Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/23pdf/23a349_0813.pdf
Page Number: 11.0

8 

OHIO v. EPA 

Opinion of the Court 

provals soon seemed to vindicate at least some of the com-
menters’ concerns.  Two circuits issued stays of EPA’s SIP 
denials for four States.  See Order in No. 23–60069 (CA5, 
May 1, 2023) (Texas and Louisiana); Order in No. 23–1320 
(CA8,  May  25,  2023)  (Arkansas);  Order  in  No.  23–1719 
(CA8, May 26, 2023) (Missouri). 
  Despite  those  comments  and  developments,  the  agency 
proceeded to issue its final FIP.  88 Fed. Reg. 36654 (2023).5  
In  response  to  the  problem  commenters  raised,  EPA 
adopted a severability provision stating that, should any ju-
risdiction  drop  out,  its  rule  would  “continue  to  be  imple-
mented  as  to  any remaining  jurisdictions.”    Id.,  at  36693.  
But in doing so, EPA did not address whether or why the 
same  emissions-control  measures  it  mandated  would  con-
tinue  to  further  the  FIP’s  stated  purpose  of  maximizing 
cost-effective  air-quality  improvement  if  fewer  States  re-
mained in the plan. 

D 
  After EPA issued its final FIP, litigation over the agency’s 
SIP disapprovals continued.  One court after another issued 
one  stay  after  another.6    Each  new  stay  meant  another 

—————— 

5 The final FIP covered 23 States.  88 Fed. Reg. 36654, 36656 (2023).  
That plan included Pennsylvania and Virginia, but EPA declined to cover 
Tennessee  or  Wyoming  at  the  time, even  though  it  had  announced  its 
intention  to  disapprove  those  States’  SIPs.   Ibid.;  see  also  supra,  at  4, 
and nn. 1–2.  EPA has since proposed a plan for Tennessee and several 
other States.  89 Fed. Reg. 12666 (2024). 

6 See,  e.g.,  Order  in  No.  23–60069  (CA5,  June  8,  2023)  (Mississippi); 
Order  in  No.  23–682  (CA9,  July  3,  2023)  (Nevada);  Order  in  
No.  23–1776  (CA8,  July  5,  2023)  (Minnesota);  Order  in  No.  23–3216 
(CA6, July 25, 2023) (Kentucky); Order in No. 23–9520 etc. (CA10, July 
27, 2023) (Utah and Oklahoma); Order in No. 23–11173 (CA11, Aug. 17, 
2023)  (Alabama);  see  also  Order  in  No.  23–1418  (CA4,  Aug.  10,  2023) 
(West Virginia, pending oral argument on preliminary motions to stay 
and to transfer); Order in No. 23–1418 (CA4, Jan. 10, 2024) (West Vir-
ginia, after oral argument and pending merits review of petition).