# 2026-19495: EPA Greenlights North Carolina's Ozone Air Plan

2026-19495, Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Charlotte-Rock Hill Area Maintenance Plan for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Environmental Protection Agency published 2026-09-23, effective Comments must be received on or before October 23, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-30).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19495
- As of: 2026-09-30
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-19495
- Title: Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Charlotte-Rock Hill Area Maintenance Plan for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency
- Citation: 91 FR 60349
- Published: 2026-09-23
- Effective: Comments must be received on or before October 23, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-10-23
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-09-30

## In one line

EPA Greenlights North Carolina's Ozone Air Plan

## Summary

North Carolina wants to keep the air clean in the Charlotte-Rock Hill area by following a plan that controls ozone pollution through 2035. This plan, approved by the EPA, sets limits on car emissions to keep the air safe and healthy. People living or working in this area will benefit from cleaner air, and the public can comment on the plan until October 23, 2026.

## Abstract

On February 28, 2025, the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ), submitted a request for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing the State's plan for maintaining the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) through 2035 for the North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina 2008 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (the entire area is hereinafter referred to as the "bi-state Charlotte Area" and the North Carolina portion is hereinafter referred to as the "Charlotte Area"). The EPA is proposing to approve and incorporate North Carolina's second 10-year maintenance plan to maintain attainment of the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the bi-state Charlotte Area, including the 2018 and 2035 motor vehicle emission budgets (budgets) for nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) for the Charlotte Area, into the SIP. The EPA is also notifying the public of the status of the EPA's adequacy determination for the sub-area budgets for the Charlotte Area.

## Effects PRIA read

- EPA proposes approval of Charlotte maintenance plan: benefit, medium. The EPA is proposing to approve North Carolina's second 10-year maintenance plan that is designed to maintain the 2008 8-hour ozone standard in the North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte-Rock Hill Area through 2035. The proposed action would incorporate the plan into North Carolina's Stat…
- Motor-vehicle NOX and VOC budgets adopted: mixed, medium. The plan establishes and the EPA is proposing to approve motor vehicle emissions sub-area budgets for nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) for 2018 and 2035 for the Charlotte Area (e.g., total NOX: 2018 = 92.76 tons/summer day; 2035 = 42.71 tons/summer day; total VOC: 2018 = 1…
- Transportation projects must 'conform' to SIP budgets: cost, medium. Under the Clean Air Act and existing EPA rules, transportation plans, programs, and projects in the area must conform to the SIP's motor vehicle emissions budgets. If a transportation plan does not conform, most new projects that would expand roadway capacity cannot go forward.
- Contingency triggers set at 0.076 ppm: benefit, low. The maintenance plan sets three contingency triggers tied to ozone monitor readings: (1) tertiary trigger — a single monitor 4th-highest daily value of 0.076 ppm or greater (trigger date 60 days after that reading); (2) secondary trigger — two consecutive ozone seasons with the 4th-highest value at…
- Possible NOX RACT on small stationary sources (<100 tpy): cost, medium. If a primary or secondary contingency trigger activates, the State may consider adopting NOX Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) requirements on stationary sources with a potential to emit less than 100 tons per year within the Charlotte Area.
- Diesel retrofit programs (with incentives) may be implemented: benefit, low. As a contingency if triggered, North Carolina may implement diesel retrofit programs for vehicles, including incentives to perform retrofits. These programs would be considered after analyses following a trigger.
- Reinstatement of vehicle emissions I/M could be considered: cost, medium. If the contingency plan's primary or secondary triggers occur, the State may consider reinstating the on-road light-duty gasoline vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program in the counties subject to the maintenance plan. Note: North Carolina previously submitted a SIP revision on O…
- Timeline for contingency action after triggers: benefit, low. If a primary or secondary trigger is activated, North Carolina will complete sufficient analyses by May 1 of the year following the ozone season in which the trigger occurred to begin adopting necessary rules. Adopted rules would become effective by the following March 1 unless legislative review i…
- State commits to continue ozone monitoring (funding permitting): benefit, low. North Carolina committed to continue operating the five ozone monitors in the bi-state Charlotte Area in compliance with 40 CFR part 58, provided sufficient funding is available. The EPA approved North Carolina's 2025-2026 Ambient Air Monitoring Network Plan on October 29, 2025.
- Public comment deadline on proposed rule: benefit, low. The EPA is accepting public comments on this proposed approval; comments must be received on or before October 23, 2026. Comments should be submitted at Regulations.gov under Docket ID EPA-R04-OAR-2025-0223.

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## Sources
- [2026-19495 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/23/2026-19495/air-plan-approval-north-carolina-charlotte-rock-hill-area-maintenance-plan-for-the-2008-8-hour-ozone)
- [2026-19495 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-23/pdf/2026-19495.pdf)

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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19495 (as of 2026-09-30).