EPA Finalizes Approval of Public Participation Rules in Texas’ Clean-Air Plan

EPA Press Release:


EPA Finalizes Approval of Public Participation Rules in Texas’ Clean-Air Plan

DALLAS – (Nov. 25, 2013) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Texas’ clean-air plan that covers public notification requirements for facilities applying for air permits. The revised plan gives citizens additional opportunities to comment on applications for air permits for new facilities and modifications to existing facilities.

Citizens will be notified when a facility applies for a permit and after Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) proposes a draft permit. Facilities will also have to provide expanded technical documents to ensure citizens and interested groups have as much information as possible on proposed permits.

“Public review and input during the permitting process is important to making good decisions,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “The state's revised rule improves transparency in the air permitting process and allows for more public input.”

After extensive collaboration between the TCEQ and the EPA, the state revised the public participation rules for air permit applications to apply to new and existing facilities classified as major or minor sources of pollution. TCEQ incorporated these revisions into the State Implementation Plan submitted to EPA. The revised plan clarified procedures for citizens to submit comments on permit applications, as well as how TCEQ is to respond to comments.

More information about the Clean Air Act is available at: http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/peg/

More about activities in EPA Region 6 is available at: http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html

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