Regulatory Actions
Regulatory Review Notice
EPA is in the process of reviewing several previous agency decisions, including those covered by the White House memo on regulatory review (memo in HTML | memo in PDF (2 pp, 51K, About PDF)). The rules under review are noted below.
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Announcements |
Other Regulatory Actions
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This page contains a listing of all regulatory actions related to ground-level ozone.
Ozone Standards
Strengthened National Standards for Ground-Level Ozone
March 12, 2008 - The Environmental Protection Agency significantly strengthened its national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, the primary component of smog. These changes will improve both public health protection and the protection of sensitive trees and plants.
- Final Rule (PDF) (80pp, 1.2 MB) Federal Register - March 27, 2008
- Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA)
- Fact Sheet (updated 3/18/08) (PDF) (6pp, 49k)
- Changes to the Air Quality Index (PDF) (2pp, 25k)
- Presentation: Revise National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ground-level Ozone
- Text Slides (3/18/08) (PDF) (17pp, 385k)
- Maps and Graphics (3/12/08)
- Counties with Monitors Violating the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard of 0.08 parts per million (based on 2004-2006 Air Quality Data) (PDF) (1pg, 189k)
- Counties with Monitors Violating the Revised 8-Hour Ozone Standard of 0.075 parts per million (based on 2004-2006 Air Quality Data) (PDF) (1pg, 222k)
- Counties with Monitors Projected to Violate the 2008 8-Hour Ozone Standard of 0.075 parts per million in 2020 (based on air quality model projections) (PDF) (1pg, 169k)
- Additional Documents
EPA Extends Deadline for Faxed Comments on the Proposed Ozone Standards
The public comment period for EPA's proposed rule addressing the ozone standards closed on October 9, 2007. However the Agency will accept comments by fax only through Monday October 15, 2007. Please use the following number to submit comments by fax: 202-566-9744.
- EPA Extends Deadline for Faxed Comments on the Proposed Ozone Standards (PDF) (2pp, 82k) Federal Register - October 12, 2007
Ozone Proposal Fax Number Change
October 5, 2007 - For those wishing to submit comments by fax on EPA's proposed rule addressing the ozone standards, the fax number listed in the June 21, 2007 Federal Register notice announcing the Agency's proposed rule is incorrect. Please use the following number to submit comments by fax: 202-566-9744.
Current Speaker Lists for September 5, 2007 Hearings Available
August 31, 2007 - EPA will hold hearings on the recently proposed ozone standards on Wednesday, September 5, 2007. Click on the location below to view the list of speakers, current as on August 31, 2007.
- Atlanta (PDF) (3pp, 55k)
- Chicago (PDF) (3pp, 55k)
- Houston (PDF) (3pp, 58k)
Current Speaker Lists for August 30, 2007 Hearings Available
August 27, 2007 - EPA will hold the first hearings on the recently proposed ozone standards on Thursday, August 30, 2007. Click on the location below to view the list of speakers, current as on August 27, 2007.
- Los Angeles (PDF) (5pp, 54k)
- Philadelphia (PDF) (5pp, 54k)
EPA Announces Availability of Regulatory Impact Analysis for Proposed Ozone Standards
August 2, 2007 - EPA completes benefits and costs analysis on the proposal to strengthen the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone.
EPA Announces Five Public Hearings for Proposed Ground-level Ozone Standards
July 27, 2007 - EPA will hold public hearings in Los Angeles, California and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 30, 2007. The next week on September 5, 2007, EPA will hold public hearings in Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; and Houston, Texas.
- Federal Register Notice (Federal Register - July 11, 2007)
Proposed Revisions to Ozone National Standards
June 20, 2007 - The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone. The proposed revisions would strengthen the ground-level ozone standards that are associated with public health concerns. EPA will accept comments for 90 days after the publication of the proposal in the Federal Register.
