EPA Regulates Arizona Farm Dust in Oddly Specific County
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The EPA is proposing to approve new rules from Arizona that aim to reduce dust pollution from farming in Pinal County. These changes update laws and definitions to better control tiny dust particles that can harm air quality. People can share their thoughts by February 18, 2025, before the EPA makes a final decision.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
More farms become regulated
Arizona expanded the statutory definition of “regulated agricultural activities” to explicitly include dairies, beef feedlots, poultry facilities, and swine facilities, and expanded “regulated area” to any PM10 nonattainment areas designated by the EPA on or after June 1, 2009 (including the West Pinal County PM10 nonattainment area). These changes were submitted to EPA on March 3, 2023 as revisions to ARS Sec. 49-457 and, if approved into the SIP, would make those animal operations subject to the State’s agricultural PM10 permit framework.
Crop operators must adopt two BMPs
The revised crop-operations rule (AAC R18-2-610.03, amended November 26, 2021 and submitted March 3, 2023) requires operators in the Pinal County PM10 nonattainment area to implement two best management practices (BMPs) from the rule’s menu for different areas, where the prior requirement called for one BMP. The rule also adds definitions such as “unpaved vehicle or equipment traffic area.”
Animal operations must implement BMPs
A new rule (AAC R18-2-611.03, submitted March 3, 2023) would require commercial dairy operations, beef cattle feedlots, poultry facilities, and swine facilities in the Pinal County PM10 nonattainment area to implement best management practices to reduce PM10 emissions. The new AAC R18-2-611 provides definitions to support these animal-operation BMP requirements.
Record, reporting, and enforcement gaps — federal risk
The crop and animal operation rules require an annual BMP Program General Permit Record Form, three-year record retention, and a survey every three years (survey responses are aggregated and anonymous). However, the rules do not require routine submission of the form to the Director (forms are provided only within two business days if the Director requests them), and EPA finds these features not sufficiently enforceable. EPA is proposing a limited disapproval for these enforceability gaps; if finalized, the EPA must promulgate a federal implementation plan within 24 months unless Arizona fixes the defects, and CAA sanctions could follow (an offset sanction 18 months after the effective date of a final disapproval and a highway-funding sanction six months after that).
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-17655, Passports: Expanding Online Passport Renewal Overseas
The Department proposes to amend 22 CFR 51.21 by consolidating requirements for persons applying by mail and online in the United States and overseas. This proposed change includes expanding online passport application availability to qualified applicants located in foreign countries. In addition, the Department is proposing to remove the requirement that an applicant's most recently issued passport must have a year or less of remaining validity to qualify to submit an online passport application. Finally, the Department is proposing technical corrections to 51.8(b) to change "on-line" to read "online" for consistency.
2026-17609, Airworthiness Directives; Embraer S.A. Airplanes
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model EMB-545 and EMB-550 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the possibility of the Ram Air Turbine (RAT) compartment door seal peeling off and becoming entangled with the RAT rotor. This proposed AD would require replacement of the RAT compartment door seal. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
2026-17641, Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) proposes revising Federal sector EEO complaint rules to streamline processing, improve effectiveness, and implement the Cummings Act. The rule would end mandatory pre complaint counseling and remove the option to request administrative judge proceedings before a final agency decision. Complainants could seek such proceedings only on appeal, and the EEOC would order them only when necessary or efficient. The rule would bar administrative class complaint adjudication while preserving putative class assertions for exhaustion. The rule also allows joint processing of related individual complaints and updates pleading standards, mixed case procedures, attorney fee provisions, and required reports.
2026-17649, Disclosure of Information; Extension of Comment Period
The FDIC is extending the public comment period on the proposed rule "Disclosure of Information," which was published in the Federal Register on June 30, 2026. FDIC is extending the public comment period from August 31, 2026, to October 5, 2026, to provide interested parties with additional time to analyze the proposal and prepare comments.
2026-17661, Special Conditions: Skyryse, Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 Helicopter; Control Margin Awareness
This action proposes special conditions for the Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R66 helicopter. This helicopter, as modified by Skyryse, will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for normal category helicopters. This design feature replaces the mechanical flight controls with a digital fly-by-wire FBW system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
2026-17499, Air Plan Approval; Oklahoma; Regional Haze Plan for the First Implementation Revision; Revision to State Implementation Plan and Requirements
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the State implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Oklahoma on March 12, 2026, (Oklahoma's 2026 SIP submission) for the regional haze program's first implementation (planning) period. Oklahoma's 2026 SIP submission revises previously approved source-specific requirements for the American Electric Power/Public Service of Oklahoma (AEP/PSO) Northeastern Power Station as part of the State's long-term strategy for the first planning period. The EPA is proposing to find that this SIP revision meets the requirements of the CAA and the Regional Haze Rule.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-00012, Conformance of the Cost Accounting Standards to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for CAS 404 Capitalization of Tangible Assets and CAS 411 Accounting for Acquisition Costs of Material
The government wants to update rules on how companies count the cost of big stuff they buy and use, like machines and materials, to match regular accounting rules. If you’re a business working with federal contracts, these changes could affect how you report costs. You’ve got until March 18, 2025, to share your thoughts before any new rules kick in.
Next: 2025-00731, N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its transformation product, 6PPD-quinone; Regulatory Investigation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Extension of the Comment Period
The EPA is giving everyone more time—until March 24, 2025—to share their thoughts on a chemical called 6PPD and its byproduct, 6PPD-quinone, which might pose risks to health and the environment. This extension helps businesses, scientists, and the public weigh in before any new rules are made under the Toxic Substances Control Act. No costs or rules are set yet, but this is a key step toward safer chemical use.