The United States is built on the idea that different states have different needs, and one-size-fits-all regulations are rarely the best option. With 3.5 million square miles of landmass, varying altitudes, and a wide range of population densities and industries, implementing any massive regulatory change pertaining to air pollution would be implausible and ineffective.
Simply put, applying the same standard to a manufacturer in Iowa and California wouldn’t take into consideration the needs of either business or the community surrounding it. An overarching standard would be too strict for one and too lax for the other and would fail to take into consideration the processes and practices that may work for either.
Different Localities, Different Regulations
Therefore, under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the EPA introduced State Implementation Plans (SIP), Tribal Implementation Plans (TIP), and Federal Implementation Plans (FIP) that allow different states to set different standards pursuant to the needs of each state.
Under the current regulatory environment, the Clean Air Act sets primary and secondary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), separating each state into 10 Air Quality Control Regions (AQCR):
- Region 1: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and Tribal Nations
- Region 2: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Tribal Nations
- Region 3: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia
- Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Tribal Nations
- Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and Tribal Nations
- Region 6: Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and Tribal Nations
- Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tribal Nations
- Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and Tribal Nations
- Region 9: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Pacific Islands, and Tribal Nations
- Region 10: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Tribal Nations
Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans can be viewed by region here.
For each AQCR, the state must determine whether or not the region has attained the NAAQS for each criteria pollutant and have the ability to design their own standards based on the regional requirements, submitting implementation plans to the EPA, who will in turn approve or deny such a plan. Each proposed state plan must include procedural requirements, control strategies, a process for reviewing new sources and modifications, surveillance practices, reporting and recordkeeping information, compliance schedules and demonstration of authority.
Resources for Manufacturers: Where to Find State Implementation Plans and Permitting Information
While the regional approach provides manufacturers with tailored requirements based on the location of each facility, it also makes for a lot of paperwork if a company intends to open a new facility, make modifications to their production line, or update air pollution control equipment. For instance, a manufacturer may need to file one or more of the following forms with the state:
- Permit Application and Exemption Submittals to Regulatory Agencies
- Permit Condition Negotiations
- Air Dispersion Modeling Studies
- Compliance Audits, Assessments and Program Assistance
- Notice-of-Violation Technical Support
- New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)
- National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS)
- Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
- Title III – Air Toxics/Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
- Maximum Available Control Technology (MACT) and Best Available Control Technology (BACT) studies
- Title IV – Acid Rain (Regulation 75)
- Title V – Operating Permit Program
State-by-State Information and Resources
To help you find information quickly and easily for your state, we have compiled the following information about the permitting agency, state implementation plan, and other governing agencies for each state with links to each:
Alabama
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Alabama
- Alabama Department of Environmental Management
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Alabama Department of Public Health
Alaska
- Alaska State Implementation Plan
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
- Alaska Department of Health and Social Services
American Samoa
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in American Samoa
- American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency
- America Samoa Department of Public Health
Arizona
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Arizona
- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
- Arizona Game and Fish Department
- Arizona Department of Health Services
Arkansas
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Arkansas
- Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
- Arkansas Department of Health
California
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in California
- California Air Resources Board
- California Department of Conservation
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control
- California Department of Water Resources
- California Environmental Protection Agency
- California Integrated Waste Management Board
- California Department of Health Services
Colorado
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Colorado
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Connecticut
- Connecticut State Implementation Plan
- Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
- Connecticut Department of Health
Delaware
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Delaware
- Delaware Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
- Delaware Solid Waste Authority
- Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
District of Columbia
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in District of Columbia
- DC Department of the Environment
- District of Columbia Department of Health
Florida
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Florida
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- Florida Department of Health
Georgia
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Georgia
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Georgia Environmental Protection Division
- Georgia Division of Public Health
Guam
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Guam
- Guam Environment Protection Agency
- Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services
Hawaii
- Hawaii Regional Haze (Federal Implementation Plan)
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Hawaii
- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources
- Hawaii Department of Health
Idaho
- Idaho State Implementation Plan
- Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
- Idaho Department of Water Resources
- Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Illinois
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Illinois
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
- Illinois Pollution Control Board
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
- Illinois Department of Public Health
Indiana
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Indiana
- Indiana Department of Environmental Management
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources
- Indiana State Department of Health
Iowa
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Iowa
- Iowa Federal Implementation Plan
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Iowa Department of Health
Kansas
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Kansas
