Environmental Protection Agency March 13, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') requirements applicable to the Owens Valley PM10 nonattainment area (NA). The Owens Valley PM10 NA is classified as a ``Serious'' nonattainment area for the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter of ten microns or less (PM10). The submitted SIP revision is the ``Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 2016 Owens Valley Planning Area PM10 State Implementation Plan'' (``2016 PM10 Plan'' or ``Plan''). The State's obligation to submit the 2016 PM10 Plan was triggered by the EPA's 2007 finding that the Owens Valley PM10 NA had failed to meet its December 31, 2006, deadline to attain the PM10 NAAQS. The CAA requires a Serious PM10 nonattainment area that fails to meet its attainment deadline to submit a plan providing for attainment of the PM10 NAAQS and for an annual reduction in PM10 emissions of not less than five percent until attainment of the PM10 NAAQS. The EPA is approving the 2016 PM10 Plan because it meets all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is determining that the Imperial County, California Moderate nonattainment area (``the Imperial County NA'') has attained the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or ``standard''). This determination, also known as a clean data determination (CDD), is based upon complete, quality-assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the area has monitored attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS based on the 2013-2015 data available in the EPA's Air Quality System database. As a consequence of this determination of attainment, certain Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements that apply to the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD or ``District'') shall be suspended for so long as the area continues to meet the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The area remains nonattainment for the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA is also approving a revision to California's state implementation plan (SIP) consisting of the 2008 emissions inventory for the Imperial County NA submitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB or ``State'') on January 9, 2015. This action is being taken under the CAA. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, we are proposing approval and soliciting written comment on these actions. If we receive adverse comments on this direct final rule that result in withdrawal of the entire rule or any part(s) of it, we will address those comments when we finalize the proposal. The EPA does not plan to institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.