What is a State Implementation Plan?

States bear the burden of implementing a plan to comply with national air quality standards (NAAQS). The NAAQS provide a maximum concentration level for certain pollutants in the air. A state has a great deal of latitude in developing a plan to implement these standards, or state implementation plan (SIP). Under this structure, each state must submit a SIP to the EPA that provides for implementation, maintenance, and enforcement in each air-quality control region. 

The EPA Administrator must approve SIPs as complete and meeting all requirements. If EPA finds a SIP inadequate to attain or maintain NAAQS, it can require revision of the plan. If the EPA finds a SIP incomplete, a state fails to make the required submissions, or if it disapproves a SIP in whole or part, it will promulgate a federal implementation plan (FIP). The EPA must promulgate the FIP within 2 years of disapproval of the SIP unless the state corrects the deficiency and the Administrator approves it.

Related Topics

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• What is the structure of environmental protection law?
• What is the Environmental Protection Agency?
• How are environmental laws enforced?
• What is the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970?
• Environmental Impact Statement?
• What is the Clean Air Act?
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• New Source Performance Standards and New Source Review?
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• Enforcement?
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