Iowa's Muscatine County Gets Clean Air Status from EPA
Published Date: 11/18/2025
Rule
Summary
The EPA is officially declaring Muscatine County, Iowa, clean for sulfur dioxide pollution and approving a plan to keep it that way. This means local businesses will follow updated air permits to keep the air fresh, starting December 18, 2025. Residents can breathe easier knowing the air quality is meeting national health standards without extra costs or delays.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Muscatine redesignated as SO2 attainment
The EPA has changed the legal air-quality status for a portion of Muscatine County, Iowa, from nonattainment to attainment for the 2010 1-hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (the 2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS). The final rule is effective December 18, 2025, and reflects that the area meets the 2010 1-hour SO2 standard (the 2010 standard was set at 75 parts per billion).
10-year SO2 maintenance plan approved
The EPA approved Iowa's maintenance plan that shows the Muscatine area will continue to meet the 2010 1-hour SO2 NAAQS for at least 10 years after redesignation. The maintenance plan includes contingency provisions to address and remedy any future violations of the 2010 1-hour SO2 standard.
Local source permits added/changed in SIP
The EPA is adding new and revised source-specific air construction permits for Muscatine-area facilities (including Grain Processing Corporation, Muscatine Power and Water, and the Monsanto facility) into the Iowa State Implementation Plan (SIP) and removing certain older permits. The approved permits include SO2 reasonably available control technology (RACT) limits, compliance monitoring, and recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and those permit conditions become federally enforceable as of the rule's effective date.
EPA finds no major small-entity economic impact
The EPA certified that this SIP approval and redesignation action does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The agency states the action approves state law and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state law.
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