2011-15616. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Georgia: Atlanta; Determination of Attainment for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standards

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is taking final action to determine that the Atlanta, Georgia 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) based on quality assured, quality controlled monitoring data from 2008-2010. The Atlanta, Georgia 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the “Atlanta Area” or “the Area”) is comprised of Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton Counties in Georgia. This determination is based upon complete, quality assured, quality controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the years 2008-2010 showing that the Atlanta Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. The requirement for the State of Georgia to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures (RACM) analyses, reasonable further progress (RFP) plans, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the Atlanta Area, shall be suspended for as long as the Area continues to meet the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.

DATES:

Effective Date: This final rule is effective on July 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID Number EPA-R04-OAR-2010-1036. All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the electronic docket, some information is not publicly available, i.e., confidential business information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically through http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy for public inspection during normal business hours at the Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jane Spann or Zuri Farngalo, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Ms. Spann may be reached by phone at [phone] or via electronic mail at [e-mail]. Mr. Farngalo may be reached by phone at [phone] or via electronic mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. What action is EPA taking?

II. What is the effect of this action?

III. What is EPA's final action?

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What action is EPA taking?

EPA is determining that the Atlanta Area has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This determination is based upon quality assured, quality controlled and certified ambient air monitoring data that shows the Atlanta Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on the 2008-2010 data.

Other specific requirements of the determination and the rationale for EPA's final action are explained in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) published on March 25, 2011, (76 FR 16718) and will not be restated here. The comment period closed on April 25, 2011. EPA did not receive any comments on the March 25, 2011, NPR.

II. What is the effect of this action?

This final action, in accordance with 40 CFR 51.918, suspends the requirements for the Atlanta Area to submit attainment demonstrations, associated RACM, RFP, contingency measures, and other planning SIPs related to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS as long as the Area continues to meet the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Finalizing this action does not constitute a redesignation of the Atlanta Area to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS under section 107(d)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). Further, finalizing this action does not involve approving maintenance plans for the Area as required under section 175A of the CAA, nor does it involve a determination that the Area has met all requirements for a redesignation.

III. What is EPA's final action?

EPA is taking final action to determine that the Atlanta Area has attaining data for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This determination is based upon quality assured, quality controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the Atlanta Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS during the period 2008-2010. This final action, in accordance with 40 CFR 51.918, will suspend the requirements for this Area to submit attainment demonstrations, associated RACM, RFP plans, contingency measures, and other planning SIPs related to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS as long as the Area continues to meet the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.

IV. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

This action makes a determination of attainment based on air quality, and will result in the suspension of certain federal requirements, and it will not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by State law. For that reason, this action:

• Is not a “significant regulatory action” subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993);
• Does not impose an information collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
• Is certified as not having a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.);
• Does not contain any unfunded mandate or significantly or uniquely affect small governments, as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4);
• Does not have Federalism implications as specified in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
• Is not an economically significant regulatory action based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);
• Is not a significant regulatory action subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
• Is not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because application of those requirements would be inconsistent with the CAA; and
• Does not provide EPA with the discretionary authority to address, as appropriate, disproportionate human health or environmental effects, using practicable and legally permissible methods, under Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).

The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the United States. EPA will submit a report containing this action and other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, petitions for judicial review of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the appropriate circuit by August 22, 2011. Filing a petition for reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor does it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its requirements. (See section 307(b)(2).)

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

• Environmental protection
• Air pollution control
• Intergovernmental relations
• Incorporation by reference
• Ozone
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Volatile organic compounds
• Oxides of nitrogen

Dated: June 9, 2011.

A. Stanley Meiburg,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.

40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Subpart L—Georgia

2. Section 52.582 is amended by adding paragraph (d) to read as follows:

§ 52.582

Control strategy: Ozone.

* * * * *

(d) Determination of attaining data. EPA has determined, as of June 23, 2011, the Atlanta, Georgia nonattainment area has attaining data for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This determination, in accordance with 40 CFR 51.918, suspends the requirements for this area to submit an attainment demonstration, associated reasonably available control measures, a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and other planning SIPs related to attainment of the standard for as long as this area continues to meet the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS.