The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed consent decree concerning air quality standards in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana.
Evangeline Parish is identified as a nonattainment area under the 2010 primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for sulfur dioxide (SO2).
The proposed consent decree is part of a legal settlement following a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity and Sierra Club, which claimed the EPA failed to enforce certain Clean Air Act duties.
The decree sets deadlines for the EPA to determine if Evangeline Parish has met the required air quality standards and to potentially implement federal plans if state plans are insufficient.
By September 30, 2025, the EPA must propose notices to promulgate Federal Implementation Plans (FIPs) for Evangeline Parish if necessary, with final notices required by March 31, 2026.
Public comments on the proposed consent decree are invited until December 2, 2024, allowing community members to express their views on the EPA's actions and deadlines.
Impact on Other U.S. Locations: EPA's Proposed Consent Decree on SO2 Standards
The proposed consent decree also impacts several other nonattainment areas across the United States, including Anne-Arundel/Baltimore County, Maryland; Alton Township, Illinois; St. Clair, Michigan; Freestone-Anderson, Texas; Rusk-Panola, Texas; Titus, Texas; Piti-Cabras, Guam; Huntington, Indiana; Hayden, Arizona; Guayama-Salinas, Puerto Rico; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
For Anne-Arundel/Baltimore County, MD, Alton Township, IL, St. Clair, MI, Freestone-Anderson, TX, Rusk-Panola, TX, Titus, TX, and Piti-Cabras, Guam, the EPA must determine by December 19, 2024, if these areas have met the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
Huntington, Indiana, is set for a final notice by August 29, 2025, to determine timely attainment and potentially establish a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP).
In Hayden, Arizona, the EPA is scheduled to issue a final FIP notice by August 28, 2026.
For Guayama-Salinas and San Juan, Puerto Rico, the EPA must propose FIPs by January 14, 2027, and finalize them by June 1, 2027, with a determination of timely attainment by November 1, 2027.