Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Deadline Harmonization Act of 2015

To harmonize requirements of the 2008 and 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Deadline Harmonization Act of 2015 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Ozone precursor emissions have been reduced by over 50 percent since 1980, resulting in a 33-percent improvement of ozone air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency projects this improvement will continue even under rules and programs already in place. (2) States are just beginning to implement the 2008 ozone standards, for which the Environmental Protection Agency published State implementation plan requirements on February 13, 2015. Notwithstanding this delayed implementation of the 2008 ozone standards, the Environmental Protection Agency published the 2015 ozone standards on October 26, 2015. (3) With publication of the 2015 ozone standards so early in the implementation of the 2008 ozone standards, States face the prospect of simultaneously implementing two national ambient air quality standards for ozone. (4) In addition, counties face severe statutorily imposed consequences if designated as nonattainment or for failing to meet attainment deadlines, even if those counties would ultimately achieve attainment with no further action. (5) If the 2008 and 2015 ozone standards implementation schedules are not harmonized, already strained State resources will be burdened by overlapping implementation schedules, and counties that are projected to achieve necessary air quality improvements will face significant and permanent sanctions. 3. Ozone standards implementation schedule harmonization (a) Designation submission Not later than October 26, 2024, the Governor of each State shall designate in accordance with section 107(d) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7407(d) (b) Designation promulgation Not later than October 26, 2025, the Administrator shall promulgate final designations under section 107(d) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7407(d) (c) State implementation plans Not later than October 26, 2026, notwithstanding the deadline specified in section 110(a)(1) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7410(d)(1) 4. Certain preconstruction permits (a) In general The 2015 ozone standards shall not apply to the review and disposition of a preconstruction permit application if— (1) the Administrator or the State, local, or tribal permitting authority, as applicable, determines the application to be complete on or before the date of promulgation of final designations under section 3(b); or (2) the Administrator or the State, local, or tribal permitting authority, as applicable, publishes a public notice of a preliminary determination or draft permit for the application before the date that is 60 days after the date of promulgation of final designations under section 3(b). (b) Rules of construction Nothing in this section shall be construed to— (1) eliminate the obligation of a preconstruction permit applicant to install best available control technology and lowest achievable emissions rate technology, as applicable; or (2) limit the authority of a State, local, or tribal permitting authority to impose more stringent emissions requirements pursuant to State, local, or tribal law than Federal national ambient air quality standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency. 5. Adjustment of 5-year review cycle (a) 10-Year cycle for all criteria air pollutants Paragraphs (1) and (2)(B) of section 109(d) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7409(d) five-year intervals ten-year intervals (b) Cycle for next review of ozone criteria and standards Notwithstanding section 109(d) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7409(d) (1) complete, before October 26, 2025, any review of the criteria for ozone published under section 108 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7408 42 U.S.C. 7409 (2) propose, before such date, any revisions to such criteria or standards. 6. Definitions In this Act: (1) The term 2008 ozone standards (2) The term 2015 ozone standards (3) The term Administrator (4) The term best available control technology 42 U.S.C. 7479(3) (5) The term lowest achievable emissions rate 42 U.S.C. 7501(3) (6) The term preconstruction permit (A) means a permit that is required under part C or D of title I of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7470 et seq. (B) includes any such permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency or a State, local, or tribal permitting authority.

Summary: Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Deadline Harmonization Act of 2015 This bill delays the implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2015 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone issued under the Clean Air Act. Each state must designate all of its areas as attainment, nonattainment, or unclassifiable with respect to the 2015 ozone standards by October 26, 2024. The EPA must promulgate final designations for those areas by October 26, 2025. States must submit a state implementation plan for the 2015 ozone standards by October 26, 2026. The 2015 ozone standards do not apply to the review and disposition of an application for a preconstruction permit for the construction or modification of a major emitting facility or major stationary source if: (1) the application is completed before final designations under the Clean Air Act, or (2) the applicable permitting authority publishes a public notice of a preliminary determination or draft permit for the application before a certain date. The bill changes the interval by which the EPA must review its NAAQS for criteria pollutants from a 5-year review cycle to a 10-year review cycle. The EPA must not complete any review of ozone criteria or its ozone NAAQS before October 26, 2025, or propose any revisions to them.