Opinion ID: 77243
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: State Implementation Plans (SIPs)

Text: 4 The Clean Air Act strives to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation's air resources so as to promote the public health and welfare and the productive capacity of its population. 42 U.S.C. § 7401(b)(1). The Clean Air Act sets out a two-stage process for achieving this goal. In the first stage, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets national ambient air quality standards for various pollutants. 42 U.S.C. § 7409. In the second stage, each state creates and implements a plan, known as a State Implementation Plan or SIP, to ensure its air meets the EPA standards. See 42 U.S.C. § 7410. 5 Before implementing its plan, each state must submit a proposed SIP to the EPA for approval. 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(1). To gain EPA approval, the SIP must include enforceable emission limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques. . . as may be necessary or appropriate to meet the applicable [Clean Air Act] requirements. 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(2). Each state's SIP must assure that national ambient air quality standards are achieved. 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(2)(c). 6 Each state must revise its SIP periodically to account for new EPA standards and new emissions reduction technologies. 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(2)(H). Like an entirely new SIP, any SIP revisions must be open to public hearing and comment and must be approved by the EPA. 42 U.S.C. § 7410(a)(1). The EPA may also make what is known as a SIP call, notifying a state of inadequacies in its current SIP and requesting that the state submit a revised plan. See 42 U.S.C. § 7410(k)(5). 7 Georgia's SIP provisions are codified in the Georgia Rules for Air Quality Control, see Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Ch. 391-3-1, which for simplicity we refer to as the Georgia Rules.