`[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 17, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 101901-101910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29137]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 81

[EPA-R05-OAR-2024-0546; FRL-12410-01-R5]


Findings of Failure To Attain and Reclassification of Areas in 
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin as Serious for the 
2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final determination.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is determining that 
the Allegan County, MI; Berrien County, MI; Chicago, IL-IN-WI; 
Cleveland, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Muskegon County, MI; Sheboygan County, 
WI; and Illinois portion of the St. Louis, MO-IL areas failed to attain 
the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by the 
applicable attainment date. The effect of failing to attain by the 
applicable attainment date is that the areas will be reclassified by 
operation of law to ``Serious'' nonattainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS 
on January 16, 2025, the effective date of this final rule. This action 
fulfills EPA's obligation under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to determine 
whether ozone nonattainment areas attained the NAAQS by the attainment 
date and to publish a document in the Federal Register identifying each 
area that is determined as having failed to attain and identifying the 
reclassification.

DATES: This final rule is effective on January 16, 2025.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
No. EPA-R05-OAR-2024-0546. All documents in the docket are listed on 
the https://www.regulations.gov website. Although listed in the index, 
some information is not publicly available, i.e., Confidential Business 
Information (CBI), Proprietary Business Information (PBI), 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 through https://www.regulations.gov or at the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 
5, Air and Radiation Division, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 
Illinois 60604. This facility is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. We recommend that 
you telephone Eric Svingen, Environmental Engineer, at (312) 353-4489 
before visiting the Region 5 office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Svingen, Air and Radiation 
Division (AR-18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-4489, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Overview of Action

    EPA is required to determine whether areas designated nonattainment 
for an ozone NAAQS attained the standard by the applicable attainment 
date, and to take certain steps for areas that failed to attain (see 
CAA section 181(b)(2)). EPA's determination of attainment for the 2015 
ozone NAAQS is based on a nonattainment area's design value (DV) as of 
the attainment date.\1\
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    \1\ A DV is a statistic used to compare data collected at an 
ambient air quality monitoring site to the applicable NAAQS to 
determine compliance with the standard. The data handling 
conventions for calculating DVs for the 2015 ozone NAAQS are 
specified in appendix U to 40 CFR part 50. The DV for the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS is the 3-year average of the annual fourth highest daily 
maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration. The DV is calculated for 
each air quality monitor in an area, and the DV for an area is the 
highest DV among the individual monitoring sites located in the 
area.
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    The 2015 ozone NAAQS is met at an EPA regulatory monitoring site 
when the DV does not exceed 0.070 parts per million (ppm). For the 
Moderate nonattainment areas for the 2015 ozone NAAQS addressed in this 
action, the attainment date was August 3, 2024. Because the DV is based 
on the three most recent, complete calendar years of data, attainment 
must occur no later than December 31 of the year prior to the 
attainment date (i.e., December 31, 2023, in the case of Moderate 
nonattainment areas for the 2015 ozone NAAQS). As such, EPA's 
determinations for each area are based upon the complete, quality-
assured, and certified ozone monitoring data from calendar years 2021, 
2022, and 2023.
    This action addresses eight areas in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 
Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin that were classified as Moderate for the 
2015 ozone NAAQS as of the Moderate area attainment date of August 3, 
2024. EPA is addressing the remaining areas, including the Missouri 
portion of the St. Louis area, in separate actions. Table 1 provides a 
summary of the DVs and the EPA's air quality-based determinations

[[Page 101902]]

for the eight Moderate areas addressed in this action.

 Table 1--Summary of Nonattainment Areas in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,
 Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin Classified as Moderate for the 2015 Ozone
                                  NAAQS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 2021-2023
     Nonattainment area        design value        Attainment by the
                                (DV) (ppm)          attainment date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allegan County, MI..........           0.075  Failed to attain.
Berrien County, MI..........           0.073  Failed to attain.
Chicago, IL-IN-WI...........           0.077  Failed to attain.
Cleveland, OH...............           0.073  Failed to attain.
Milwaukee, WI...............           0.074  Failed to attain.
Muskegon County, MI.........           0.077  Failed to attain.
Sheboygan County, WI........           0.077  Failed to attain.
St. Louis, MO-IL............           0.074  Failed to attain.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    EPA is finding that the eight Moderate areas in Table 1 did not 
attain by their attainment dates, because their 2021-2023 DVs are 
greater than 0.070 ppm. If EPA determines that a nonattainment area 
classified as Moderate failed to attain by the attainment date, CAA 
section 181(b)(2)(B) requires EPA to publish a determination in the 
Federal Register, no later than 6 months following the attainment date, 
identifying each such area and identifying the applicable 
reclassification.
    Under CAA section 181(b)(2)(A), the effect of this determination is 
that these eight areas will be reclassified by operation of law as 
Serious on the effective date of this final rule. The reclassified 
areas will then be subject to the Serious area requirement to attain 
the 2015 ozone NAAQS as expeditiously as practicable, but not later 
than August 3, 2027.
    Once reclassified as Serious, the relevant States must submit to 
EPA the SIP revisions for these areas that satisfy the statutory and 
regulatory requirements applicable to Serious areas established in CAA 
section 182(c) and in the 2015 Ozone NAAQS SIP Requirements Rule (see 
83 FR 62998, December 6, 2018). EPA is establishing deadlines for 
submitting SIP revisions for these reclassified areas in a separate 
action.

II. What is the background for this action?

    On October 26, 2015, EPA issued its final action to revise the 
NAAQS for ozone to establish a new 8-hour standard (see 80 FR 65452, 
October 26, 2015). In that action, EPA promulgated identical tighter 
primary and secondary ozone standards designed to protect public health 
and welfare that specified an 8-hour ozone level of 0.070 ppm. 
Specifically, the standards require that the 3-year average of the 
annual fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration 
may not exceed 0.070 ppm.
    Effective on August 3, 2018, EPA designated 52 areas throughout the 
country as nonattainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS (see 83 FR 25776, 
June 4, 2018). In a separate action, EPA assigned classification 
thresholds and attainment dates based on the severity of an area's 
ozone problem, determined by the area's DV (see 83 FR 10376, May 8, 
2018). EPA established the attainment date for Marginal, Moderate, and 
Serious nonattainment areas as 3 years, 6 years, and 9 years, 
respectively, from the effective date of the final designations. Thus, 
the attainment date for Marginal nonattainment areas for the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS was August 3, 2021, the attainment date for Moderate areas was 
August 3, 2024, and the attainment date for Serious areas is August 3, 
2027. On October 7, 2022 (87 FR 60897), EPA determined that 22 areas, 
including the eight areas addressed in this action, did not attain the 
standards by the Marginal attainment date, and these areas were 
reclassified as Moderate by operation of law.

III. What is the statutory authority for this action?

    The statutory authority for these determinations is provided by the 
CAA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). Relevant portions of the CAA 
include, but are not necessarily limited to, sections 181 and 182.
    CAA section 107(d) provides that when the EPA establishes or 
revises a NAAQS, the agency must designate areas of the country as 
nonattainment, attainment, or unclassifiable based on whether an area 
is not meeting (or is contributing to air quality in a nearby area that 
is not meeting) the NAAQS, meeting the NAAQS, or cannot be classified 
as meeting or not meeting the NAAQS, respectively. Subpart 2 of part D 
of title I of the CAA governs the classification, State planning, and 
emissions control requirements for any areas designated as 
nonattainment for a revised primary ozone NAAQS. In particular, CAA 
section 181(a)(1) requires each area designated as nonattainment for a 
revised ozone NAAQS to be classified at the same time as the area is 
designated based on the extent of the ozone problem in the area (as 
determined based on the area's DV). Classifications for ozone 
nonattainment areas are ``Marginal,'' ``Moderate,'' ``Serious,'' 
``Severe,'' and ``Extreme,'' in order of stringency. CAA section 182 
provides the specific attainment planning and additional requirements 
that apply to each ozone nonattainment area based on its 
classification.
    Section 181(b)(2)(A) of the CAA requires that within 6 months 
following the applicable attainment date, EPA shall determine whether 
an ozone nonattainment area attained the ozone standard based on the 
area's DV as of that date. Under CAA section 181(a)(5) as interpreted 
by EPA in 40 CFR 51.1307, upon application by any State, EPA may grant 
a 1-year extension to the attainment date when certain criteria are 
met. One criterion for a first attainment date extension is that an 
area's fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour value for the attainment 
year must not exceed the level of the standard.
    In the event an area fails to attain the ozone NAAQS by the 
applicable attainment date and is not granted a 1-year attainment date 
extension, CAA section 181(b)(2)(A) requires the EPA to make the 
determination that an ozone nonattainment area failed to attain the 
ozone standard by the applicable attainment date, and requires the area 
to be reclassified by operation of law to the

