EPA Gives California Ozone Plan a One-Year Homework Pass
Published Date: 6/4/2026
Rule
Summary
The EPA is giving a thumbs-up to California’s plan to keep the San Joaquin Valley’s air cleaner by following ozone pollution rules from 2008. This approval is conditional, meaning California must add more pollution-fighting steps within a year. The plan kicks in July 6, 2026, helping protect residents and businesses while keeping the air safe without extra costs right now.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Conditional SIP Approval for San Joaquin Valley
The EPA conditionally approved California’s “2024 SJV Ozone Contingency Measure Plan” for the 2008 ozone standard and added that Plan to the federally enforceable California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This final conditional approval is effective July 6, 2026.
Offset Sanction Stayed; Highway Sanction Deferred
The EPA’s interim final determination tied to this action stayed the application of the offset sanction and deferred the application of the highway sanction that had been triggered by a prior partial disapproval. Those sanctions will not be applied while the conditional approval and related interim determination are in effect.
Commitment to Adopt Five Source-Category Rules
CARB and the District committed to adopt and submit five additional contingency measures covering: architectural coatings; surface coating of metal parts and products (including plastic parts and pleasure crafts); can and coil coating operations; adhesives and sealants; and organic solvent cleaning. Those measures must be adopted and submitted within one year of the EPA’s final conditional approval (i.e., by July 6, 2027).
Smog Check Exemption Tightened
Under the Smog Check contingency measure for the San Joaquin Valley, vehicles that had been exempt at eight or fewer model years old were reduced to an exemption for seven or fewer model years old after EPA’s determination of failure to attain the 1997 ozone standard. Upon a second triggering event, the exemption would further reduce to vehicles six or fewer model years old.
Approved Measures Deliver Small Emissions Cuts
EPA estimated that the two contingency measures relied upon in the Plan would provide about 19 percent of one year’s worth (OYW) of progress for VOC and about 2 percent of OYW of progress for NOX, i.e., substantially less than the recommended OYW benchmark.
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
2026-18317, 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!
2026-12927, U.S. Ecology Nevada, Inc. High Mercury Subcategory Wastes Land Disposal Restrictions Variance
The EPA is giving U.S. Ecology Nevada a special green light to handle and dispose of high-mercury waste a bit differently than usual. This means mercury waste treated in Pennsylvania can now be safely sent to U.S. Ecology’s Nevada site for disposal under new rules starting July 27, 2026. This change helps protect people and the environment while keeping mercury waste management efficient and cost-effective.
2026-11047, National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants From Hazardous Waste Combustors: Residual Risk and Technology Review
The EPA just updated rules for places that burn hazardous waste, like incinerators and boilers, to keep the air safe and clean. They confirmed current standards work well but added new limits on harmful gases like hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen cyanide. These changes start June 3, 2026, and include easier electronic reporting and some new rules for startup and shutdown times—helping protect health without big costs.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-11140, Federal Independent Dispute Resolution Operations
Starting soon, health plans and insurers must share clearer info when they pay or deny surprise medical bills. They’ll use special codes to explain these decisions, especially when dealing with folks they don’t have contracts with. This helps patients and providers understand bills better and speeds up fixing disputes, with no extra costs for most people.
Next: 2026-11169, Revisions of the Nonattainment Designation for the 2008 and 2015 Ozone Standards and Clean Data Determinations for the 2008 and 2015 Ozone Standards: Cecil County, MD and New Castle County, DE
The EPA is updating air quality rules for Cecil County, MD, and New Castle County, DE by splitting a big pollution area into three smaller ones, making it easier to manage ozone pollution. Both states asked for this change, and the EPA agrees they’ve cleaned up enough to meet 2008 and 2015 ozone standards. These changes take effect July 6, 2026, helping communities breathe easier without extra costs.