EPA will hold a virtual public hearing on April 21, 2022 to provide the public an opportunity to present comments and information on the Agency’s proposed Good Neighbor Plan. The Good Neighbor proposal would deliver improvements in air quality in cities and counties across the country to protect people from preventable premature deaths, asthma attacks, and respiratory illness. The Good Neighbor proposal targets the ozone and ozone-forming NO_X emissions that are being transported by wind across state lines, often over long distances. Downwind areas – urban, suburban, and rural – that are impacted by pollution from upwind states, would benefit from the proposal.

Date and Time: April 21, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET)

Register Here: https://2015ozonefip-publichearing.eventbrite.com

Language/Reasonable Accommodation Request: If you need assistance in a language other than English, or if you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Holly DeJong no later than April 14, 2022 by email at dejong.holly@epa.gov or by telephone at 919-541-4353. Note: We may not be able to arrange accommodations beyond this date.

EPA considers all comments equally, whether submitted in writing to the docket or given orally at a public hearing.  If time allows, EPA will provide an opportunity for hearing attendees, who did not preregister, to provide oral testimony.

Background

This public hearing provides the public an opportunity to present comments and information on the Agency’s proposed Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) Addressing Regional Ozone Transport for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is proposing a FIP to assure that the 26 states identified in the proposal do not significantly contribute to problems attaining and maintaining the 2015 Ozone NAAQS in downwind states. This action, known as a “Transport Rule” would help states fully resolve their Clean Air Act “good neighbor” obligations for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS.

On February 28, 2022,  EPA Administrator Michael Regan signed a proposed Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to assure that the 26 states identified in the proposal do not significantly contribute to problems attaining and maintaining the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in downwind states.  This action, known as a “Transport Rule” would help states fully resolve their Clean Air Act “good neighbor” obligations for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS.

The rule would establish an allowance-based ozone season trading program with nitrogen oxides (NO_X) emissions budgets for fossil fuel-fired power plants in 25 states. The rule would also establish NO_X emissions limitations for certain other industrial stationary sources in 23 states. The public comment period for the proposal is open for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Additional information about the rule proposal including a fact sheet and summary maps can be found at: Good Neighbor Plan for 2015 Ozone NAAQS | US EPA

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