Document ID: EPA-R04-OAR-2011-0316-0009
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Approvals and Promulgations of Implementation Plans and Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes: Alabama; Redesignation of the Birmingham 1997 Annual Fine Particulate Matter Nonattainment Area to Attainment
Posted Date: 2013-01-22T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 22, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4341-4346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-00954]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[EPA-R04-OAR-2011-0316; FRL-9771-1]

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation 
of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Alabama; Redesignation of 
the Birmingham 1997 Annual Fine Particulate Matter Nonattainment Area 
to Attainment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: 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 (PM2.5) nonattainment 
area (hereafter referred to as the ``Birmingham Area'' or

[[Page 4342]]

``Area'') to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM2.5 national 
ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Birmingham 1997 Annual 
PM2.5 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 PM2.5 NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is approving 
a revision to the Alabama state implementation plan (SIP) to include 
the 1997 Annual PM2.5 maintenance plan for the Birmingham 
Area that contains the new 2024 motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) 
for nitrogen oxides (NOX) and PM2.5. This action 
also approves the 2009 emissions inventory submitted with the 
maintenance plan.

DATES: Effective Date: This rule will be effective on February 21, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket 
Identification No. EPA-R04-OAR-2011-0316. All documents in the docket 
are listed on the www.regulations.gov Web site. Although listed in the 
index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., Confidential 
Business Information 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 www.regulations.gov or in hard 
copy 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. EPA requests that if at all possible, you contact the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to 
schedule your inspection. The Regional Office's official hours of 
business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding 
federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joel Huey, 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. Joel Huey may be reached by 
phone at (404) 562-9104 or via electronic mail at huey.joel@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. What is the background for the actions?
II. What are the actions EPA is taking?
III. Why is EPA taking these actions?
IV. What are the effects of these actions?
V. Final Action
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What is the background for the actions?

    As stated in our proposed approval notice published on November 10, 
2011 (76 FR 70078), this redesignation action addresses the Birmingham 
Area's status solely with respect to the 1997 Annual PM2.5 
NAAQS, for which designations were finalized on January 5, 2005 (70 FR 
944) and April 14, 2005 (70 FR 19844). On May 2, 2011, the State of 
Alabama, through ADEM, submitted a request to redesignate the 
Birmingham Area to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM2.5 
NAAQS and for EPA approval of the Alabama SIP revisions containing a 
maintenance plan for the Area. In the November 10, 2011, notice, EPA 
proposed to take the following three separate but related actions, some 
of which involve multiple elements: (1) To redesignate the Birmingham 
Area to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS, provided 
EPA approves the emissions inventory submitted with the maintenance 
plan; (2) to approve into the Alabama SIP, under section 175A of the 
CAA, Alabama's 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS maintenance plan, 
including the associated MVEBs; and (3) to approve, under CAA section 
172(c)(3), the emissions inventory submitted with the maintenance plan. 
No comments were received on the proposed action. EPA is now taking 
final action on the three actions identified above. Additional 
background for today's action, and other details regarding the proposed 
redesignation, is set forth in EPA's November 10, 2011, proposal and is 
summarized below. The following information also: (1) Affirms that the 
most recent available ambient monitoring data continue to support this 
redesignation action, (2) summarizes the NOX and 
PM2.5 MVEBs for the year 2024 for the Birmingham Area, and 
(3) provides additional information on events that have occurred since 
the November 10, 2011, proposal.
    With regard to the data, EPA has reviewed the most recent ambient 
monitoring data, which indicate that the Birmingham Area continues to 
attain the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS beyond the 3-year 
attainment period of 2008-2010, which was provided with Alabama's May 
2, 2011, submittal and request for redesignation. As stated in EPA's 
November 10, 2011, proposal notice, the 3-year design value of 13.7 
[mu]g/m\3\ for 2008-2010 meets the NAAQS of 15.0 [mu]g/m\3\. Quality 
assured and certified data now in EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) for 
2011 provide a 3-year design value of 12.9 [mu]g/m\3\ for 2009-2011. 
Furthermore, preliminary monitoring data for 2012 indicate that the 
Area is continuing to attain the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS. 
The 2012 preliminary data are available in AQS although are not yet 
quality assured and certified.
    The MVEBs, specified in tons per year (tpy), included in the 
maintenance plan are as shown in Table 1 below. In the November 10, 
2011, proposed action, EPA noted that the period for public comment on 
the adequacy of these MVEBs (as contained in Alabama's submittal) began 
on March 24, 2011, and closed on April 25, 2011. No comments were 
received during the public comment period. Through this final action, 
EPA is finding the 2024 NOX and PM2.5 MVEBs 
adequate for transportation conformity purposes and finalizing the 
approval of the budgets.

