ATLANTA, Ga. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday approved revisions to Georgia State Implementation Plan that remove obsolete air permitting requirements now that the entire state is in attainment for National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
EPA Regional Administrator Kevin McOmber said the agency is working with Georgia to remove obsolete permitting requirements and give businesses certainty as they look to invest in the Peach State, while keeping tools to maintain clean air for all Georgians.
The action will remove all nonattainment New Source Review requirements, certain provisions related to the use of emission reduction credits, and other mandated programs that were put in place when areas were still in nonattainment for the NAAQS. Georgia SIP will continue to include permitting programs designed to protect attainment.
Georgia has not had any designated nonattainment areas since the Atlanta area was redesignated for the 2015 ozone NAAQS on October 17, 2022. EPA proposed the NNSR removal on September 2, 2025, and held a 30-day comment period.
Because NNSR is a forward-looking permit program, permit conditions and any offsets tied to permits already issued will remain effective after NNSR is removed from the SIP. Prevention of Significant Deterioration rules apply instead for major projects in attainment areas.
EPA says removing the outdated programs will not interfere with attainment or maintenance of the NAAQS. Officials framed the change as cutting burdensome requirements that slow energy construction and discourage reshoring of manufacturing while maintaining clean air.
