I don't understand what the federal clean air program has to do with anything? California can make whatever rules about their carpool lanes they want.
The federal government is notnot be extending the program, which means the underlying authority for the program expires.
California passed legislation to extend the program, but this extension is contingent on federal approval, which was not granted.
From Section 166 it looks like the state can also convert an HOV lane to an HOT lane and set the toll amount. The contrarian in me wants to believe there’s some ridiculous loophole in there…