Search Results for keywords:"air quality"

Found 4 results

Search Results: keywords:"air quality"

View All
Oldest Newest
  • 2025-00220 — Revisions to the Federal Implementation Plan for the Billings/Laurel, Montana, Sulfur Dioxide Area
    💰
    Type:Rule
    Citation:90 FR 5695
    Reading Time:about 9 minutes

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule to update the Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) for sulfur dioxide emissions from four sources in Billings and Laurel, Montana. This rule removes the previous allowance for exceeding emission limits during malfunctions, startups, and shutdowns, as it did not align with the Clean Air Act. The EPA conducted an environmental justice analysis and found no significant disparities in pollution burden around the affected facilities. This rule will take effect on February 18, 2025, and is intended to have a neutral to positive impact on local air quality.

    Simple Explanation

    The EPA decided to change a rule to make sure factories in Billings and Laurel, Montana, can't go over their pollution limits when something breaks or when they're starting up or shutting down. This is to help keep the air clean.

  • 2024-29020 — Information Collection Request Number 2265.04; Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With the SmartWay Transport Partnership
    💰
    Type:Notice
    Citation:89 FR 99856
    Reading Time:about 7 minutes

    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.

    Simple Explanation

    The EPA wants to keep track of how much energy and air pollution trucks make and asks truck companies to share their data to help save fuel and keep the air clean. They want to hear what people think about this idea, and it's okay for companies to choose if they want to share their information.

  • 2024-31626 — Air Plan Approval; Kansas; Annual Emission Inventory and Fees
    💰
    Type:Proposed Rule
    Citation:90 FR 3731
    Reading Time:about 10 minutes

    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve updates to Kansas's State Implementation Plan (SIP) and Operating Permits Program. The revisions involve new fee schedules for Class I and Class II operating permits to ensure adequate funding and consistent regulations with federal standards. The EPA states these changes will not negatively affect air quality and invites public comments on this proposal until February 14, 2025. Additionally, the proposal includes specific revisions to fee structures and emission inventory requirements for operating permits starting from calendar year 2025.

    Simple Explanation

    The Environmental Protection Agency wants to change some rules so that Kansas can collect new fees to help clean the air, and they say these changes won't make the air quality worse. They are also asking people to share their thoughts about these changes before February 14, 2025.

  • 2024-27941 — Air Plan Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval; Utah; Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Implementation Period; Air Plan Disapproval; Utah; Prong 4 (Visibility) for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard
    💰
    Type:Rule
    Citation:89 FR 95117
    Reading Time:about 24 minutes

    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.

    Simple Explanation

    The EPA is like a referee for clean air, and they looked at Utah’s plan to keep the air clear in parks. They said some parts of Utah’s plan are good, but some parts need to be better, like stopping smoke from big factories so everyone can enjoy nice, clean air.