40 CFR 81.311 - Georgia.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve the Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) submitted by the State of Oregon on January 13, 2012, for the Eugene-Springfield nonattainment area (Eugene-Springfield NAA) and the State's request to redesignate the area to attainment for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM 10 ). EPA is approving the State's request because it meets Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for redesignation. EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because EPA views this as a noncontroversial SIP revision and anticipates no adverse comments.

The EPA is approving in part and disapproving in part the Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) submitted by the State of Idaho on December 14, 2011, for the Sandpoint nonattainment area (Sandpoint NAA) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM 10 ), and approving the State's request to redesignate this area to attainment for the PM 10 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA is disapproving a separable part of the Sandpoint NAA LMP that does not meet LMP eligibility criteria or applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The part of the Sandpoint NAA LMP that the EPA is approving complies with applicable requirements and meets the requirements of the CAA for full approval. The EPA is also approving the State's redesignation request because it meets CAA requirements for redesignation.

EPA is clarifying the description of the Imperial Valley planning area, an area designated as nonattainment for the national ambient air quality standard for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of a nominal 10 microns or less (PM 10 ). EPA is not changing the boundaries of the PM 10 area or the status of the area as a “serious” PM 10 nonattainment area but is clarifying the description of this partial county area in the Code of Federal Regulations.

EPA is approving: the State of New Hampshire's request to redesignate the Boston-Manchester-Portsmouth (SE), New Hampshire moderate 8-hour ozone nonattainment area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS); a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a 10-year ozone maintenance plan for this area; a 2008 comprehensive emissions inventory for the area; and new motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for the years 2008 and 2022 that are contained in the 10-year ozone maintenance plan for this area.

EPA is taking final action to approve a request submitted on June 17, 2010, from the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), Air Division, to redesignate the Birmingham fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the “Birmingham Area” or “Area”) to attainment for the 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Birmingham 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 nonattainment area is comprised of Jefferson and Shelby Counties in their entireties and a portion of Walker County. EPA's approval of the redesignation request is based on the determination that the State of Alabama has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment set forth in the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), including the determination that the Birmingham Area has attained the 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is approving a revision to the Alabama state implementation plan (SIP) to include the 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 maintenance plan for the Birmingham Area that contains the new 2024 motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NO X ) and PM 2.5 . This action also approves the 2009 emissions inventory submitted with the maintenance plan.

EPA is taking final action to approve a request submitted on May 2, 2011, from the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), Air Division, to redesignate the Birmingham fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the “Birmingham Area” or “Area”) to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM 2.5 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Birmingham 1997 Annual PM 2.5 nonattainment area is comprised of Jefferson and Shelby Counties in their entireties and a portion of Walker County. EPA's approval of the redesignation request is based on the determination that the State of Alabama has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment set forth in the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), including the determination that the Birmingham Area has attained the 1997 Annual PM 2.5 NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is approving a revision to the Alabama state implementation plan (SIP) to include the 1997 Annual PM 2.5 maintenance plan for the Birmingham Area that contains the new 2024 motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NO X ) and PM 2.5 . This action also approves the 2009 emissions inventory submitted with the maintenance plan.

EPA is taking final action to approve, as a revision of the Nevada state implementation plan, the State's plan for maintaining the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in Clark County for ten years beyond redesignation, and the related motor vehicle emissions budgets, because they meet the applicable requirements for such plans and budgets. EPA is also taking final action to approve a request from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to redesignate the Clark County ozone nonattainment area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard because the area meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act.

EPA is taking direct final action to approve the Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) submitted by the State of Alaska on September 29, 2010 for the Eagle River nonattainment area (Eagle River NAA) and the State's request to redesignate the area to attainment for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM 10 ).

EPA is approving, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the state of Ohio's request to redesignate the Ohio portion of the Huntington-Ashland (OH-WV-KY) nonattainment area (Lawrence, Scioto, and portions of Adams and Gallia Counties) to attainment for the 1997 annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) submitted its request on May 4, 2011. EPA determined that the entire Huntington-Ashland area has attained the 1997 annual PM 2.5 standard, and proposed to approve Ohio's request to redesignate the Ohio portion of the area on December 22, 2011. EPA's final rulemaking involves several related actions. EPA has determined that the entire Huntington-Ashland area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM 2.5 standard. EPA is approving, as a revision to the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP), the state's plan for maintaining the 1997 annual PM 2.5 NAAQS in the area through 2022. EPA is also approving the 2005 and 2008 emissions inventories for the Ohio portion of the Huntington-Ashland area as meeting the comprehensive emissions inventory requirement of the CAA. EPA finds adequate and is making a finding of insignificance for Ohio motor vehicle emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO X ) and direct PM 2.5 for the Huntington-Ashland area. EPA, therefore, grants Ohio's request to redesignate the Ohio portion of the Huntington-Ashland area to attainment for the 1997 PM 2.5 annual standard.