- Kansas Federal Implementation Plan
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Kentucky
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Kentucky
- Kentucky Environmental Quality Commission
- Kentucky Department for Natural Resources
- Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection
- Kentucky Department for Public Health
Louisiana
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Louisiana
- Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
- Louisiana Department Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health
Maine
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Maine
- Maine Department of Environmental Protection
- Maine Department of Health and Human Services
Maryland
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Maryland
- Maryland Department of the Environment
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources
- Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Massachusetts
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
- Massachusetts Department of Health
Michigan
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Michigan
- Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
- Michigan Department of Public Health
Minnesota
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Minnesota
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
- Minnesota Department of Public Health
Mississippi
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Mississippi
- Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
- Mississippi Department of Health
Missouri
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Missouri
- Missouri Federal Implementation Plan
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources
- Missouri Department of Conservation
- Missouri Department of Health
Montana
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Montana
- Regional haze in Montana
- Sulfur Dioxide in Billings/Laurel, Montana
- Montana Department of Environmental Quality
- Montana Natural Resource Information System
- Montana GIS Data Library
- Montana Department of Health
Nebraska
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Nebraska
- Nebraska Federal Implementation Plan
- Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
- Nebraska Department of Health
Nevada
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Nevada
- Nevada Division of Forestry
- Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Nevada Division of Environmental Protection
- Nevada State Health Division
New Hampshire
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
- New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
New Jersey
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in New Jersey
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
- New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
New Mexico
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in New Mexico
- New Mexico Environment Department
- New Mexico Department of Health
New York
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in New York
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
- New York State Department of Health
North Carolina
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in North Carolina
- NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance
- North Carolina GIS Database
- North Carolina Department of Public Health
North Dakota
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in North Dakota
- Regional haze in North Dakota (Federal Implementation Plan)
- North Dakota State Water Commission
- North Dakota Geological Survey Division
- ND Department of Health – Environmental Health Section
- North Dakota Department of Health
Northern Mariana Islands, Commonwealth of (CNMI)
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
- Division of Environmental Quality
Ohio
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Ohio
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
- Ohio Air Quality Development Authority
- Ohio Department of Health
Oklahoma
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Conservation Commission
- Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
- Oklahoma State Department of Health
Oregon
- Oregon State Implementation Plan
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Oregon Department of Human Resources
Pennsylvania
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- Pennsylvania Department of Health
Puerto Rico
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Puerto Rico
- Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales
- Autoridad de Desperdicios Sólidos
- Puerto Rico Department of Health (en Español)
Rhode Island
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
- Rhode Island Department of Health
South Carolina
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in South Carolina
- South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
South Dakota
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in South Dakota
- South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- South Dakota Department of Health
Tennessee
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Tennessee
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
- Tennessee Department of Health
Texas
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Texas
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
- Texas Department of Health
Utah
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Utah
- Utah Department of Environmental Quality
- Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC)
- Utah Department of Health
Vermont
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Vermont
- Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
- Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
- Vermont Department of Health
Virgin Islands, U.S.
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in U.S. Virgin Islands
- US Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources
- US Virgin Islands Division of Environmental Protection
- US Virgin Islands Division of Fish and Wildlife
- US Virgin Islands Department of Health
Virginia
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Virginia
- Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
- Virginia Department of Health
Washington
- Washington State Implementation Plan
- Washington State Department of Ecology
- Washington State Department of Natural Resources
- Washington State Department of Health
West Virginia
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in West Virginia
- West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
- West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
Wisconsin
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services
Wyoming
- Approved Air Quality Implementation Plans in Wyoming
- Regional haze in Wyoming (Federal Implementation Plan)
- Department of Environmental Quality
- Wyoming Department of Health
No Matter the State, No Matter the Industry, Compliance is Key
While the local regulations may present a challenge in paperwork, all of them are designed with one goal in mind—to protect the environment. We hope this list provided you with the information you need about your state or region. At The CMM Group, we specialize in the designing, engineering, and installation of pollution control systems for manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world. With many of the states listed above offering grants for implementing a new pollution control solution, we can help you. Learn more about taking control of your emissions by reading our VOC Abatement Guide and when you’re ready to learn more, contact us for more details.