Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania; Interim Final Determination To Stay and Defer Sanctions Related to Reasonably Available Control Technology Requirements (RACT) for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Control Technique Guidelines (CTG) Under the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
What happened
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made an interim final determination (IFD) that Pennsylvania submitted revisions satisfying Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for volatile organic compounds (VOC) Control Technique Guidelines (CTG) under the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Signed by Donald Trump, this IFD, effective July 16, 2026, stays emission offset sanctions and defers highway funding sanctions that were triggered by an August 16, 2024 EPA disapproval of a prior Pennsylvania plan.
Why it matters
This decision means Pennsylvania will avoid certain penalties, including a two-to-one new source emissions offset sanction that took effect on March 16, 2026, and upcoming highway funding sanctions set for September 16, 2026. This relates to the state's efforts to control ozone-forming pollutants and meet federal air quality standards, potentially impacting development and transportation funding in Pennsylvania.
Who it affects
- ›The state of Pennsylvania
- ›Projects requiring emission offsets in Pennsylvania
- ›Highway funding for Pennsylvania
- ›Industries emitting volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- ›Residents breathing air in Pennsylvania
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