Air Plan Approval and Air Quality Designation; TN; Attainment Plan and Redesignation of the Sullivan County Nonattainment Area for the 2010 1-Hour Primary SO2 NAAQS
- Published
- Oct 29, 2026
- Comments close
- Nov 30, 2026
- Citation
- 91 FR 68067
- Docket
- EPA-R04-OAR-2026-0034, FRL-13499-01-R4
Proposed rule.
Summary
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to formally recognize that Sullivan County, Tennessee, now meets the 2010 one‑hour sulfur dioxide (SO₂) National Ambient Air Quality Standard. To do this, the agency would approve Tennessee’s plan showing how the area has achieved the standard, the steps it will take to keep air quality at that level, and the specific emission limits for two local facilities. The proposal also includes approval of the state’s broader control measures, such as required technology upgrades and ongoing monitoring, that together ensure the region stays in compliance. The rule is issued by the EPA and primarily affects the state of Tennessee, the two industrial sources in Sullivan County that will operate under the new limits, and the county’s residents who benefit from cleaner air. The proposal was published in the Federal Register on October 29, 2026, and the public has until November 30, 2026, to submit comments. After the comment period closes, the EPA will consider the feedback, finalize the decision, and, if approved, officially redesignate Sullivan County from a “nonattainment” to an “attainment” area, making the approved plans and emission limits legally enforceable.
AI-generated summary — verify against the Federal Register text.
Official abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is proposing to approve the State of Tennessee's attainment plan for the Sullivan County Nonattainment Area (Sullivan County Area or Area) for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Additionally, the EPA is proposing to determine that the Area has attained the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS and to approve Tennessee's maintenance plan for continued attainment. With these approvals, the EPA is proposing to approve Tennessee's comprehensive source-specific SO<INF>2</INF> permitted limits for two facilities in the Area, other control measures, and provisions for Reasonably Available Control Measures (RACM) and Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT), reasonable further progress (RFP), a modeling demonstration of SO<INF>2</INF> attainment and maintenance, and to approve Tennessee's request to redesignate the Area from nonattainment to attainment of the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS. The EPA is taking these actions in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).
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