Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reconsidering certain aspects of the January 2025 final rule entitled State Implementation Plan Submittal Deadlines and Implementation Requirements for Reclassified Nonattainment Areas Under the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards ("January 2025 final rule"). Among other things, the January 2025 final rule codified a policy that certain State Implementation Plan (SIP) requirements for a prior classification remain due upon an area's reclassification to a higher classification. In this proposed action, the EPA is proposing a new interpretation that, upon reclassification, an area is subject only to those requirements in Clean Air Act (CAA) section 182 that are specific to that area's current classification. If finalized, this proposed rule would apply nationwide to all past and future reclassifications associated with the 2008, 2015, and any future ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA is not reconsidering or reopening any other aspect of the January 2025 final rule in this rulemaking and is not addressing the scope of applicable requirements for NAAQS other than the ozone NAAQS.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Environmental Protection Agency 40 CFR Part 51 [EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0201; FRL-11817.1-01-OAR] RIN 2060-AW81 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reconsidering certain aspects of the January 2025 final rule entitled State Implementation Plan Submittal Deadlines and Implementation Requirements for Reclassified Nonattainment Areas Under the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“January 2025 final rule”). Among other things, the January 2025 final rule codified a policy that certain State Implementation Plan (SIP) requirements for a prior classification remain due upon an area's reclassification to a higher classification. In this proposed action, the EPA is proposing a new interpretation that, upon reclassification, an area is subject only to those requirements in Clean Air Act (CAA) section 182 that are specific to that area's current classification. If finalized, this proposed rule would apply nationwide to all past and future reclassifications associated with the 2008, 2015, and any future ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA is not reconsidering or reopening any other aspect of the January 2025 final rule in this rulemaking and is not addressing the scope of applicable requirements for NAAQS other than the ozone NAAQS. DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 13, 2026. Public hearing: If anyone contacts us requesting a public hearing…
Citation: 91 FR 35639
