Legal Definitions - delayed-compliance order

A delayed-compliance order is a legal directive issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a state agency to an existing source of pollutants. This order postpones the deadline for complying with an implementation plan.

An implementation plan is a detailed outline of steps that an organization needs to take to meet environmental-quality standards by a specific time.

For example, a factory may receive a delayed-compliance order from the EPA if it is not able to meet the environmental-quality standards by the deadline specified in the implementation plan. The order will give the factory more time to make the necessary changes to comply with the standards.

Another example could be a power plant that is required to reduce its emissions by a certain amount by a specific date. If the power plant is unable to meet this requirement, it may receive a delayed-compliance order that extends the deadline for compliance.

These examples illustrate how a delayed-compliance order can provide organizations with additional time to make the necessary changes to meet environmental-quality standards.