Infrastructure, rule, & program plans

We submit plans, as well as state and local rules, to EPA that show Washington has tools in place to meet national air quality standards. Once approved by EPA, these plans for infrastructure, rules, and programs become part of Washington's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for air quality. Plans and rules in Washington's State Implementation Plan are enforceable by EPA and the public.

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Public comment

We propose revisions to Washington's State Implementation Plan for air quality. These revisions show Washington's ability to attain, maintain, enforce, and implement federal air quality standards through infrastructure requirements and updated rules.

Open public comment
Closed public comment

State Implementation Plan documents	Comment or request a public hearing
We propose to send EPA the withdrawal of WAC 173-400-040 from the 2019 SIP revision for Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Provisions in Chapters 173-400, 173-405, 173-410, 173-415 WAC Draft withdrawal letter	Public comment period: October 25, 2023 – November 29, 2023 Comment online Mail comments to: Jack Millard, Air Quality Program Washington Department of Ecology P.O. Box 47600; Olympia, WA 98504‑7600 For more information, contact Jack Millard at 360-742-4142.
We propose to send EPA the revised air quality SIP to include Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency's updated rules. Washington State Implementation Plan Revision: Including Revised Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency Regulation I, RCW Updates	Public comment period: October 25, 2023 – December 6, 2023 Comment or request a public hearing online Mail comments to: Adam Saul, Air Quality Program Washington Department of Ecology P.O. Box 47600; Olympia, WA 98504‑7600 Public hearing CANCELLED: (We did not get a request by November 22, 2023.) November 29, 2023, 1:30 p.m. online For more information, contact Adam Saul at 360-742-7998.

State Implementation Plan documents

Comment or request a public hearing

We propose to send EPA the withdrawal of WAC 173-400-040 from the 2019 SIP revision for Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Provisions in Chapters 173-400, 173-405, 173-410, 173-415 WAC

Draft withdrawal letter

Public comment period: October 25, 2023 – November 29, 2023

Comment online

Mail comments to:
Jack Millard, Air Quality Program
Washington Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 47600; Olympia, WA 98504‑7600

For more information, contact Jack Millard at 360-742-4142.

We propose to send EPA the revised air quality SIP to include Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency's updated rules.

Washington State Implementation Plan Revision: Including Revised Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency Regulation I, RCW Updates

Public comment period: October 25, 2023 – December 6, 2023

Comment or request a public hearing online

Mail comments to:
Adam Saul, Air Quality Program
Washington Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 47600; Olympia, WA 98504‑7600

Public hearing CANCELLED:
(We did not get a request by November 22, 2023.)
November 29, 2023, 1:30 p.m. online

For more information, contact Adam Saul at 360-742-7998.

Accessibility
To request ADA accommodation for the public hearing, email ADA coordinator or call 360‑407‑6831, 711 (relay service), or 877-833-6341 (TTY).

SIP document	Public comment
none

Accessibility
To request ADA accommodation for the public hearing, email Ecology's ADA coordinator or call 360-407-6831, 711 (relay service), or 877-833-6341 (TTY).

Infrastructure state implementation plans

When EPA revises or issues a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard, the federal Clean Air Act requires each state to adopt and submit to EPA a plan, called an Infrastructure State Implementation Plan. An infrastructure plan shows how the state will implement, meet, and enforce federal standards for specific air pollutants – like nitrogen dioxide, particles (also called particulate matter), lead, and ozone. The plan describes the infrastructure Washington has in place to protect air quality, such as:

Legal authority to implement federal standards
Rules adopted in the plan to meet federal standards
Air monitors to measure air pollution and determine compliance with the federal standards
Funding and resources
Permitting and other programs
Studies about how air pollution travels to neighboring states

Date submitted to EPA	Plan
Sept. 2019	National Ambient Air Quality Standards: Infrastructure State Implementation Plan for 2015 Ozone and 2010 Sulfur Dioxide
Feb. 2018	Interstate Transport of Sulfur Dioxide and Ground-Level Ozone
Feb. 2018	Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter
May 2015	Interstate Transport of Lead, Nitrogen Dioxide, and Ground-Level Ozone
May 2015	Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter
Sept. 2014	Infrastructure SIP for the 2010 Nitrogen Dioxide, 2008 Ozone, and 1997, 2006, and 2012 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard
April 2014	Infrastructure SIP Certification for the 2008 Lead National Ambient Air Quality Standard

See the status of EPA action on infrastructure plans.

Rule state implementation plans

Washington’s plan includes current state and local rules to reduce air pollution and meet federal air quality standards. When state and local agencies revise or add new rules in the plan, we submit those updates to EPA.

Date submitted to EPA	Plan
June 2023	Revised Southwest Clean Air Agency 400, General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources
June 2023	Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction (SSM) Provisions in Southwest Clean Air Agency 400, General Regulations for Air Pollution Sources
June 2023	Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction (SSM) Regulations from the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council's (EFSEC) Chapter 463‑78 WAC
May 2023	Revised Southwest Clean Air Agency 491, Emission Standards and Controls for Sources Emitting Gasoline Vapors
Oct. 2021	Including Revised Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency Regulation 1, New Source Review, and General Regulation
Nov. 2020	Including Revised Spokane Clean Air Agency Regulation I, New Source Review, and General Regulations
Feb. 2020	Including Revised Northwest Clean Air Agency Regulations for Air Pollution Sources
Dec. 2019	Including Revised Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Regulation I
Oct. 2019	Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction Provisions in Chapters 173-400, 173-405, 173-410, and 173-415 WAC
Oct. 2019	Revised Public Notice Provisions and Other Changes to Chapters 173-400, 173-405, 173-410, and 173-415 WAC
Dec. 2016	Updates to Southwest Clean Air Agency Rules (SWCAA 400)
Dec. 2016	Updates to Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council Rules (Chapter 463-78 WAC)
June 2016	Updates to Ecology Rules (Chapters 173-400 and 173-476 WAC)
Aug. 2015	Updates to Benton Clean Air Agency Rules (Regulation 1)
July 2015	Updates to Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency Rules (Regulation 1, Article 8)
Jan. 2014	Updates to Ecology Rules (Chapter 173-400 WAC) Letter to EPA for Partial Withdrawal of State Implementation Plan Submittal
Jan. 2014	Updates to Ecology Rules (Chapter 173-433 WAC)
Nov. 2013	Updates to Ecology Rules (Chapter 173-476 WAC)

See the status of EPA action on rule plans.

Program state implementation plans

A program state implementation plan describes specific programs to protect air quality and meet federal air quality standards.

Plan	Description
Removal of Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program	This program (also known as the emission check program) is required for carbon monoxide and ozone nonattainment areas. A nonattainment area is an area that does not meet an air quality standard.
Regional Haze State Implementation Plan	This defines a strategy to improve visibility in our national parks and wilderness areas (Class 1 Areas). It documents existing conditions and identifies key sources of air pollution. We update this strategy periodically.
DNR's Smoke Management Plan	This is another part of the plan to improve visibility. It regulates forestry (silvicultural) burning on land managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

Contact information

Anya Caudill
Environmental Planner
anya.caudill@ecy.wa.gov
360-791-5499