The federal plan will apply until the state or tribe has an approved plan in effect. The federal plan contains the same elements that state plans are required to contain, including source and emission inventories, emission limits, testing, monitoring, and reporting requirements, as well as compliance schedules that include increments of progress. A number of other states have submitted their plans and the federal plan will cease to apply once those are approved. Those guidelines will significantly reduce emissions of nine pollutants. Some of these pollutants are considered to be carcinogens.
Tribes have the option of submitting their own plans to implement the emission guidelines.
EPA is required by law to develop, implement and enforce a federal plan for states and tribes that did not submit an approvable plan by September 15, 1999. The EPA's Office of Air and Radiation home page on the Internet contains a wide range of information on the air toxics program and many other air pollution programs and issues.