Clean Air Act Operating Permit Program Revisions; California; Amador County Air Pollution Control District, Calaveras County Air Pollution Control District, Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District
Published Date: 7/30/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to four State of California air districts' Clean Air Act title V program rules to remove emergency affirmative defense provisions. The four districts are the Amador County Air Pollution Control District (ACAPCD), the Calaveras County Air Pollution Control District (CCAPCD), the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD), and the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District (NSAQMD) ("Districts"). This proposed action is being taken in accordance with Federal regulations and the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"). We are taking comments on these proposed revisions and plan to follow with a final action.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Removal of Emergency Affirmative Defenses
The EPA is proposing to approve revisions that remove "emergency" affirmative defense provisions from four California Title V operating permit rules: ACAPCD Rule 500 (amended 1/21/2025, submitted 4/25/2025), CCAPCD Rules 1002 and 1006 (amended 8/12/2025, submitted 8/21/2025), GBUAPCD Rule 217 (amended 7/03/2025, submitted 8/21/2025), and NSAQMD Rule 522 (amended 10/28/2024, submitted 2/4/2025). The EPA is taking comments on this proposal and will follow with a final action; written comments are due by August 31, 2026.
No New Federal Burdens for Approved Changes
The EPA states that approving these State rule changes "approves State law as meeting Federal requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by State law." The EPA certified this proposed action as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
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