EPA Delays Air Pollution Paperwork Deadline – Yawn
Published Date: 10/31/2025
Notice
Summary
The EPA is asking to keep collecting air pollution data from businesses and states to help track emissions and protect our air. They want to extend this reporting requirement past October 31, 2025, and are inviting the public to share thoughts by December 1, 2025. This keeps the air clean without adding new costs or big changes for those involved.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Estimated Annual Burden and Costs
EPA estimates annual burden and costs for the AERR: State, local, and Tribal air agencies have a total estimated burden of 53,482 hours per year and estimated costs of $19,854,038 per year (including $15,130,399 annualized capital/operation and maintenance). Owners/operators are estimated at 145,077 hours per year and $16,578,243 per year in costs.
AERR Reporting Requirement Continues
The EPA has submitted a proposed extension to keep the Air Emissions Reporting Requirements (AERR) in place beyond October 31, 2025. Under the rule, 54 State and territorial air agencies and an estimated 9 local air agencies must submit emissions data every 3 years (triennial) for many source types, and must submit annual emissions data for a subset of point sources.
Increase in Estimated Burden Compared to Prior ICR
EPA reports increases in estimated burden compared with the currently approved ICR: an increase of 4,780 hours for State, local, and Tribal air agencies and an increase of 145,077 hours for owners/operators. The owner/operator increase reflects that EPA included owners/operators' burden for the first time in this approach.
Responses Are Mandatory; Not Confidential
The ICR states that the information collection is mandatory under statute and that the information, as specified, cannot be treated as confidential by the EPA. Respondents are required to provide emissions data and cannot claim confidentiality for the specified information.
Tribal Participation Is Voluntary or TAS-Based
Tribal governments are not required to report under the AERR unless they have obtained 'Treatment as a State' (TAS) status; for the most recent 2023 triennial inventory, no Tribes had TAS for emissions inventory reporting and 2 Tribal agencies voluntarily reported to the National Emissions Inventory (NEI).
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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