Environmental Protection Agency April 5, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA is revising its regulations relating to the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirement that Federal actions conform to the appropriate State, tribal or Federal implementation plan (SIP, TIP, or FIP) for attaining clean air (``General Conformity''). EPA and other Federal agencies have gained experience with the implementation of the existing regulations, which were promulgated in 1993 (and underwent minor revisions in 2006), and have identified several issues with their implementation. In addition, in 2004, EPA issued regulations to implement the revised ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and in 2007 issued regulations to implement the new fine particulate matter standard. State and other air quality agencies are in the process of developing revised plans to attain the new standards and the revisions to the General Conformity Regulations will be helpful to the State, Tribe, and local agencies in developing, and Federal agencies in commenting, on the proposed SIPs revisions. This rule revision will also facilitate Federal agency compliance with conforming its activities to the SIPs thereby preventing violations of the NAAQS. This rule revision provides for a timely and effective process for Federal agencies and States and Tribes to ensure Federal activities are incorporated in these SIPs. Where that is not possible, it provides an efficient and effective process for Federal agencies to ensure their actions do not cause or contribute to a violation of the NAAQS or interfere with the purpose of a SIP, TIP or FIP to attain or maintain the NAAQS.