EPA Weighs California Plan to Tame Coachella Valley Ozone
Published Date: 10/29/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The EPA is proposing to approve California’s plan to clean up smog in the Coachella Valley by reducing harmful ozone pollution. This plan affects Riverside County and includes steps to cut vehicle emissions and track progress toward cleaner air. People can comment on this plan until November 30, 2026, and the changes aim to protect health without extra costs for residents.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
EPA proposes approval of Coachella Valley SIP
The EPA is proposing to approve California’s State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision that demonstrates Reasonable Further Progress (RFP) for the Coachella Valley 2008 8-hour ozone standard. The plan uses a 2011 base year emissions inventory (total VOC 16.3 tons per day and NOX 27.5 tons per day) and projects milestone and attainment inventories through 2031 (2031 totals: VOC 12.8 tpd, NOX 13.9 tpd) to meet federal RFP requirements for milestone years 2017, 2020, 2023, 2026, 2029, and attainment year 2031.
On‑road vehicle NOX projected to fall sharply
The SIP projects on-road vehicle NOX emissions in the Coachella Valley will fall from 19.0 tons per day in the 2011 base year to 5.7 tons per day in 2031, and on-road VOC from 5.6 tpd in 2011 to 2.2 tpd in 2031. These projected reductions are used in the RFP demonstration and motor vehicle emissions budgets for the area.
Motor vehicle emissions budgets set for conformity
The plan includes motor vehicle emissions budgets that the EPA proposes to approve for transportation conformity. The budgets are (summer average, tons per day): 2023 VOC 2.7 and NOX 6.0; 2026 VOC 2.5 and NOX 5.8; 2029 VOC 2.3 and NOX 5.8; and 2031 VOC 2.2 and NOX 5.7; if finalized these will be used by transportation agencies for conformity determinations.
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Key Dates
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