fires in Thurston County. This ban, which was mistakenly added in 2013, covered fires using seasoned firewood or charcoal, commonly seen in backyards and campfires. The EPA confirmed that removing the ban won't harm air quality in the area. This update allows recreational fires in specific cities and surrounding areas within Thurston County, effective February 18, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to submit an information collection request for the SmartWay Transport Partnership to the Office of Management and Budget. The EPA is asking for public comments on the proposed data collection, which aims to assess energy and air quality in the freight industry, including strategies to reduce idling and fuel consumption. Organizations involved in freight operations can join the program and must report transportation-related data annually. The response to this collection is voluntary, with the estimated total annual cost for respondents being $732,210.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a plan from Pennsylvania to maintain air standards in Altoona, Blair County. This plan is focused on sustaining the 1997 ozone standards as required by the Clean Air Act, ensuring air quality remains safe through to 2027. The approval includes a minor correction to previous emission data calculations, which does not affect the overall analysis. This rule will go into effect on March 11, 2021, making Pennsylvania's commitments federally enforceable.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to give the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, California, one more year to meet the air quality standards for ozone that were set in 1997. This proposal is based on a thorough evaluation of the air quality data and a request from the State of California. If accepted, this would extend the deadline from June 2024 to June 2025. The public is invited to comment on this proposal, especially concerning the exceptional events like wildfires, which affected the air quality data.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a change to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by Kentucky, which updates the status designations of areas within the state to align with federal standards for air quality. This update affects several National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and ensures that Kentucky's regulations are in line with the Clean Air Act. The changes impact designations for pollutants like ozone, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide, confirming how these areas meet or do not meet federal air quality standards. The effective date of this rule is March 31, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved updates to air quality management rules in California's South Coast and Ventura County areas. These changes regulate the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial adhesives to meet Clean Air Act requirements. The EPA's decision comes after a public comment period, where the proposed changes received supportive feedback. These rules are now officially part of California's State Implementation Plan, aimed at improving air quality by reducing harmful emissions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final decision to partially approve and partially disapprove Utah's plan to address regional haze, which affects air quality in national parks and wilderness areas. The EPA found Utah's plan partially insufficient as it failed to meet certain requirements, such as implementing stronger controls on emissions from specific power plants. Additionally, the EPA disapproved parts of Utah's plan addressing visibility pollution related to ozone levels from a 2020 submission. This ruling emphasizes the need for stronger measures to protect visibility and air quality in protected areas.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a rule submitted by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to amend California's State Implementation Plan. This rule, Rule 2021, would exempt certain experimental research operations from needing permits, provided they meet other regulatory requirements. The EPA believes these exemptions won’t negatively impact air quality goals. Public comments on this proposal are invited until March 24, 2021, and the proposal, if finalized, will integrate this change into federal regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a revision to the South Coast Air Quality Management District portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) from on-road heavy-duty vehicles. This measure, named the South Coast Incentive Measure, includes commitments by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to achieve specified emission reductions, ensure project compliance, and submit annual reports. The plan is enforceable under the Clean Air Act, allowing citizens and the EPA to take action if CARB fails to meet its commitments. The rule will become effective on February 16, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making available Volumes 1 and 2 of the Integrated Review Plan (IRP) for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants. These volumes provide background information, policy-relevant issues, and key considerations for the review of air quality criteria concerning ozone. The public can comment on Volume 2 until January 21, 2025, and these comments will help inform the EPA's further development and public consultation. This work is part of a broader effort to ensure air quality standards protect public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act.