[[Page 101903]]

higher of: (1) The next higher classification for the area, or (2) the 
classification applicable to the area's DV as of the determination of 
failure to attain.\2\ Section 181(b)(2)(B) of the CAA requires EPA to 
publish the determination of failure to attain and accompanying 
reclassification in the Federal Register no later than 6 months after 
the attainment date, which in the case of the Moderate nonattainment 
areas considered in this determination is February 3, 2025.
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    \2\ All nonattainment areas named in this action that failed to 
attain by the attainment date would be classified to the next higher 
classification, Serious. None of the affected areas has a DV that 
would otherwise place an area in a higher classification.
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    Once an area is reclassified, each State that contains a 
reclassified area is required to submit certain SIP revisions in 
accordance with its more stringent classification. The SIP revisions 
are intended to, among other things, demonstrate how the area will 
attain the NAAQS as expeditiously as practicable, but no later than 
August 3, 2027, the Serious area attainment date for the 2015 ozone 
NAAQS. Per CAA section 182(i), a State with a reclassified ozone 
nonattainment area must submit the applicable attainment plan 
requirements ``according to the schedules prescribed in connection with 
such requirements'' in CAA section 182(c) for Serious areas, but EPA 
``may adjust applicable deadlines (other than attainment dates) to the 
extent such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to assure 
consistency among the required submissions.'' EPA is addressing the SIP 
revision and implementation deadlines for newly reclassified Serious 
areas, as well as the continued applicability of Moderate area 
requirements that these areas may not yet have met, in a separate 
rulemaking.

IV. How does EPA determine whether an area has attained the standard?

    The level of the 2015 ozone NAAQS is 0.070 ppm.\3\ Under EPA 
regulations at 40 CFR part 50, appendix U, the 2015 ozone NAAQS is 
attained at a site when the 3-year average of the annual fourth highest 
daily maximum 8-hour average ambient ozone concentration (i.e., DV) 
does not exceed 0.070 ppm. When the DV does not exceed 0.070 ppm at 
each ambient air quality monitoring site within the area, the area is 
deemed to be attaining the ozone NAAQS. Each area's DV is determined by 
the highest DV among monitors with valid DVs.\4\ The data handling 
convention in appendix P dictates that concentrations shall be reported 
in ``ppm'' to the third decimal place, with additional digits to the 
right being truncated. Thus, a computed 3-year average ozone 
concentration of 0.071 ppm is greater than 0.070 ppm and would exceed 
the standard, but a computed 3-year average ozone concentration of 
0.0709 ppm is truncated to 0.070 ppm and attains the 2015 ozone NAAQS.
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    \3\ See 40 CFR 50.19.
    \4\ According to appendix U to 40 CFR part 50, ambient 
monitoring sites with a DV of 0.070 ppm or less must meet minimum 
data completeness requirements in order to be considered valid. 
These requirements are met for a 3-year period at a site if daily 
maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations are available for at 
least 90% of the days within the ozone monitoring season, on 
average, for the 3-year period, with a minimum of at least 75% of 
the days within the ozone monitoring season in any one year. Ozone 
monitoring seasons are defined for each State in appendix D to 40 
CFR part 58. DVs greater than 0.070 ppm are considered to be valid 
regardless of the data completeness.
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    EPA's determination of attainment is based upon hourly ozone 
concentration data for calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023 that have 
been collected and quality-assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58 
and reported to EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database.\5\
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    \5\ EPA maintains the AQS, a database that contains ambient air 
pollution data collected by EPA, State, local, and tribal air 
pollution control agencies. The AQS also contains meteorological 
data, descriptive information about each monitoring station 
(including its geographic location and its operator) and data 
quality assurance/quality control information. The AQS data is used 
to (1) assess air quality, (2) assist in attainment/non-attainment 
designations, (3) evaluate SIPs for non-attainment areas, (4) 
perform modeling for permit review analysis, and (5) prepare reports 
for Congress as mandated by the CAA. Access is through the website 
at https://www.epa.gov/aqs.
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    State and local monitoring network plans are subject to approval by 
EPA on an annual basis and any interim modifications to those plans 
must also be approved by EPA.\6\ The annual monitoring network plan 
process is provided in 40 CFR 58.10 and the requirements governing 
system modifications and monitor discontinuations are laid out in 40 
CFR 58.14. Where State or local agencies seek to modify the ambient air 
quality monitoring networks by discontinuing a monitor station, EPA may 
approve such modifications subject to the criteria established in 40 
CFR 58.14(c). EPA may not approve such discontinuation if doing so 
would compromise data collection needed for implementation of a NAAQS. 
If a monitor has been discontinued subject to 40 CFR 58.14 such that 
the discontinuation results in insufficient data to calculate a valid 
DV according to appendix U to 40 CFR part 50, EPA will determine the 
applicable area's attainment status based on the remaining monitors in 
the area.
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    \6\ Annual monitoring network plans for each State are available 
at https://www.epa.gov/amtic/state-monitoring-agency-annual-air-monitoring-plans-and-network-assessments.
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V. What is EPA's determination for the areas?

