EPA Officially Approves Tennessee's Plan To Make Air Less Blurry
Published Date: 12/11/2025
Rule
Summary
The EPA just gave a thumbs-up to Tennessee’s updated plan to clear up regional haze and protect the air you see in special natural areas. This plan, effective January 12, 2026, helps keep the skies clearer by cutting pollution from local sources. It mainly affects Tennessee’s environment and communities near protected parks, with no new costs for businesses announced.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Eastman SO2 Limits Made Federally Enforceable
EPA incorporated specific permit conditions for Eastman Chemical Company into Tennessee's SIP, making them federally enforceable as of January 12, 2026. The incorporated items include the permanent shutdown of Boilers 18–20 (shutdowns occurred on October 21, 2024; February 24, 2025; and May 20, 2025), a combined SO2 limit of 1,396 tons per year for Boilers 23 and 24 (any 12 consecutive months) in Permit No. 079592, a 30-day rolling average SO2 limit of 1,248 lb/hr for Boilers 18–24, 30, and 31 in Permit No. 080222, and SO2 lb/hr limits of 317 and 293 for Boilers 30 and 31 in Permit No. 576501, plus associated monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements.
Tennessee Regional Haze Plan Approved
EPA approved Tennessee's February 23, 2022 regional haze SIP revision as meeting Clean Air Act requirements for the second planning period; the final rule is effective January 12, 2026. The plan is intended to make reasonable progress toward preventing and remedying human-caused visibility impairment in mandatory Class I Federal areas in Tennessee.
EPA Says No Significant Small-Business Burden
EPA certified that this SIP approval is "not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities" under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. EPA also states the action does not impose additional federal requirements beyond state law and is not a significant regulatory action under Executive Order 12866.
Rule Does Not Apply in Indian Country
EPA stated that the SIP approval is not approved to apply on any Indian reservation land or in any area where EPA or an Indian Tribe has demonstrated Tribal jurisdiction; in those areas the rule does not impose substantial direct costs on Tribal governments.
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