Search Results for keywords:"air quality"

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 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) is proposing to approve changes to the air quality management rules for Placer County, California, as part of the state's air quality plan. These changes target reducing pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emitted from open burning activities, which can contribute to health and environmental issues. The rules, specific to agricultural and residential burning, have been crafted to meet federal clean air laws. The public has until March 22, 2021, to comment on this proposal, after which the EPA will decide on final approval, making these rules enforceable under federal law.

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 proposing to disapprove parts of a plan by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to manage air quality fees in the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area. This plan was meant to address a rule requiring fees for emitting too much ozone. The EPA says the proposed plan doesn't meet the rule's requirements since it allows ending the fee program too soon without redesignating the area as having good air quality. Even if disapproved, Texas does not need to fix these plan parts due to other rule changes that ended the requirement for the fee program.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking nominations for scientific experts to join the Science Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB provides scientific advice on various environmental topics to the Administrator of the EPA. Nominees should have expertise in areas such as air quality, health sciences, and economics, among others. All nominations must be submitted by June 2, 2025, and further details can be found on the SAB website.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a virtual meeting via videoconference organized by the Office of Research and Development. It will be held on February 17-19, 2021, to review scientific methods and decisions focused on air quality and wildfires. The meeting is open to the public, but attendees must register in advance. Those interested can submit comments or request a draft agenda by February 16, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved changes to Colorado's State Implementation Plan (SIP) regulations, which were submitted after the EPA identified issues in the state’s handling of extra emissions during startup, shutdown, and malfunction events. These changes remove certain provisions from the SIP, making them state-only, and align with federal requirements under the Clean Air Act. While the action aims to improve air quality, it does not require an environmental justice analysis. The rule takes effect on January 27, 2025.

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 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.