    EPA is determining that the eight Moderate nonattainment areas 
addressed in this action failed to attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS by the 
attainment date of August 3, 2024. The eight areas are: Allegan County, 
MI; Berrien County, MI; Chicago, IL-IN-WI; Cleveland, OH; Milwaukee, 
WI; Muskegon County, MI; Sheboygan County, WI; and the Illinois portion 
of the St. Louis, MO-IL area. As shown in Table 1, at least one monitor 
in each of these areas had a 2021-2023 DV greater than 0.070 ppm. EPA 
has further determined that these areas did not meet the requirement 
under section 181(a)(5)(B) and 40 CFR 51.1307 necessary to grant a 1-
year extension of the attainment date, because at least one monitor in 
each area had a 2023 fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average that 
was greater than 0.070 ppm. Table 2 through Table 9 show the annual 
fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentration and 
2021-2023 DV for each monitor in the eight areas.

[[Page 101904]]



  Table 2--2021-2023 Fourth Highest Daily Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentrations and Design Values at all Monitors in the Allegan County, MI Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone
                                                                                                     concentration (ppm)                    2021-2023
             AQS Site ID                      County                   State         ---------------------------------------------------   design value
                                                                                            2021             2022             2023          (DV) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26-005-0003.........................  Allegan...............  Michigan..............           0.078            0.073            0.075            0.075
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  Table 3--2021-2023 Fourth Highest Daily Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentrations and Design Values at All Monitors in the Berrien County, MI Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone
                                                                                                     concentration (ppm)                    2021-2023
             AQS Site ID                      County                   State         ---------------------------------------------------   design value
                                                                                            2021             2022             2023          (DV) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26-021-0014.........................  Berrien...............  Michigan..............           0.069            0.074            0.078            0.073
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   Table 4--2021-2023 Fourth Highest Daily Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentrations and Design Values at All Monitors in the Chicago, IL-IN-WI Area
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                                                                                            Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average
                                                                                                     ozone concentration (ppm)               2021-2023
             AQS Site ID                        County                    State          ------------------------------------------------  design value
                                                                                               2021            2022            2023         (DV) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17-031-0001..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.068           0.073           0.082           0.074
17-031-0032..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.077           0.072           0.083           0.077
17-031-0076..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.070           0.074           0.080           0.074
17-031-1003..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.068           0.070           0.073           0.070
17-031-1601..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.072           0.071           0.081           0.074
17-031-3103..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.060           0.062           0.081           0.067
17-031-4002..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.067           0.068           0.080           0.071
17-031-4007..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.069           0.070           0.083           0.074
17-031-4201..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.075           0.070           0.086           0.077
17-031-7002..........................  Cook....................  Illinois...............           0.078           0.071           0.081           0.076
17-043-6001..........................  DuPage..................  Illinois...............           0.069           0.068           0.082           0.073
17-089-0005..........................  Kane....................  Illinois...............           0.068           0.070           0.084           0.074
17-097-1007..........................  Lake....................  Illinois...............           0.077           0.070           0.081           0.076
17-111-0001..........................  McHenry.................  Illinois...............           0.069           0.070           0.084           0.074
17-197-1011..........................  Will....................  Illinois...............           0.065           0.064           0.080           0.069
18-089-0022..........................  Lake....................  Indiana................           0.070           0.071           0.076           0.072
18-089-2008..........................  Lake....................  Indiana................           0.068           0.069           0.075           0.070
18-127-0024..........................  Porter..................  Indiana................           0.072           0.073           0.077           0.074
18-127-0026..........................  Porter..................  Indiana................           0.066           0.067           0.072           0.068
55-059-0019..........................  Kenosha.................  Wisconsin..............           0.079           0.070           0.084           0.077
55-059-0025..........................  Kenosha.................  Wisconsin..............           0.072           0.071           0.080           0.074
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     Table 5--2021-2023 Fourth Highest Daily Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentrations and Design Values at All Monitors in the Cleveland, OH Area
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                                                                                            Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average
                                                                                                     ozone concentration (ppm)               2021-2023
             AQS Site ID                        County                    State          ------------------------------------------------  design value
                                                                                               2021            2022            2023         (DV) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39-035-0034..........................  Cuyahoga................  Ohio...................           0.070           0.073           0.071           0.071
39-035-0060..........................  Cuyahoga................  Ohio...................           0.059           0.061           0.065           0.061
39-035-0064..........................  Cuyahoga................  Ohio...................           0.069           0.065           0.075           0.069
39-035-5002..........................  Cuyahoga................  Ohio...................           0.068           0.065           0.073           0.068
39-055-0004..........................  Geauga..................  Ohio...................           0.067           0.064           0.066           0.065
39-085-0003..........................  Lake....................  Ohio...................           0.072           0.076           0.072           0.073
39-085-0007..........................  Lake....................  Ohio...................           0.063           0.062           0.073           0.066
39-093-0018..........................  Lorain..................  Ohio...................           0.059           0.063           0.064           0.062
39-103-0004..........................  Medina..................  Ohio...................           0.065           0.067           0.072           0.068
39-133-1001..........................  Portage.................  Ohio...................           0.067           0.071           0.070           0.069
39-153-0026..........................  Summit..................  Ohio...................           0.066           0.069           0.071           0.068
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[[Page 101905]]


