Search Results for keywords:"air quality"

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is suggesting that the Sacramento Metro area in California has met the ozone air quality standards set in 2008 by the deadline of December 31, 2024. This decision is based on air quality data collected from 2022 to 2024. If this proposal is finalized, certain air quality contingency measures that were required in case of air quality standard violations would no longer be necessary. The EPA is currently seeking public comments on this proposal until April 21, 2025, before making a final decision.

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) is proposing to approve updates to Oregon’s Smoke Management Plan, which is part of the state's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for air quality. The revisions, submitted in 2014 and 2019, aim to control smoke emissions from prescribed burning, ensuring they meet Clean Air Act standards. These changes involve incorporating more recent data and methods to manage smoke, protecting public health and air quality without increasing fire authorizations. The EPA has determined that these updates comply with national air quality standards and improve upon previous smoke management rules.

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 extending the time for the public to submit comments on a proposed rule regarding air quality plans in Arizona. The original deadline for comments was February 18, 2025, but it has been extended to April 21, 2025, in response to public requests for more time. Anyone who submits their comments by this new deadline will have their input considered before the EPA makes a final decision on the rule. Comments submitted between the initial deadline and the reopening will also be accepted.

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.

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) 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 approved parts of California's plan to meet air quality standards in the Coachella Valley for ozone levels set in 1997. They approved demonstrations showing reasonable progress and efforts to offset vehicle emissions. The decision follows public comments and reviews of the plan, confirming the approach is scientifically valid and doesn't delay attainment of air quality goals. The action is consistent with the Clean Air Act and doesn't add new requirements beyond those already established by California law.