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Introduction to Texas Air Quality
A State Implementation Plan, commonly referred to as SIP, is an enforceable plan developed at the state level that explains how the state will comply with air quality standards according to the federal Clean Air Act. Only one State Implementation Plan exists for each state. For Texas, this Plan was initially developed in May 1972.
Rather than re-writing the entire SIP regularly, parts of the SIPs are simply revised as needed. Revisions are necessary when new federal or state requirement are enacted, when new data improves modeling techniques, when a specific area’s attainment status changes, or when an area fails to reach attainment.
SIP revisions typically include an assessment of the problem and measures to fix the problem. SIP revisions start with a period of research in which data is collected and reviewed, control strategies are proposed, and the revision is drafted. The SIP revision is then sent through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's rulemaking process after adoption by TCEQ’s commissioners. Once adopted by the commission, it is legally binding and enforceable by state law. After adoption, the revision is submitted to the EPA for review and approval. The SIP revision is federally enforceable after it has been approved by EPA. Revisions are typically prepared for a specific area (i.e., Houston-Galveston SIP or Dallas-Fort Worth SIP); however, sometimes SIP revisions are prepared for a particular control strategy, such as requiring all vehicles to undergo annual emissions testing.
The federal Clean Air Act is the legal foundation for the national air pollution control program. The Act requires each state to produce and regularly update a SIP. The Act also requires that SIPs include a description of control strategies, or measures to deal with pollution, for areas that fail to achieve national ambient air quality standards. Finally, the Act grants powers of enforcement to the EPA.
The Act grants EPA power to establish national air quality standards, to approve or reject SIPs, to replace SIPs with Federal Implementation Plans when deemed necessary, and to monitor achievement of goals laid out in SIPs and FIPs.
Introduction to Public Comment
Helping you submit comments to the Federal Register is important to us. We hope these suggestions will make the process easy for you.
The Federal Register, the official daily record of the U.S. government, notifies the public of a pending decision from a federal agency and gives instructions on how you can comment. The notice also includes additional information and documents that support the agency’s proposed decision. The comment period starts with official publication in the Register. It usually runs for 30 or 60 days, depending on the decision; check the actual Federal Register notice for the deadline.
Here are some suggestions to help you read and comment on EPA’s decisions after the Federal Register has been published.
Start by locating and reading the EPA decision in the Federal Register by opening your favorite Internet search feature and typing ‘federal register 2009’. When we did this, our search engine gave us a link to the Federal Register daily listing. This is a good starting place, especially if you know the date a decision is published or if you monitor these notices every day.
For decisions on Texas air quality, the search is even easier. We will publish quick links on our Web site at http://www.epa.gov/region6, which will take you directly to a specific Federal Register notice and its supporting information. You can read this notice online, download it to your computer, or print it. This way, you can access a good overview of the decision without having to read through lots of pages.
After reading the decision, the easiest way to voice your opinion is probably by e-mail. Each Federal Register notice has a specific e-mail address where public comments should be sent. Also, every Federal Register notice includes a general e-mail contact for more information. Please include the decision reference number in any e-mail message, otherwise your comment may not be reviewed and added to the record. Also, EPA includes your e-mail address as part of its official record. This means the public can access your opinions, too.
Regulations.gov is another venue to submit comments. This Web site serves as the U.S. government’s library of decisions, and a place for citizens to comment on these decisions. First-time users may find this site overwhelming—we certainly did. However, if you have lots of experience with computers and online databases, it is a powerful, if cumbersome, tool.
As always, you can write your comments and send them to us, if you’d like. Each Federal Register notice includes a mailing address. Again, don’t forget to write the decision reference number on your letter.
Still confused? Don’t give up. Give us a call on our toll-free number at 800-887-6063 or in the Dallas-Fort Worth area at 214-665-2200. Our operators are happy to lend a helping hand.
