Air Plan Approval; Michigan; Redesignation of the Berrien, MI and Muskegon, MI Areas to Attainment of the 2015 Ozone Standards
Published Date: 7/28/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's (EGLE's) December 26, 2025, requests to redesignate the Berrien and Muskegon areas to attainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS because the requests meet the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The Berrien area includes Berrien County, and the Muskegon area includes the western portion of Muskegon County. The EPA is proposing to approve, as revisions to the Michigan State Implementation Plan (SIP), the State's plans for maintaining the 2015 ozone NAAQS through 2036 in the Berrien and Muskegon areas. The EPA is initiating the adequacy process and proposing to approve Michigan's 2032 and 2036 volatile organic compound (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) motor vehicle emissions budgets (budgets) for the Berrien and Muskegon areas. Pursuant to section 110 and part D of the CAA, the EPA is proposing to approve the enhanced monitoring plan (EMP) of ozone and ozone precursors SIP revision submitted by Michigan on January 12, 2026, because it satisfies Serious SIP requirements of the CAA for the Berrien and Muskegon areas. The EPA is also proposing to approve the Serious VOC reasonably available control technology (RACT) SIP revision and CAA section 182(f) waiver from Serious NO<INF>X</INF> RACT requirements for the Berrien and Muskegon areas under the 2015 ozone NAAQS submitted by EGLE to the EPA on May 5, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Proposed Redesignation to Ozone Attainment
The EPA proposes to change the legal designation of the Berrien area (Berrien County) and the Muskegon area (western Muskegon County) from nonattainment to attainment for the 2015 ozone standard based on Michigan's December 26, 2025 requests and air monitoring for 2023–2025. This is a proposed action in the July 28, 2026 Federal Register notice; comments are due by August 27, 2026.
Maintenance Plans Approved Through 2036
The EPA proposes to approve Michigan's State Implementation Plan (SIP) maintenance plans that are designed to keep the Berrien and Muskegon areas in attainment of the 2015 ozone standard through 2036. The maintenance plans are part of Michigan's December 26, 2025 redesignation requests and are being reviewed in the July 28, 2026 proposed rule.
2032 and 2036 Motor-Vehicle Emissions Budgets
The EPA is initiating the adequacy process and proposes to approve Michigan's motor vehicle emissions budgets for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) for the years 2032 and 2036 for the Berrien and Muskegon areas. These budgets were submitted as part of Michigan's SIP revisions tied to the redesignation request in the July 28, 2026 notice.
Serious VOC RACT SIP Revision Approval
The EPA proposes to approve Michigan's Serious volatile organic compound (VOC) Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) SIP revision for the Berrien and Muskegon areas, submitted by EGLE on May 5, 2026, as meeting section 182(c) requirements for Serious nonattainment areas. This approval is part of the July 28, 2026 proposed rulemaking.
Proposed Waiver from Serious NOX RACT Requirements
The EPA proposes to approve Michigan's CAA section 182(f) waiver request submitted May 5, 2026, to exempt major stationary sources of NOX in the Berrien and Muskegon areas from Serious NOX RACT requirements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. The request is being considered in the July 28, 2026 proposed rulemaking.
Approval of Enhanced Monitoring Plan (EMP)
The EPA proposes to approve Michigan's Enhanced Monitoring Plan (EMP) for ozone and ozone precursors, submitted January 12, 2026, as satisfying Serious nonattainment SIP requirements for the Berrien and Muskegon areas. The EMP approval is part of the July 28, 2026 proposed rule and supports continued ambient air monitoring in these areas.
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