     Table 6--2021-2023 Fourth Highest Daily Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentrations and Design Values at All Monitors in the Milwaukee, WI Area
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                                                                                            Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average
                                                                                                     ozone concentration (ppm)               2021-2023
             AQS Site ID                        County                    State          ------------------------------------------------  design value
                                                                                               2021            2022            2023         (DV) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55-0790010...........................  Milwaukee...............  Wisconsin..............           0.066           0.065           0.068           0.066
55-079-0068..........................  Milwaukee...............  Wisconsin..............           0.071           0.070           0.076           0.072
55-079-0085..........................  Milwaukee...............  Wisconsin..............           0.072           0.074           0.076           0.074
55-089-0008..........................  Ozaukee.................  Wisconsin..............           0.072           0.072           0.077           0.073
55-089-0009..........................  Ozaukee.................  Wisconsin..............           0.073           0.071           0.077           0.073
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  Table 7--2021-2023 Fourth Highest Daily Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentrations and Design Values at All Monitors in the Muskegon County, MI Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                      Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone
                                                                                                     concentration (ppm)                    2021-2023
             AQS Site ID                      County                   State         ---------------------------------------------------   design value
                                                                                            2021             2022             2023          (DV) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26-121-0039.........................  Muskegon..............  Michigan..............           0.075            0.082            0.075            0.077
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 Table 8--2021-2023 Fourth Highest Daily Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentrations and Design Values at All Monitors in the Sheboygan County, WI Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average
                                                                                                     ozone concentration (ppm)               2021-2023
             AQS Site ID                        County                    State          ------------------------------------------------  design value
                                                                                               2021            2022            2023         (DV) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55-117-0006..........................  Sheboygan...............  Wisconsin..............           0.073           0.077           0.082           0.077
55-117-0009..........................  Sheboygan...............  Wisconsin..............           0.066           0.071           0.074           0.070
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Table 9--2021-2023 Fourth Highest Daily Maximum 8-Hour Average Ozone Concentrations and Design Values at All Monitors in the St. Louis, MO-IL Area
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            Fourth highest daily maximum 8-hour average
                                                                                                     ozone concentration (ppm)               2021-2023
             AQS Site ID                        County                    State          ------------------------------------------------  design value
                                                                                               2021            2022            2023         (DV) (ppm)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17-119-0120..........................  Madison.................  Illinois...............           0.070           0.076           0.078           0.074
17-119-0122..........................  Madison.................  Illinois...............           0.070           0.067           0.078           0.071
17-1193007...........................  Madison.................  Illinois...............           0.070           0.072           0.077           0.073
17-163-0010..........................  St. Clair...............  Illinois...............           0.070           0.066           0.067           0.077
29-099-0019..........................  Jefferson...............  Missouri...............           0.073           0.067           0.078           0.072
29-183-1002..........................  St. Charles.............  Missouri...............           0.067           0.071           0.080           0.072
29-183-1004..........................  St. Charles.............  Missouri...............           0.065           0.067           0.073           0.068
29-510-0085..........................  St. Louis City..........  Missouri...............           0.068           0.068           0.077           0.071
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. What action is EPA taking?

    Pursuant to CAA section 181(b)(2), EPA is determining that the 
Allegan County, MI; Berrien County, MI; Chicago, IL-IN-WI; Cleveland, 
OH; Milwaukee, WI; Muskegon County, MI; Sheboygan County, WI; and 
Illinois portion of the St. Louis, MO-IL areas failed to attain the 
2015 ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of August 3, 2024. 
Therefore, upon the effective date of this final action, these areas 
will be reclassified, by operation of law, to Serious for the 2015 
ozone NAAQS. Once reclassified as Serious, these areas will be required 
to attain the standard ``as expeditiously as practicable'' but no later 
than 9 years after the initial designation as nonattainment, which in 
this case would be no later than August 3, 2027.
    Section 553 of the APA, 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), provides that, when an 
agency for good cause finds that notice and public procedures are 
impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest, the 
agency may issue a rule without providing notice and an opportunity for 
public comment. EPA has determined that there is good cause for making 
this final agency action without prior proposal and opportunity for 
comment because our action to determine whether these areas have 
attained the NAAQS by the attainment date is governed, per CAA section 
181(b)(2)(A), solely by area design values as of that date. The area 
design values relied upon in this determination are calculations based 
on the certified air quality monitoring data governed by EPA's 
regulations and

[[Page 101906]]

involve no judgment or discretion. Thus, notice and public procedures 
are unnecessary to take this action. EPA finds that this constitutes 
good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B).

VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review, and Executive 
Order 14094: Modernizing Regulatory Review

    This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the 
terms of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993) and is 
therefore not subject to review under Executive Order 14094 (88 FR 
21879, April 11, 2023).

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This rule does not impose an information collection burden under 
the provisions of the PRA of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This action 
does not contain any information collection activities and serves only 
to make final determinations that the Allegan County, MI; Berrien 
County, MI; Chicago, IL-IN-WI; Cleveland, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Muskegon 
County, MI; Sheboygan County, WI; and Illinois portion of the St. 
Louis, MO-IL nonattainment areas failed to attain the 2015 ozone 
standards by the August 3, 2024, attainment date where such areas will 
be reclassified as Serious nonattainment for the 2015 ozone standards 
by operation of law upon the effective date of the final 
reclassification action.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    I certify that this action will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the RFA (5 
U.S.C. 601 et seq.). This action will not impose any requirements on 
small entities. The determination of failure to attain the 2015 ozone 
standards (and resulting reclassifications), do not in and of 
themselves create any new requirements beyond what is mandated by the 
CAA. This final action would require the State to adopt and submit SIP 
revisions to satisfy CAA requirements and would not itself directly 
regulate any small entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described in 
UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538 and does not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. The action imposes no enforceable duty on any State, 
local or Tribal governments or the private sector.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    This action does not have federalism implications. It will not have 
substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between 
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government. The 
division of responsibility between the Federal government and the 
States for purposes of implementing the NAAQS is established under the 
CAA.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian 
Tribal Governments

    This action has Tribal implications. However, it will neither 
impose substantial direct compliance costs on federally recognized 
Tribal governments, nor preempt Tribal law.
    EPA has identified one Tribal area within the nonattainment areas 
covered by this rulemaking, that would be potentially affected by this 
final action. Specifically, the boundaries of the Berrien County, MI 
area contains the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.
    EPA has concluded that the final rule may have Tribal implications 
for this Tribe for the purposes of Executive Order 13175 but would not 
impose substantial direct costs upon the Tribe, nor would it preempt 
Tribal law. A Tribe that is part of an area that is reclassified from 
Moderate to Serious nonattainment is not required to submit a Tribal 
implementation plan revision to address new Moderate area requirements.
    However, certain permitting requirements will change for stationary 
sources seeking preconstruction permits in any nonattainment areas 
newly reclassified as Serious, including on Tribal lands within these 
nonattainment areas.
    EPA has communicated or intends to communicate with the potentially 
affected Tribe located within the boundaries of the nonattainment areas 
addressed in this final action, including offering government-to-
government consultation, as appropriate.

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children From Environmental 
Health and Safety Risks

    EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) 
as applying to those regulatory actions that concern environmental 
health or safety risks that EPA has reason to believe may 
disproportionately affect children, per the definition of ``covered 
regulatory action'' in section 2-202 of the Executive Order. This 
action is not subject to Executive Order 13045 because it does not 
establish an environmental standard intended to mitigate health or 
safety risks.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use

    This action is not subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, 
May 22, 2001) because it is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA)

    This rulemaking does not involve technical standards. Therefore, 
EPA is not considering the use of any voluntary consensus standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

    Executive Order 12898 (Federal Actions To Address Environmental 
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations, 59 FR 7629, 
February 16, 1994) directs Federal agencies to identify and address 
``disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental 
effects'' of their actions on communities with environmental justice 
(EJ) concerns to the greatest extent practicable and permitted by law. 
Executive Order 14096 (Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to 
Environmental Justice for All, 88 FR 25251, April 26, 2023) builds on 
and supplements E.O. 12898 and defines EJ as, among other things, the 
just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of 
income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability 
in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect 
human health and the environment.
    EPA did not perform an EJ analysis and did not consider EJ in this 
action. Due to the nature of the action being taken here, this action 
is expected to have a neutral to positive impact on the air quality of 
the affected area. Consideration of EJ is not required as part of this 
action, and there is no information in the record inconsistent with the 
stated goal of E.O. 12898/14096 of achieving EJ for communities with EJ 
concerns.

K. Congressional Review Act

    This rule is exempt from the CRA because it is a rule of particular 
applicability. The rule makes factual determinations for identified 
entities (the Allegan County, MI; Berrien County, MI; Chicago, IL-IN-
WI;

[[Page 101907]]

Cleveland, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Muskegon County, MI; Sheboygan County, 
WI; and Illinois portion of the St. Louis, MO-IL areas), based on facts 
and circumstances specific to those entities. The determinations of 
attainment and failure to attain the 2015 ozone NAAQS do not in 
themselves create any new requirements beyond what is mandated by the 
CAA.

