Nearly 23 years after the EPA created the Regional Haze State Implementation Plan to improve visibility in 156 national parks and wilderness areas such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Great Smokies and Shenandoah, Oklahoma is preparing to finalize its plan.
The Department of Environmental Quality announced this week that its draft for the Oklahoma Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Planning Period was posted on its website. The DEQ set a 30-day public comment period to run from June 1, 2022 through July 1, 2022.
DEQ prepared the proposed Regional Haze SIP to comply with the requirements contained in the federal Clean Air Act and 40 C.F.R. Part 51, Subpart P, Protection of Visibility. All persons interested in these matters are invited to submit written comments and/or attend the public hearing.
DEQ will hold a public hearing to receive oral comments on the Planning Period 2 RH SIP on Friday, July 1, 2022 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the 2nd Floor Training Room of the DEQ Headquarters, 707 North Robinson Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.
To review the public notice and draft Planning Period 2 RH SIP, along with additional information, please visit the DEQ website at https://www.deq.ok.gov/air-quality-division/air-quality-rules-planning/regional-haze/.
The Regional Haze Rule (RHR) was finalized in 1999 and its amendments finalized in 2005. The rule exists to protect visibility in Class 1 Areas, as well as requiring States to participate in planning to reduce haze (regardless of whether or not they have a Class 1 Area within their borders). This is because pollutants that contribute to haze can be transported into other States.
States must develop long term strategies to create emission reduction measures for all pollutant sources, including prescribed fire, and demonstrate reasonable progress in meeting visibility goals. Section 308 of the rule requires States to submit State Implementation Plans (SIPs) outlining how they plan to reduce emissions which contribute to regional haze. The end goal is to achieve natural visibility conditions in Class 1 Areas by 2064.