Aug. 7, 2018 – The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s draft Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) is now available for public review and comment. If requested, an opportunity for public hearing is available on September 11, 2018, at 9:30 am at NDEQ’s Lincoln offices. If no request for a public hearing is received during the 30-day notification and comment period, the hearing will be cancelled. Cancellation of the public hearing will be announced on Monday, September 10, on this web page (https://dee.nebraska.gov/news-events/press-releases/draft-ozone-state-implementation-plan-available-public-comment) and the public may call the main agency number (402) 471-2186 (Toll Free: (877) 253-2603) to inquire if the hearing has been cancelled. (Updated information – The hearing was cancelled on Aug. 10, 2018 because there was no hearing request.)

This plan describes how the department will implement, maintain, and enforce the 2015 Ozone NAAQS, and will be submitted to EPA in October 2018. This standard was revised in 2015 and the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires that each state submit a state implementation plan within three years of EPA issuing the standard.

During the 30-day public comment period, written comments regarding this plan may be submitted to NDEQ at NDEQ.AirQuality@nebraska.gov or to the mail address below. All comments received through 3:30 PM on September 7, 2018 will be considered.

Upon finalization, NDEQ will submit the Infrastructure SIP for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS to EPA Region 7 for review and approval as required by the CAA.

The draft plan is provided on the online public notice.

Comments may be submitted to:

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Air Quality Division
ATTN: Tracy Wharton
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, NE 68509-8922