The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule determining that the Anne Arundel and Baltimore County area met the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SOâ‚‚) National Ambient Air Quality Standards by the deadline of September 12, 2021. This decision is based on air quality data, modeling, and emissions information from 2018 to 2020. Although the area has attained the standards, it remains officially classified as a nonattainment area until Maryland requests and the EPA approves a formal redesignation to attainment. This determination does not add new requirements or impact regulatory actions significantly.
Simple Explanation
The EPA says that a part of Maryland cleaned up its air, meeting certain rules about how much sulfur can be in the air by 2021, but it still needs an official approval to be considered completely clean.