A Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) is an air quality plan developed by EPA under certain circumstances to help states or tribes attain and/or maintain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria air pollutants and fulfill other requirements of the Clean Air Act.
EPA is required to develop a FIP if a state fails to submit a complete implementation plan, or if EPA disapproves a plan as not meeting Clean Air Act requirements. EPA may also develop a FIP for tribal lands if a tribe elects not to develop their own implementation plan, as appropriate.
EPA has developed and implemented the following FIPs:
A Tribal Implementation Plan (TIP) is an air quality plan developed by a tribe to help attain and/or maintain national air quality standards ( NAAQS Standards established by EPA for maximum allowable concentrations of six "criteria" pollutants in outdoor air. The six pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. The standards are set at a level that protects public health with an adequate margin of safety. ) for criteria air pollutants and fulfill other requirements of the Clean Air Act.
Unlike states, tribes are not required to adopt an implementation plan. In the Tribal Authority Rule, EPA recognized that not all tribes will have the need or the desire for an air pollution control program. If a tribe elects not to develop a TIP, EPA will develop a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to protect air quality, as necessary.
Learn more:
A State Implementation Plan (SIP) is a collection of regulations and documents used by a state, territory, or local air district to implement, maintain, and enforce the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, or NAAQS, and to fulfill other requirements of the Clean Air Act.
EPA has established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for six "criteria" air pollutants - which are widespread common pollutants known to be harmful to human health:
SIPs provide a plan for implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the NAAQS in each state. SIPs in states with areas that do not meet the NAAQS must include additional requirements to reduce air pollution in those “nonattainment” areas.
Learn more:
The contents of a typical SIP fall into three categories:
Examples of EPA-approved documents and materials associated with the SIP include, but are not limited to:
Learn more:
The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to review and approve all SIPs that meet the requirements of the Act. Opportunities for public comment are available during the review and approval process for each SIP. If a state does not submit or EPA disapproves a required SIP, the Act also requires EPA to promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan, or FIP, to address the specific requirements.
Learn more:
SIPs are generally enforced by the state. However, the EPA is authorized to take enforcement action against violators for federally-approved SIPs. Members of the public can also file citizen suits under the Clean Air Act to address violations of SIPs.
If a SIP has been approved by a state but not yet approved by the EPA, then it is only state-enforceable and not federally-enforceable until approved by the EPA.