Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§7505a Maintenance plans

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 85— - AIR POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES › Part Part D— - Plan Requirements for Nonattainment Areas › Subpart subpart 1— - nonattainment areas in general › § 7505a

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

When a State asks to change a nonattainment area to an attainment area, it must also send a revised plan that explains how it will keep meeting the air quality standard for at least 10 years after the change. Eight years after the area is redesignated, the State must send another revision that covers keeping the standard for the 10 years after that first 10‑year period ends. Until the revision is approved and the area is redesignated, the old nonattainment rules still apply. Each revision must include contingency steps the Administrator finds necessary to fix any future violation quickly. Those steps must include doing the control measures that were in the plan before redesignation. The State only has to revise the plan later if the Administrator requires it.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §7505a

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each State which submits a request under section 7407(d) of this title for redesignation of a nonattainment area for any air pollutant as an area which has attained the national primary ambient air quality standard for that air pollutant shall also submit a revision of the applicable State implementation plan to provide for the maintenance of the national primary ambient air quality standard for such air pollutant in the area concerned for at least 10 years after the redesignation. The plan shall contain such additional measures, if any, as may be necessary to ensure such maintenance.

(b)8 years after redesignation of any area as an attainment area under section 7407(d) of this title, the State shall submit to the Administrator an additional revision of the applicable State implementation plan for maintaining the national primary ambient air quality standard for 10 years after the expiration of the 10-year period referred to in subsection (a).

(c)Until such plan revision is approved and an area is redesignated as attainment for any area designated as a nonattainment area, the requirements of this part shall continue in force and effect with respect to such area.

(d)Each plan revision submitted under this section shall contain such contingency provisions as the Administrator deems necessary to assure that the State will promptly correct any violation of the standard which occurs after the redesignation of the area as an attainment area. Such provisions shall include a requirement that the State will implement all measures with respect to the control of the air pollutant concerned which were contained in the State implementation plan for the area before redesignation of the area as an attainment area. The failure of any area redesignated as an attainment area to maintain the national ambient air quality standard concerned shall not result in a requirement that the State revise its State implementation plan unless the Administrator, in the Administrator’s discretion, requires the State to submit a revised State implementation plan.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 7505a

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73