Learn the Issues
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Are permit applicants required to adopt the Promising Practices?
EPA is not requiring permit applicants to adopt the Promising Practices. Promising Practices are simply that: good ideas in the form of suggestions to permit applicants. Permit applicants may benefit from applying these Promising Practices. EPA hopes that when permit applicants practice early and meaningful dialogue with the community, they…
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Criteria Air Pollutants
This web area will provide access to information on setting and implementing the outdoor air quality standards for the six criteria air pollutants.
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Will EPA provide incentives to permit applicants who adopt Promising Practices, like an expedited permit process?
EPA is not providing incentives to permit applicants who adopt the Promising Practices, such as an expedited permit process. Nevertheless, permit applicants should be aware of the many benefits that can accrue to them if they adopt the Promising Practices to create a constructive dialogue with the community in which…
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What will be included in regional implementation plans?
The regional implementation plans are expected to be consistent with the Agency‐wide guidelines finalized in EPA Actions. First, the Plans will address with more specificity the process that a regional office will use to prioritize permits for enhanced outreach. This includes outlining whether the regional office will use a screening…
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Why doesn’t EPA do enhanced outreach for every permit?
Robust public outreach and engagement can consume a substantial amount of resources from all stakeholders in a permitting process and would not be warranted for every permit action. EPA recognizes that its regional offices cannot enhance engagement for every EPA‐issued permit and that overburdened communities might be overwhelmed with process…
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If an EPA regional office finds that a permit may not have significant public health or environmental impacts, or may not impact an already overburdened community, can the permit still be prioritized for enhanced outreach? Will the permit receive any outreach at all?
EPA regional offices have the discretion to use other considerations to prioritize EPA‐issued permits for enhanced outreach that do not meet either or both of those criteria. One important consideration would be whether a community has expressed concerns over a permit application or renewal. EPA regional offices may consider prioritizing…
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Trump EPA Unveils Proposal to Save Truckers $12 Billion by Revising Unworkable Biden-Era Rule
Agency Proposes to Eliminate DEF Deratements Entirely
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a proposal estimated to save American truckers $12 billion through commonsense revisions to unnecessary and unworkable Biden-era compliance requirements.
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What is the definition of “overburdened community” that is relevant for EPA Actions and Promising Practices?
EPA Actions and Promising Practices apply the description of overburdened communities articulated in EPA’s Plan EJ 2014. The term is used to describe the minority, low‐income, tribal and indigenous populations or communities in the United States that potentially experience disproportionate environmental harms and risks due to exposures or cumulative impacts…
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EMC Technical Support
Emission Measurement Center Technical Support
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How will an EPA regional office determine whether a permitted activity may have significant public health or environmental impacts?
Permit applications provide information on the proposed project consistent with the requirements of particular statutes and regulations. EPA may also do its own assessment of the environmental and public health impacts of a proposed project, using modeling and monitoring data for example. Such information would inform an EPA regional office’s…
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How will EPA Actions apply to EPA‐permitted activities that may impact multiple EPA regions?
A permitted activity could potentially impact an area that straddles two or more EPA regions. The EPA region where the permitted activity is located usually has the lead for issuing the permit. EPA regions with the lead for issuing the permit routinely engage other regions impacted by the permitted activity…
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If EPA is not changing the permitting process, why did EPA issue EPA Actions and associated regional implementation plans?
EPA is issuing EPA Actions to better meet its responsibilities under Executive Order 12898 by increasing meaningful engagement of overburdened communities in EPA’s permitting process in a way that is transparent and provides national consistency while maintaining some regional flexibility. As some commenters noted, EPA already has a legal obligation…
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Great Lakes Water Quality Monitoring Program Board Chemistry
Description of the board chemistry parameters for GLNPO's water quality monitoring
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Recent Announcements related to Transportation, Air Pollution, and Climate Change
Recent additions and announcements for EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality
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Public Hearing and Public Comments: Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions for SCR-Equipped Diesel Engines: Proposed Rule
Comment and Public Hearing Information for Proposed Rule: Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducements for SCR-Equipped Diesel Engines.
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Public Participation Guide: Online Self-Study Modules
EPA has developed online modules to provide a self-study in public participation that can be done in groups throughout the world.
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Public Participation Guide: Resources
There is a vast amount of resources available on public participation. This section provides information on some of those resources.
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Public Participation Guide: Tools
There are a number of tools or techniques that you can use to implement your public participation process. These include in-person tools and remote tools.
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Cape Cod Sole Source Aquifer
Information on Cape Cod Sole Source Aquifer
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U.S.-Mexico Border Program
Border 2020 is U.S.-Mexico collaboration to improve the environment and protect the health of the people living along the border.