Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5:30 pm. The public hearing will be held using teleconferencing, which allows for both a video and voice over internet protocol (VOIP) connection:
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Meeting number: 2311 083 5275
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Access code: 231 108 35275
This hearing provides interested parties an opportunity to comment on the District of Columbia’s (“District”) proposed maintenance plan and redesignation request for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”). After holding the public hearing and receiving public comments, DOEE will submit the Maintenance Plan for the Washington DC-MD-VA 2015 Ozone NAAQS Nonattainment Area as well as the Redesignation Request for the Washington DC-MD-VA 2015 Ozone NAAQS Moderate Nonattainment Area to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for approval as a revision to its State Implementation Plan (“SIP”) at 40 CFR Part 52 Subpart J, pursuant to the provisions of § 107 of the federal Clean Air Act (“CAA”).
In 2015, EPA strengthened the 8-hour ozone NAAQS to 0.070 parts per million (“ppm”). 80 Fed. Reg. 65292 (October 26, 2015). Ground-level ozone air quality in the Washington, District of Columbia-Maryland-Virginia Area (“Washington Area”) has improved since the area was designated nonattainment for that standard. EPA designated the District, as part of the Washington Area, as Marginal nonattainment, effective August 3, 2018. 83 Fed. Reg. 25776, 25795 (June 4, 2018). After the Washington Area failed to attain by the Marginal attainment date, EPA reclassified it as Moderate nonattainment effective November 7, 2022. 87 Fed. Reg. 60897, 60917 (October 7, 2022). On April 4, 2025, EPA determined that the Washington Area attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS by its Moderate attainment date of August 3, 2024, based on quality-assured monitoring data for 2021-2023 showing a design value of 0.070 ppm. 90 Fed. Reg. 14730 (April 4, 2025). The Washington Area has continued to attain the standard, with design values of 0.069 ppm for both 2022-2024 and 2023-2025.
The District, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia are requesting that EPA redesignate the Washington Area to attainment and concurrently approve, as a SIP revision for each jurisdiction, the related CAA § 175A maintenance plan. The maintenance plan demonstrates that ozone air quality in the Washington Area will remain compliant with the 2015 ozone NAAQS through 2038, as verified by a monitoring network that meets all federal requirements. It also establishes motor vehicle emissions budgets for the interim year 2032 and the out year 2038 for transportation conformity purposes and includes contingency measures to be implemented in the event of a future violation.
Copies of the proposed maintenance plan and redesignation request are available for public review during normal business hours at the offices of the Department of Energy and Environment (“DOEE”), 1200 First Street NE, 5th Floor, Washington D.C. 20002, and in the attachments section below.
For further information about the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia redesignation request, including the appendices referenced in the documents, visit the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments website.
DOEE seeks public comments on the Maintenance Plan for the Washington DC-MD-VA 2015 Ozone NAAQS Nonattainment Area and the Redesignation Request for the Washington DC-MD-VA 2015 Ozone NAAQS Moderate Nonattainment Area.
Interested parties wishing to testify at this hearing must submit their name, address, telephone number, and affiliation (if any) to the DOEE Air Quality Division by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, by email to Dr. Samuel Kay at [email protected] or at the following address:
DOEE Air Quality Division
ATTN: Samuel Kay: 2015 Ozone NAAQS
1200 First Street NE, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20002
Interested parties may also submit written comments to the same DOEE address or the same email by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Testimony presented at the public hearing will also be entered into the comment record. The record closes at the conclusion of the public hearing, and no comments will be accepted after that time.
All questions may be directed to Mr. Samuel Kay at [email protected] or by phone at 202-870-2924.