L. Judicial Review

    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 February 18, 2025. Filing a petition for 
reconsideration by the Administrator of this action 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 this 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 81

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, 
Air pollution control, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, 
Ozone, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Volatile organic 
compounds.

    Dated: December 6, 2024.
Debra Shore,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble the Environmental Protection 
Agency amends title 40 CFR part 81 as follows:

PART 81--DESIGNATION OF AREAS FOR AIR QUALITY PLANNING PURPOSES

0
1. The authority citation for part 81 continues to read as follows:

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

0
2. Section 81.314 is amended in the table for ``Illinois--2015 8-Hour 
Ozone NAAQS [Primary and Secondary]'' by revising the entry for 
``Chicago, IL-IN-WI'' to read as follows:


Sec.  81.314  Illinois.

* * * * *

                                        Illinois--2015 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
                                             [Primary and Secondary]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Designation                           Classification
       Designated area \1\       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Date \2\              Type              Date \2\              Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago, IL-IN-WI:..............      \3\ 7/14/2021  Nonattainment......          1/16/2025  Serious.
    Cook County.
    DuPage County.
    Grundy County (part):
        Aux Sable Township and
         Goose Lake Township.
    Kane County.
    Kendall County (part):
        Oswego Township.
    Lake County.
    McHenry County.
    Will County.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes any Indian country in each county or area, unless otherwise specified. EPA is not determining the
  boundaries of any area of Indian country in this table, including any area of Indian country located in the
  larger designation area. The inclusion of any Indian country in the designation area is not a determination
  that the State has regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act for such Indian country.
\2\ This date is August 3, 2018, unless otherwise noted.
\3\ EPA revised the nonattainment boundary in response to a court decision, which did not vacate any
  designations for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, but which remanded the designation for the identified county. Because
  this additional area is part of a previously designated nonattainment area, the implementation dates for the
  overall nonattainment area (e.g., the August 3, 2021 attainment date) remain unchanged regardless of this
  later designation date.

* * * * *

0
3. Section 81.315 is amended in the table for ``Indiana--2015 8-Hour 
Ozone NAAQS [Primary and Secondary]'' by revising the entry for 
``Chicago, IL-IN-WI'' to read as follows:


Sec.  81.315  Indiana.

* * * * *

                                        Indiana--2015 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
                                             [Primary and Secondary]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Designation                           Classification
       Designated area \1\       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Date \2\              Type              Date \2\              Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago, IL-IN-WI:..............      \3\ 7/14/2021  Nonattainment......          1/16/2025  Serious.
    Lake County (part):
        Calumet Township, Hobart
         Township, North
         Township, Ross
         Township, and St. John
         Township.
    Porter County (part):

[[Page 101908]]

 
        Center Township, Jackson
         Township, Liberty
         Township, Pine
         Township, Portage
         Township, Union
         Township, Washington
         Township, and
         Westchester Township.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes any Indian country in each county or area, unless otherwise specified. EPA is not determining the
  boundaries of any area of Indian country in this table, including any area of Indian country located in the
  larger designation area. The inclusion of any Indian country in the designation area is not a determination
  that the state has regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act for such Indian country.
\2\ This date is August 3, 2018, unless otherwise noted.
\3\ EPA revised the nonattainment boundary in response to a court decision, which did not vacate any
  designations for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, but which remanded the designation for the identified county. Because
  this additional area is part of a previously designated nonattainment area, the implementation dates for the
  overall nonattainment area (e.g., the August 3, 2021 attainment date) remain unchanged regardless of this
  later designation date.

* * * * *

0
4. Section 81.323 is amended in the table for ``Michigan--2015 8-Hour 
Ozone NAAQS [Primary and Secondary]'' by revising the entries for 
``Allegan County, MI'', ``Berrien County, MI'', and ``Muskegon County, 
MI'' to read as follows:


Sec.  81.323  Michigan.

* * * * *

                                        Michigan--2015 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
                                             [Primary and Secondary]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Designation                          Classification
        Designated area \1\         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Date \2\             Type             Date \2\             Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allegan County, MI                   .................  Nonattainment....          1/16/2025  Serious.
        Allegan County (part):
        Casco Township, Cheshire
         Township, City of Douglas,
         City of Holland, City of
         Saugatuck, Clyde Township,
         Fillmore Township, Ganges
         Township, Heath Township,
         Laketown Township, Lee
         Township, Manilus
         Township, Overisel
         Township, Saugatuck
         Township, and Valley
         Township.
Berrien County, MI:                  .................  Nonattainment....          1/16/2025  Serious.
    Berrien County.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Muskegon County, MI                  .................  Nonattainment....          1/16/2025  Serious.
    Muskegon County (part):
        Blue Lake Township, City of
         Montague, City of
         Muskegon, City of Muskegon
         Heights, City of North
         Muskegon, City of
         Roosevelt Park, City of
         Whitehall, Dalton
         Township, (incl. Village
         of Lakewood Club),
         Fruitland Township,
         Fruitport Township, (incl.
         Village of Fruitport),
         Laketon Township, Montague
         Township, Muskegon
         Township, Norton Shores
         Township, White River
         Township, and Whitehall
         Township.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes any Indian country in each county or area, unless otherwise specified. EPA is not determining the
  boundaries of any area of Indian country in this table, including any area of Indian country located in the
  larger designation area. The inclusion of any Indian country in the designation area is not a determination
  that the State has regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act for such Indian country.
\2\ This date is August 3, 2018, unless otherwise noted.

