EPA Approval Of California SIP Expands ‘Contingency Measure’ Debate

EPA is proposing to accept a revision to a California state implementation plan (SIP) to attain the 2008 ozone standard in the San Joaquin Valley and halt a federal sanctions process against the state, expanding a debate over the agency’s controversial “contingency measure” (CM) policy for determining Clean Air Act SIP compliance. But the agency’s action, spelled out in an Oct. 25 Federal Register notice , is drawing criticism from environmentalists who say it allows the Golden State to...