EPA Facing Stubborn Backlog Of State Air Plans Amid Staffing, Budget Cuts

EPA is facing a stubbornly large backlog of unprocessed state implementation plans (SIPs) for meeting federal air quality standards, according to recent agency data, underscoring how challenging it will be to significantly reduce processing times in line with Trump administration priorities, as agency staffing and funding undergo reductions. In a Sept. 25 presentation to the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies (AAPCA) Fall Business Meeting in Raleigh, NC, EPA air official Scott Matthias, director of the Air Quality Policy Division...