Search Results for keywords:"state implementation plan"

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made an interim final decision regarding changes made to air quality management rules by the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District in California. The EPA's decision temporarily halts certain penalties and delays others that were set in motion due to earlier disapproval of these rules on July 3, 2023. The decision follows revisions aimed at fixing previous shortcomings, and the public is allowed to comment by April 25, 2025. If no further issues are found, all related sanctions will be fully lifted.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a final rule regarding air pollution control for municipal solid waste landfills in Missouri. The rule acknowledges measures submitted by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to meet the Clean Air Act's requirements. This approval updates and incorporates specific state rules, setting guidelines to manage emissions effectively and replacing existing federal plans in Missouri. The final rule will take effect on January 15, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is correcting an error it made when it disapproved part of a plan from Louisiana related to air quality. Originally, on December 7, 2023, the EPA disapproved Louisiana's changes to its state implementation plan (SIP), which was meant to address excessive air pollution during certain conditions like equipment startup or shutdown. However, a court decision made some parts of the EPA's previous actions about these issues invalid, meaning that Louisiana wasn't actually required to fix these specific issues. The EPA is now correcting this mistake by stating that sanctions and obligations that were imposed on Louisiana as a result of the disapproval are no longer valid.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve Pennsylvania's state implementation plan to maintain air quality standards for ozone in the York-Adams area. This plan, submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, aims to uphold the 1997 standard for ozone until 2028, ensuring the region does not exceed limits set for air pollutants. The plan includes specific actions Pennsylvania will take to monitor and manage ozone levels, as well as steps to quickly address any potential violations. Public comments on this proposal are welcomed before final approval.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a revision to West Virginia's state implementation plan (SIP) for maintaining air quality with respect to the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the Charleston Area, covering Kanawha and Putnam Counties. This final rule follows a review of the plan submitted by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and considers public comments on the proposed rule. EPA determined that West Virginia's plan meets required criteria and will help ensure continued compliance with national air quality standards. The rule becomes effective on March 25, 2021.

On January 15, 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received a recommendation from the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) to address ozone pollution in the northeastern U.S. The OTC suggested that Pennsylvania revise its state implementation plan to impose daily limits on nitrogen oxides emissions from certain coal-fired electricity generating units. The EPA extended the comment period on this proposal from March 8, 2021, to April 7, 2021, after receiving a request for more time due to the legal and technical complexity of the recommendation. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the proposal and submit any comments by the new deadline.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed consent decree related to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice. The lawsuit claims that the EPA didn't fulfill certain legal duties regarding California's plan to reduce pollution from heavy-duty vehicles. The proposed decree would require the EPA to finalize new regulations by July 31, 2025. The public is invited to comment on the proposed decree until January 27, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve parts of Alaska's state implementation plan to address air quality issues related to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. This plan responds to requirements set by the Clean Air Act after the area was classified as a "Serious" nonattainment area due to failing to meet air quality standards by the required date. The proposal includes approval of emission inventory updates and certain regulatory updates meant to limit emissions from sources like wood-fired heating devices. The EPA is inviting public comments on these proposed actions.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes partial approval and partial disapproval of Arizona's plan to meet the air quality standards for PM₁₀ in West Pinal County. This decision includes approving the emissions inventory for 2008 and disapproving several parts of the plan, including the measures for controlling pollution and the plan to reduce emissions over time. The EPA noted that Arizona's current strategies have not been sufficient to meet the required air quality standards and that some of the actions assumed in the plan have already been implemented too early to serve as backup measures if the state fails to meet its goals. Public comments are invited before the final decision is made.

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.