- Proposed Rule (PDF) (103pp, 772k) Federal Register - July 11, 2007
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (5pp, 41k)
- Presentation: Proposal to Revise National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ground-level Ozone
- Text Slides (6/27/07) (PDF) (16pp, 411k)
- Maps (6/21/07 11 AM EST) (PDF) (6pp, 509k)
- Additional Documents
Ozone Designations and Classifications
Learn more about ozone designations and classifications
Ozone Implementation
EPA proposes to disapprove seven ozone attainment demonstrations and makes one finding of failure to submit ozone attainment demonstrations. -- 1997 Ozone Standard
April 29, 2009 - EPA proposed disapprovals for the ozone attainment demonstration element of the State Implementation Plans (SIPs) for five states and is also making a finding that two states missed the June 15, 2007 Clean Air Act deadline for submitting ozone attainment demonstrations.
- Under Review - EPA Sets Schedule for Flagging Exceptional Ozone Air Quality Monitoring Data
January 16, 2009 - EPA established schedule for states to submit exceptional events claims that may affect the status of an area under the 2008 ozone standards.
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (2pp, 58k)
- Final Rule (PDF) (32pp, 377k)
EPA proposes rule to implement the subpart 1 area reclassification and provisions under former 1997 1-hour ozone standard.
January 9, 2009 - EPA proposes a response to the DC Circuit Court’s vacatur of an April 2004 rule known as the Phase 1 Ozone Implementation Rule.
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 36k)
- Proposed Rule (PDF) (35pp, 149k)
EPA Proposes to Revise 1997 8-Hour Ozone Implementation Phase 2 Rule to Address Vacatur and Remand of Reasonable Further Progress Credits
July 14, 2008 – EPA proposes to revise a provision of the Phase 2 Ozone Implementation Rule for the 1997 ozone air quality standard. The provision allows 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas to take credit for emissions reductions outside the nonattainment area for purposes of the Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) requirement.
- Fact Sheet
- Proposed Rule (PDF) (23pp, 91k)
EPA Makes Findings of Failure to Submit State Implementation Plans (SIPs) -- 1997 Ozone Standard
March 17, 2008 - EPA issued findings that 11 states missed Clean Air Act deadlines for submitting plans, or elements of plans, for implementing EPA’s national air quality standards for ozone.
- Fact Sheet
- SIP Requirement Timeline (PDF) (1pg, 11k)
- Federal Register Notice (PDF) (6pp, 131k) Federal Register - March 24, 2008
Findings on Meeting Basic Program Requirements for State Implementation Plans -- 1997 Ozone Standard
March 17, 2008 - EPA signed a Federal Register notice making "completeness" findings for all states and territories. These findings pertain to the "infrastructure" requirements that all states must have in their regulatory plans to attain, maintain, and enforce the 1997 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone.
- Fact Sheet
- Federal Register Notice (PDF) (7pp, 129k) Federal Register - March 27, 2008
Final Notice of Reconsideration - Aspects of Phase 2 Implementation Rule
May 31, 2007 - EPA completed reconsideration on several issues associated the ozone implementation rule requirements and their interaction with the Clean Air Interstate Rule and the New Source Review permitting program.
- Notice of Reconsideration (PDF) (90pp, 267k)
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (3pp, 25k)
Proposed Notice of Reconsideration - Aspects of Phase 2 Implementation Rule
December 11, 2006 - EPA is requesting public comment on several issues associated the ozone implementation rule requirements and their interaction with the Clean Air Interstate Rule and the New Source Review permitting program.
- Notice of Reconsideration (PDF) (55pp, 140k)
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (2pp, 22k)
Proposed Notice of Reconsideration - Overwhelming Transport Classification
EPA is requesting public comment on several issues associated with the overwhelming
transport classification available to certain areas designated “nonattainment” because
they do not meet EPA’s 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality
standard.
- Notice of Reconsideration (PDF) (46pp, 167k)
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 126k)
EPA’s Final Implementation Rule - Phase 2
November 9, 2005 - EPA issued a final rule that will take the next steps to
protect the American public from ground-level ozone pollution. This rule,
often called the Phase 2 Ozone Rule, outlines the remaining elements of the
program to implement the 8-hour ground-level ozone National Ambient Air Quality
Standard that EPA established in July 1997. State, tribal and local government
will rely upon these requirements as they develop their plans showing how
they will attain or maintain the 8-hour ozone standard.
