California Valley Hits 1997 Air Clean Mark, EPA Says
Published Date: 7/16/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The EPA says the San Joaquin Valley in California has cleaned up its air enough to meet the 1997 fine particle pollution standards by the end of 2024. This means the area is on track to breathe easier, thanks to better air quality from 2022 to 2024. People living and working there can expect healthier air, and the EPA is asking for feedback before making it official.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
San Joaquin Valley Met 1997 PM2.5 Standard
If you live or work in the San Joaquin Valley, the EPA proposes that the area met the 1997 annual fine particle (PM2.5) air quality standard by the December 31, 2024 attainment date based on monitoring from 2022 through 2024. The EPA is also proposing a Clean Data Determination using the 2022–2024 data and preliminary 2025 monitoring data and is taking public comments before final action.
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
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19072, Rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Findings for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants and Repeal of Regulations for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Clean Air Act Section 111
The EPA is proposing to cancel all greenhouse gas rules for fossil fuel power plants, saying the law doesn’t let them regulate these emissions for climate reasons. This change affects power plants across the U.S. and could impact future pollution limits and costs. Comments on this proposal are open until November 2, 2026, so now’s the time to speak up!
2026-19071, Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units
The EPA is rolling back most of the 2024 rules that limited carbon pollution from fossil fuel power plants. This change affects coal and gas plants by easing some strict limits on emissions and carbon capture technology. The new rules kick in on November 16, 2026, potentially saving money for power plants but raising questions about pollution control.
2026-18317, Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”
The purpose of this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking is for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army ("the agencies") to supplement and seek additional comment on certain aspects of an earlier proposal, published on November 20, 2025, to revise the regulations defining the scope of waters federally covered under the Clean Water Act in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. As stated in the agencies' November 20, 2025 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the agencies intend for this rulemaking to provide greater regulatory certainty and increase Clean Water Act program predictability and consistency by clarifying the definition of "waters of the United States." After consideration of the public comments received on the NPRM, the agencies are issuing this notice to supplement the NPRM with additional regulatory options on certain aspects of the proposed rule.
2026-14112, Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions for SCR-Equipped Diesel Engines
Starting with model year 2027, the EPA is updating rules for big truck engines to make sure they last longer and pollute less. They’re also letting engine makers pay penalties if their engines don’t meet standards, and tightening rules for special pollution-control systems on diesel engines. These changes affect truck and engine makers and kick in soon, with public feedback due by August 29, 2026.
2026-13667, Minor New Source Review Program Air Permitting Public Participation Requirements for State Implementation Plans
The EPA wants to give states more freedom to decide how much public input is needed when approving small air pollution sources or changes. This means local air agencies can tailor public participation to fit their community’s needs while still protecting air quality. If you’re involved in air permits, watch for comment deadlines and possible virtual hearings this summer!
2026-13263, Revisions To Establish the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for Public Water Systems
The EPA is rolling out the sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) to check for new, sneaky chemicals in public drinking water. Big water systems serving 3,300+ people and some smaller ones will test for 30 different contaminants, including certain PFAS and pesticides, to keep our water safe. Comments and feedback are open until late August 2026, and the EPA will host fun online meetings to chat about the plan!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-13337, Air Plan Approval; State of Utah; Utah PM2.5 State Implementation Plan Revisions
The EPA is set to approve Utah’s updated plan to clean up tiny air pollution particles (PM2.5) in Salt Lake City. This plan updates rules for five local facilities to use better pollution controls, helping the air get cleaner faster. Businesses and residents can expect healthier air soon, with changes rolling out after May 2025 and no big new costs announced yet.
Next: 2025-13341, Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approval and Promulgations: Montana: Infrastructure Requirements for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards
The EPA is giving a thumbs-up to Montana’s plan to keep the air clean and meet 2015 ozone pollution rules. This update makes sure Montana’s air quality program is strong and uses the latest science for tracking pollution. People in Montana can expect better air quality management without new costs or delays.