Is the EAC just a way to avoid nonattainment?
No. The EAC Protocol does not delay a region’s nonattainment designation, but defers its effective date. That means that EPA recognizes the region has met the criteria to be declared nonattainment, but will delay the effects of designation as long as all EAC terms are met. If a region fails to meet any of the milestones in the EAC, the region’s nonattainment status takes effect immediately. That safeguard in the agreement shifts the region immediately to the standard nonattainment timeline, without penalty and with credit given for strategies implemented under the EAC.