The EPA is taking final action to establish the initial 2006 24-hour fine particle (PM 2.5 ) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) air quality designations for the Ak-Chin Indian Community located in Pinal County, Arizona, and the Gila River Indian Community located in Pinal County and Maricopa County, Arizona. On November 13, 2009, and February 3, 2011, the EPA promulgated air quality designations nationwide for all but these two areas for the 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 NAAQS. The EPA deferred initial PM 2.5 air quality designations for the Ak-Chin Indian Community and the Gila River Indian Community in the earlier promulgated designations.

EPA is partially approving and partially disapproving submittals from the State of Arkansas pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) that address certain infrastructure elements specified in the CAA necessary to implement, maintain, and enforce the 1997 8-hour ozone and the 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or standards). EPA is also making a correction to an attainment status table in its regulations to accurately reflect the redesignation date of Crittenden County, Arkansas to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard.

EPA is approving a request from the State of Illinois to redesignate the Illinois portion of the Chicago-Gary-Lake County, Illinois-Indiana (IL-IN) area (the Greater Chicago area) to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard). The Illinois portion of the Greater Chicago area includes Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties and portions of Grundy (Aux Sable and Goose Lake Townships) and Kendall (Oswego Township) Counties. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) submitted this request on July 23, 2009, and supplemented its request on September 16, 2011. In addition to approval of Illinois' ozone redesignation request, EPA is: (1) Approving the State's plan for maintaining the 1997 8-hour ozone standard through 2025 and the State's 2002 Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emission inventories, as revisions to the Illinois State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Illinois portion of the Greater Chicago area; and (2) approving and finding adequate the State's 2008 and 2025 VOC and NOx Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs).

The EPA is announcing that it is using its authority under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to extend by up to 1 year the deadline for promulgating initial area designations for the primary sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) that was promulgated in June 2010. With this extension, the EPA is now required to complete initial designations for this NAAQS by June 3, 2013.

EPA is approving a request from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to redesignate the Milwaukee-Racine area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard). The Milwaukee-Racine area includes Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, Waukesha, and Kenosha Counties. WDNR submitted this request on September 11, 2009, and supplemented the submittal on November 16, 2011. These submittals also requested the redesignation of the Sheboygan area (Sheboygan County) to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA proposed to approve the redesignation of both areas on February 9, 2012, and provided a 30-day review and comment period. EPA received comments submitted on behalf of Sierra Club and Midwest Environmental Defense Center and from the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. EPA is not taking final action on the Sheboygan redesignation request at this time because preliminary 2012 ozone monitoring data indicate that the area has violated the 1997 standard. In addition to approving the redesignation of the Milwaukee-Racine area, EPA is taking several other related actions. EPA is approving, as a revision to the Wisconsin State Implementation Plan (SIP), the State's plan for maintaining the 1997 8-hour ozone standard through 2022 in the Milwaukee-Racine area. EPA is approving the 2005 emissions inventories for the Milwaukee-Racine and Sheboygan areas as meeting the comprehensive emissions inventory requirement of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). Finally, EPA finds adequate and is approving the State's 2015 and 2022 Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for the Milwaukee-Racine area.

The EPA is approving in part and disapproving in part the Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) submitted by the State of Idaho on December 14, 2011, for the Sandpoint nonattainment area (Sandpoint NAA) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM 10 ), and approving the State's request to redesignate this area to attainment for the PM 10 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA is disapproving a separable part of the Sandpoint NAA LMP that does not meet LMP eligibility criteria or applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The part of the Sandpoint NAA LMP that the EPA is approving complies with applicable requirements and meets the requirements of the CAA for full approval. The EPA is also approving the State's redesignation request because it meets CAA requirements for redesignation.

Notice is hereby given that the EPA has posted its responses to certain state and tribal designation recommendations for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on its Internet Web site. The EPA invites the public to review and provide input on its responses during the comment period specified in the DATES section. The EPA sent its responses directly to the states and tribes on or about February 7, 2013. These responses focus on designating as “nonattainment” certain areas of the country where air monitoring data from 2009-2011 indicate violations of the 2010 SO 2 NAAQS. The EPA intends to make final the designation determinations for the areas of the country addressed by these responses in June 2013.

On April 4, 2012, the State of Georgia, through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD), submitted a request for EPA to redesignate the Atlanta, Georgia 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the “Atlanta Area” or “Area”) to attainment for the 1997 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); and to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a maintenance plan for the Area. The Atlanta Area consists of Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton Counties in their entireties. EPA is proposing to approve the redesignation request for the Area, along with the related SIP revision, including Georgia's plan for maintaining attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in the Area. EPA is also proposing to approve the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NO X ) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) for the year 2024 for the Area. These actions are being proposed pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and its implementing regulations.