- Final rule (PDF) (95pp, 561k) Federal Register - November 29, 2005
- Fact sheet
Ozone Clean Air Progress Will Continue
July 26, 2005 - EPA identified the boundaries, designations, and classifications
for areas under the 1-hour ozone standard that were in place as of June
15, 2004.
- Final rule (PDF) (9pp, 84k) Federal Register - August 3, 2005
- Fact sheet
EPA's Final Implementation Rule-Phase I
On June 15, 2004, EPA issued the final rule to implement the 8-hour Ozone
National Ambient Air Quality Standard-Phase I. The phase I final rule
sets forth the classification scheme for nonattainment areas and requires
States' continued obligations with respect to existing 1-hour ozone requirements.
- Final implementation rule (PDF) (50pp, 234k) Federal Register - April 30, 2004
NOx SIP Call
In October, 1998, EPA finalized the "Finding of Significant Contribution
and Rulemaking for Certain States in the Ozone Transport Assessment Group
Region for Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone." (Commonly
called the NOx SIP Call.)
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Final Rule
- Related Documents and Data
- NOx Budget Trading Program, 2005 Program Compliance and Environmental Results (PDF) (40pp, 5.63 MB)
Learn more about ozone implementation
Early Action Compacts
EPA designates 13 areas as attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone standard.
March 27, 2008 - Each of these areas - known as Early Action Compacts - demonstrated that they attained the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards by December 31, 2007.
- Final rule (PDF) (37pp, 140k)
- Fact sheet
EPA proposes to designate 13 areas as attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone standard.
January 31, 2008 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to designate 13 areas as attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. EPA is proposing this action because each of these areas has demonstrated that they attained the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards by December 31, 2007.
- Proposed rule (PDF) (22pp, 82k)
- Fact sheet
EPA extends deferral of Clean Air Act requirements for 8-hour ozone for the Denver area
September 12, 2007 - EPA has deferred Clean Air Act requirements to reduce ozone pollution for the Denver Early Action Compact area from September 14, 2007 to November 20, 2007.
- Final rule (PDF) (20pp, 53k)
- Fact sheet
Extension of Deferred Clean Air Act Requirements for 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Denver
June 25, 2007 - This action defers Clean Air Act requirements to reduce ozone pollution for the Denver Early Action Compact area from July 1, 2007 to September 14, 2007. Communities with Early Action Compacts are reducing smog one to two years sooner than required by the Clean Air Act.
- Final rule (PDF) (39pp, 1.2 MB)
- Fact sheet
Denver plan will reduce smog ahead of schedule
February 26, 2007 - Denver, Colorado is ahead of schedule in the effort to reduce ground-level ozone, or smog. Because of the progress the Denver area has made and will continue to make under EPA's Early Action Compacts program, the agency is proposing to continue deferring certain ozone pollution requirements for Denver from July 1, 2007, until April 15, 2008. As part of EPA's voluntary Early Action Compacts program, Denver committed to meeting EPA's more stringent 8-hour ozone standard by Dec. 31, 2007, earlier than required by the Clean Air Act. This is the third deferral for Denver. If they meet the 8-hour standard by Dec. 31, 2007, EPA will designate them as in attainment.
- Final rule (PDF) (1pg, 45k) Federal Register - March 1, 2007
- Fact sheet (PDF) (3pp, 38k)
Extension of Deferred Clean Air Act Requirements for 8-Hour Ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standards
August 16, 2005 - Fourteen communities across the United States are ahead of schedule in
the effort to reduce ground-level ozone, or smog. Because of the progress
these
areas have made under EPA’s Early Action Compacts program, the Agency
is taking final action to defer certain ozone pollution requirements until
Dec. 31, 2006.
- Final rule (PDF) (31pp, 59k)
- Fact sheet
Proposed Extension of Deferred Clean Air Act Requirements for the 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS for Early Action Compact Areas (June 1, 2005)
- Proposal (PDF) (26pp, 133k)
- Fact Sheet