Wildfires Buy Coachella Valley Extra Time on Ozone Standards
Published Date: 9/5/2025
Rule
Summary
The EPA is giving Coachella Valley, California, an extra year—until June 15, 2025—to meet tough ozone air quality rules from 1997. This extension helps because wildfires messed up air readings last year, and the EPA agreed to ignore that smoky data. People living and working in Riverside County get more time to clean up the air without rushing, keeping health and safety on track.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
One-year ozone attainment extension
If you live or work in Riverside County's Coachella Valley, the EPA extended the "Extreme" attainment date for the 1997 ozone standard by one year — from June 15, 2024 to June 15, 2025 — giving the area more time to meet the ozone rules.
Wildfire readings removed from ozone calculation
The EPA agreed to exclude wildfire-influenced air quality data recorded at the Palm Springs—Fire Station monitor (AQS Site ID #060655001) on July 14-15, 2023 from the design value calculation for the 1997 ozone standard, based on California's exceptional events request.
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