EPA Says Detroit's Air is A-OK for Ozone Standards
Published Date: 7/28/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a request from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to redesignate the Detroit, Michigan area to attainment for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) because the request meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). EGLE submitted this request on January 3, 2022, and submitted a supplement to this request on May 18, 2026. The EPA is also proposing to approve, as a revision to the Michigan State Implementation Plan (SIP), the State's updated maintenance plan for the 2015 ozone NAAQS through 2040 in the Detroit area, including motor vehicle emissions budgets for 2035 and 2040, for both volatile organic compound (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>). The EPA is also initiating the adequacy process for these maintenance plan budgets. Additionally, the EPA is proposing to adjust the SIP submission and control measure implementation deadlines for certain Moderate requirements. Finally, the EPA is proposing to take final agency action on an exceptional events request submitted by EGLE on April 15, 2026, and concurred on by the EPA on June 4, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Detroit Redesignation to Ozone Attainment
The EPA is proposing to change the legal status of the Detroit, MI area (Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties) from nonattainment to attainment for the 2015 ozone standard. The decision is based on ozone design values at monitoring sites being at or below 0.070 parts per million (ppm) and relies on EGLE submissions from January 3, 2022 and a supplement on May 18, 2026.
Basic Vehicle I/M Deadline Extended to 2030
The EPA proposes to allow Michigan to delay implementing a Basic vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) program in the Detroit area until no later than December 5, 2030. This changes the date by which Basic I/M must be in place in the Detroit area.
Maintenance Plan Approved Through 2040
The EPA proposes to approve Michigan's updated maintenance plan that keeps the Detroit area in attainment of the 2015 ozone standard through 2040 and to approve motor vehicle emissions budgets for the years 2035 and 2040 for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX).
Wildfire Data Excluded as Exceptional Events
The EPA proposes final action on Michigan's exceptional events request to exclude ozone monitoring data influenced by wildfire smoke on June 29-30, 2023 and July 15, 2025 from the regulatory dataset used to calculate design values. The EPA concurred with EGLE on these dates on June 4, 2026.
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: 2026-15167, Air Plan Approval; Michigan; Redesignation of the Berrien, MI and Muskegon, MI Areas to Attainment of the 2015 Ozone Standards
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.
Next: 2026-15182, Petition for Rulemaking of the National Consumers League, Campaign for Fairer Gambling, the National Council for Problem Gambling, the Public Health Advocacy Institute, and Truth in Advertising, Inc.
Please take notice that the Federal Trade Commission ("Commission") received a petition for rulemaking from the National Consumers League, Campaign for Fairer Gambling, the National Council for Problem Gambling, the Public Health Advocacy Institute, and Truth in Advertising, Inc., and has published that petition online at https://www.regulations.gov. The Commission invites written comments concerning the petition. Publication of this petition is pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure and does not affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.