What: On July 7, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed revisions to public participation requirements for minor Clean Air Act (CAA) rules.
Why: The CAA requires each state to submit a plan to the EPA outlining how it will meet federal standards. As part of that plan, there must be a New Source Review (NSR) permitting program for stationary sources like power plants.
EPA’s proposed rule would allow state and local air quality agencies to decide how much public participation is needed when proposing minor NSR programs. Specifically, the proposal would apply to individual permits for constructing minor stationary sources and minor modifications to existing sources.
The EPA expects the new rule to lessen administrative burdens on state and local air quality agencies.
Action: Read the proposed rule and submit comments by the August 21, 2026, deadline.
Requests for a public hearing must be made by July 12, 2026. If a public hearing is requested, it will be held virtually on July 22, 2026.
Is your small business or entity being impacted by a proposed rule? If yes, write a comment letter to the proposing agency.