# 2026-19497: EPA sued for dawdling on clean air—now rushing to settle!

2026-19497, Proposed Consent Decree; Clean Air Act Citizen Suit, is a Federal Register notice from Environmental Protection Agency published 2026-09-24, effective Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be received by October 26, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19497
- As of: 2026-10-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-19497
- Title: Proposed Consent Decree; Clean Air Act Citizen Suit
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency
- Citation: 91 FR 60619
- Published: 2026-09-24
- Effective: Written comments on the proposed consent decree must be received by October 26, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-10-26
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-10-01

## In one line

EPA sued for dawdling on clean air—now rushing to settle!

## Summary

The EPA is settling a lawsuit about delays in approving air quality plans from California and Colorado. This deal sets clear deadlines for the EPA to act on these plans to help keep our air cleaner. If you want to share your thoughts, you have until October 26, 2026, to comment!

## Abstract

In accordance with the Clean Air Act, as amended (CAA or the "Act"), notice is given of a proposed consent decree in Center for Biological Diversity and Center for Environmental Health v. Lee Zeldin, No. 4:25-cv-10007-JST. On November 20, 2025, and December 24, 2025, Plaintiffs Center for Biological Diversity and the Center for Environmental Health filed a complaint and amended complaint, respectively, in the United States District Court, Northern District of California, Oakland Division, alleging that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) failed to perform certain non-discretionary duties in accordance with the Act to take final action on certain state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the States of California and Colorado pertaining to the 2008 and 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The EPA is providing notice of this proposed consent decree, which would resolve all remaining claims in the case by establishing deadlines for the EPA to take final action as specified in the decree.

## Effects PRIA read

- Deadlines for Colorado June 26, 2023 SIP: benefit, low. The proposed consent decree requires the EPA to issue final rulemaking (approve, disapprove, conditionally approve, or partial approvals) on portions of Colorado's June 26, 2023 State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission that address nonattainment planning for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley-Ft. Collins…
- EPA must act on Colorado RACT-related SIPs by Aug 31, 2027: benefit, low. The consent decree requires the EPA to issue a final rulemaking to approve a SIP revision, promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP), or approve in part and promulgate a partial FIP to address deficiencies in Colorado SIP submissions dated May 14, 2018; May 13, 2020; March 22, 2021; May 18, 20…
- Deadline for California CARB Oil and Gas SIP action: benefit, low. The proposed consent decree requires the EPA to issue a final rulemaking to approve California Air Resources Board's (CARB) Oil and Gas Methane Rule SIP revision, promulgate a FIP, or approve in part and promulgate a partial FIP to address deficiencies identified in the EPA's limited disapproval (8…
- Public comment deadline on proposed consent decree: benefit, low. You can submit written comments on the proposed consent decree identified by Docket ID EPA-HQ-OGC-2026-7625 through https://www.regulations.gov. Comments must be received by October 26, 2026; they may be posted publicly and the EPA may withdraw consent if comments show the decree is inappropriate u…

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## Sources
- [2026-19497 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/24/2026-19497/proposed-consent-decree-clean-air-act-citizen-suit)
- [2026-19497 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-24/pdf/2026-19497.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-19496, Notice of Availability for Public Comment; Reconsideration of Air Plan Disappro…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19496)
- [Next: 2026-19499, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Managemen…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19499)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19497 (as of 2026-10-01).