The EPA is proposing to approve in part and disapprove in part the Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) submitted by the State of Idaho on December 14, 2011, for the Sandpoint nonattainment area (Sandpoint NAA) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM 10 ), and to approve the State's request to redesignate this area to attainment for the PM 10 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The EPA is proposing to disapprove a separable part of the Sandpoint NAA LMP that does not meet LMP eligibility criteria or applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The part of the Sandpoint NAA LMP that the EPA is proposing to approve complies with applicable requirements and meets the requirements of the CAA for full approval. The EPA is also proposing to approve the State's redesignation request because it meets CAA requirements for redesignation.

EPA is approving: the State of New Hampshire's request to redesignate the Boston-Manchester-Portsmouth (SE), New Hampshire moderate 8-hour ozone nonattainment area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS); a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a 10-year ozone maintenance plan for this area; a 2008 comprehensive emissions inventory for the area; and new motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for the years 2008 and 2022 that are contained in the 10-year ozone maintenance plan for this area.

EPA is taking final action to approve a request submitted on June 17, 2010, from the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), Air Division, to redesignate the Birmingham fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the “Birmingham Area” or “Area”) to attainment for the 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Birmingham 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 nonattainment area is comprised of Jefferson and Shelby Counties in their entireties and a portion of Walker County. EPA's approval of the redesignation request is based on the determination that the State of Alabama has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment set forth in the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), including the determination that the Birmingham Area has attained the 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is approving a revision to the Alabama state implementation plan (SIP) to include the 2006 24-hour PM 2.5 maintenance plan for the Birmingham Area that contains the new 2024 motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NO X ) and PM 2.5 . This action also approves the 2009 emissions inventory submitted with the maintenance plan.

EPA is taking final action to approve a request submitted on May 2, 2011, from the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), Air Division, to redesignate the Birmingham fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the “Birmingham Area” or “Area”) to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM 2.5 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Birmingham 1997 Annual PM 2.5 nonattainment area is comprised of Jefferson and Shelby Counties in their entireties and a portion of Walker County. EPA's approval of the redesignation request is based on the determination that the State of Alabama has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment set forth in the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), including the determination that the Birmingham Area has attained the 1997 Annual PM 2.5 NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is approving a revision to the Alabama state implementation plan (SIP) to include the 1997 Annual PM 2.5 maintenance plan for the Birmingham Area that contains the new 2024 motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NO X ) and PM 2.5 . This action also approves the 2009 emissions inventory submitted with the maintenance plan.

EPA is taking final action to approve, as a revision of the Nevada state implementation plan, the State's plan for maintaining the 1997 8-hour ozone standard in Clark County for ten years beyond redesignation, and the related motor vehicle emissions budgets, because they meet the applicable requirements for such plans and budgets. EPA is also taking final action to approve a request from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to redesignate the Clark County ozone nonattainment area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard because the area meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act.

EPA is proposing to correct an error in a previous rulemaking that revised the boundaries between nonattainment areas in Southern California established under the Clean Air Act for the purposes of addressing the revoked national ambient air quality standard for one-hour ozone. EPA is also proposing to revise the boundaries of certain Southern California air quality planning areas to designate the Indian country of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, California (Morongo Reservation) as a separate air quality planning area for the one-hour and 1997 eight-hour ozone standards.

EPA is approving, under the Clean Air Act (CAA), the state of Ohio's request to redesignate the Ohio portion of the Huntington-Ashland (OH-WV-KY) nonattainment area (Lawrence, Scioto, and portions of Adams and Gallia Counties) to attainment for the 1997 annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) for fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ). The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) submitted its request on May 4, 2011. EPA determined that the entire Huntington-Ashland area has attained the 1997 annual PM 2.5 standard, and proposed to approve Ohio's request to redesignate the Ohio portion of the area on December 22, 2011. EPA's final rulemaking involves several related actions. EPA has determined that the entire Huntington-Ashland area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM 2.5 standard. EPA is approving, as a revision to the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP), the state's plan for maintaining the 1997 annual PM 2.5 NAAQS in the area through 2022. EPA is also approving the 2005 and 2008 emissions inventories for the Ohio portion of the Huntington-Ashland area as meeting the comprehensive emissions inventory requirement of the CAA. EPA finds adequate and is making a finding of insignificance for Ohio motor vehicle emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO X ) and direct PM 2.5 for the Huntington-Ashland area. EPA, therefore, grants Ohio's request to redesignate the Ohio portion of the Huntington-Ashland area to attainment for the 1997 PM 2.5 annual standard.