Search

Court Orders EPA to Complete Area Designations for 2015 Ozone NAAQS

Posted on 3/19/2018 by Roger Marks

air-pollution.jpgOn March 12, a US District Court ordered EPA to complete its area designations by April 30, 2018 under its new National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone, promulgated in late 2015.

The only exception in this decision is for eight undesignated counties that compose the San Antonio, Texas area. EPA must complete all other area designations within 127 days of the order.


Background on Clean Air Act NAAQS Designations  

Each time US EPA updates its NAAQs requirements for a given pollutant—as the Agency did for ozone on October 1, 2015—the update triggers a reassessment of regional attainment status. States must determine which regions attain the updated standard and which don’t and submit the data to US EPA.

EPA must complete the area designations within two years once the Agency updates any NAAQS. 

coal-fired-power-plant.jpgRegions are found to be “in attainment” when the new air quality standard has been achieved. “Non-attainment,” on the other hand, means that levels of the pollutant still exceed EPA’s threshold. Facilities located in non-attainment regions face more stringent requirements for building or modifying sources of air pollution.

Because EPA finalized the new ozone NAAQS on October 1, 2015, Administrator Scott Pruitt had until October 1, 2017 to complete the area designations under the new Standard. Initially, EPA announced it would delay these designations until October 1, 2018 due to a lack of information.

EPA later withdrew this delay, re-setting the deadline at October 1, 2017. However, the area designations were not completed on time, leading state Attorneys General and citizen groups to sue EPA demanding the Agency meet its statutory responsibility.


Clean Air Act Online Training

Are you responsible for Clean Air Act compliance? New to EPA regulations or need to identify the air programs that impact your facility? The Clean Air Act Regulations Online Course will guide you through the complex details and requirements of each Clean Air Act program, preparing you to achieve and maintain compliance, and avoid EPA fines now up to $95K per day, per violation.
 

Tags: Act, Air, Clean, EPA, NAAQS, New Source Review

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Course instructor was better prepared and presented better than other trainers. Course manual and references were easier to use as well.

Marty Brownfield

Hazardous Waste Professional

I was able to present my scenario to the instructor and worked thru the regulations together. In the past, I attended another training firm's classes. Now, I have no intention of leaving Lion!

Diana Joyner

Senior Environmental Engineer

The instructor was great, explaining complex topics in terms that were easily understandable and answering questions clearly and thoroughly.

Brittany Holm

Lab Supervisor

Lion courses are the standard to which all other workshops should strive for!

Brody Saleen

Registered Environmental Health Specialist

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

I was recently offered an opportunity to take my training through another company, but I politely declined. I only attend Lion Technology workshops.

Stephanie Gilliam

Material Production/Logistics Manager

If I need thorough training or updating, I always use Lion. Lion is always the best in both instruction and materials.

Bryce Parker

EHS Manager

Lion courses always set the bar for content, reference, and practical application. Membership and access to the experts is an added bonus.

John Brown, CSP

Director of Safety & Env Affairs

The instructor does a great job at presenting material in an approachable way. I have been able to save my company about $30,000 in the last year with what I have learned from Lion!

Curtis Ahonen

EHS&S Manager

The instructor made the class very enjoyable and catered to the needs of our group.

Sarah Baker

Planner

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

This guide will help you identify 25 of the most -cited errors in RCRA training, recordkeeping, hazardous waste ID, container management, universal waste, and laboratories.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.