* * * * *

0
5. Section 81.336 is amended in the table for ``Ohio--2015 8-Hour Ozone 
NAAQS [Primary and Secondary]'' by revising the entry for ``Cleveland, 
OH'' to read as follows:


Sec.  81.336  Ohio.

* * * * *

[[Page 101909]]



                                          Ohio--2015 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
                                             [Primary and Secondary]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Designation                          Classification
        Designated area \1\         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Date \2\             Type             Date \2\             Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Cleveland, OH                        .................  Nonattainment....          1/16/2025  Serious.
    Cuyahoga County.
    Geauga County.
    Lake County.
    Lorain County.
    Medina County.
    Portage County.
    Summit County.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes any Indian country in each county or area, unless otherwise specified. EPA is not determining the
  boundaries of any area of Indian country in this table, including any area of Indian country located in the
  larger designation area. The inclusion of any Indian country in the designation area is not a determination
  that the State has regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act for such Indian country.
\2\ This date is August 3, 2018, unless otherwise noted.

* * * * *

0
6. Section 81.350 is amended in the table for ``Wisconsin--2015 8-Hour 
Ozone NAAQS [Primary and Secondary]'' by revising the entries for 
``Chicago IL-IN-WI'', ``Milwaukee, WI'', and ``Sheboygan County, WI'' 
to read as follows:


Sec.  81.350  Wisconsin.

* * * * *

                                       Wisconsin--2015 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS
                                             [Primary and Secondary]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Designation                           Classification
       Designated area \1\       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Date \2\              Type              Date \2\              Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chicago, IL-IN-WI...............      \5\ 7/14/2021  Nonattainment......          1/16/2025  Serious.
    Kenosha County (part):
        The portion of Kenosha
         County bounded by the
         Lake Michigan shoreline
         on the East, the
         Kenosha County boundary
         on the North, the
         Kenosha County boundary
         on the South, and the I-
         94 corridor (including
         the entire corridor) on
         the West.
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
Milwaukee, WI...................      \5\ 7/14/2021  Nonattainment......          1/16/2025  Serious.
    Milwaukee County.
    Ozaukee County.
    Racine County (part):
        Inclusive and east of
         the following roadways
         going from the northern
         county boundary to the
         southern county
         boundary: Highway 45 to
         Washington Ave. to
         South Beaumont Ave.
    Washington County (part):
        Inclusive and east of
         the following roadways
         going from the northern
         county boundary to the
         southern county
         boundary: County H to N
         Main St/Old US Hwy 45
         to WI-60 Trunk E to WI-
         164 S.
    Waukesha County (part):
        Going from the western
         county boundary to the
         southern county
         boundary: Inclusive and
         north of I-94 and
         inclusive and east of
         Highway 67.
Sheboygan County, WI............      \5\ 7/14/2021  Nonattainment......          1/16/2025  Serious.
    Sheboygan County (part):

[[Page 101910]]

 
        Inclusive and east of
         the following roadways
         with the boundary
         starting from north to
         south: Union Road which
         turns into County Road
         Y which turns into
         Highland Drive, to
         Lower Road which turns
         into Monroe Street, to
         Broadway/Main Street to
         Highway 32 which turns
         into Giddings Avenue to
         County Road W to County
         Road KW.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes any Indian country in each county or area, unless otherwise specified. EPA is not determining the
  boundaries of any area of Indian country in this table, including any area of Indian country located in the
  larger designation area. The inclusion of any Indian country in the designation area is not a determination
  that the State has regulatory authority under the Clean Air Act for such Indian country.
\2\ This date is August 3, 2018, unless otherwise noted.
\5\ EPA revised the nonattainment boundary in response to a court decision, which did not vacate any
  designations for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, but which remanded the designation for the identified county. Because
  this additional area is part of a previously designated nonattainment area, the associated implementation
  dates for the overall nonattainment area (e.g., the August 3, 2021 attainment date) remain unchanged
  regardless of this later designation date.

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2024-29137 Filed 12-16-24; 8:45 am]
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