                Table 1--Birmingham Area PM2.5 NOX MVEBs
                                  [tpy]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               PM2.5            NOX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2024 On-road Mobile Emissions...........          335.70        8,738.39
Safety Margin Allocated to MVEBs........          106.37        7,243.11
2024 Conformity MVEBs...................          442.07       15,981.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In the November 10, 2011, proposed redesignation of the Birmingham 
Area, EPA proposed to determine that the emission reduction 
requirements that contributed to attainment of the 1997 Annual 
PM2.5 standard in the

[[Page 4343]]

nonattainment area could be considered permanent and enforceable. See 
76 FR at 70092, 70097-70099. At the time of proposal, EPA noted that 
the requirements of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR),\1\ which had 
been in place since 2005, were to be replaced, starting in 2012, by the 
requirements in the then recently promulgated Cross-State Air Pollution 
Rule (CSAPR), 76 FR 48208 (August 8, 2011). CSAPR included regulatory 
changes to sunset (i.e., discontinue) the CAIR requirements for control 
periods in 2012 and beyond. See 76 FR at 48322. Although Alabama's 
redesignation request and maintenance plan included reductions 
associated with CAIR, EPA proposed to approve the request based in part 
on the fact that CSAPR achieved similar or greater reductions in the 
relevant areas in 2012 and beyond. See 76 FR at 70092, 70097-70099. 
Because CSAPR requirements were expected to replace the CAIR 
requirements starting in 2012, EPA considered the impact of CSAPR 
related reductions on the Birmingham Area. On this basis, EPA proposed 
to determine that, pursuant to CAA section 107(d)(3)(E)(iii), the 
pollutant transport part of the reductions that led to attainment in 
the Birmingham Area could be considered permanent and enforceable. See 
76 FR at 70079, 70084-70086.
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    \1\ On May 12, 2005, EPA published CAIR, which requires 
significant reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide 
(SO2) and NOX from electric generating units 
to limit the interstate transport of these pollutants and the ozone 
and fine particulate matter they form in the atmosphere. See 70 FR 
25162. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 
Circuit (D.C. Circuit) initially vacated CAIR, North Carolina v. 
EPA, 531 F.3d 896 (D.C. Cir. 2008), but ultimately remanded the rule 
to EPA without vacatur to preserve the environmental benefits 
provided by CAIR, North Carolina v. EPA, 550 F.3d 1176, 1178 (D.C. 
Cir. 2008).
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    On December 30, 2011, shortly after EPA's proposed approval of the 
Birmingham redesignation, the D.C. Circuit issued an order addressing 
the status of CSAPR and CAIR in response to motions filed by numerous 
parties seeking a stay of CSAPR pending judicial review. In that order, 
the court stayed CSAPR pending resolution of the petitions for review 
of that rule in EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. EPA (No. 11-1302 and 
consolidated cases), also referred to as EME Homer City. The court also 
indicated that EPA was expected to continue to administer CAIR in the 
interim until judicial review of CSAPR was completed. Subsequently, on 
August 21, 2012, the D.C. Circuit issued a decision in EME Homer City 
to vacate and remand CSAPR and to keep CAIR in place. Specifically, the 
court ordered EPA to continue administering CAIR pending the 
promulgation of a valid replacement. EME Homer City Generation, L.P. v. 
EPA, 696 F.3d 7, 38 (D.C. Cir. 2012). The D.C. Circuit has not yet 
issued the final mandate in EME Homer City as EPA (as well as several 
intervenors) petitioned for rehearing en banc, asking the full court to 
review the decision. While rehearing proceedings are pending, EPA 
intends to act in accordance with the panel opinion in the EME Homer 
City opinion.
    Subsequent to the EME Homer City opinion, EPA published several 
proposals to redesignate both particulate matter and ozone 
nonattainment areas to attainment. These proposals explained the legal 
status of CAIR and CSAPR, and provided a basis on which EPA would 
consider emissions reductions associated with CAIR to be permanent and 
enforceable for redesignation purposes, pursuant to CAA section 
107(d)(3)(D)(iii). In those actions, EPA explained that in light of the 
August 21, 2012, order by the D.C. Circuit, CAIR remains in place and 
enforceable until substituted by a ``valid'' replacement rule. See, 
e.g., 77 FR 69409 (November 19, 2012); 77 FR 68087 (November 15, 2012).
    Alabama's May 2, 2011, SIP submittal supporting its redesignation 
request includes CAIR as a control measure, which became state-
effective on April 3, 2007, and was approved by EPA on October 1, 2007, 
for the purpose of reducing SO2 and NOX 
emissions. See 72 FR 55659. Due to the legal status of CSAPR at the 
time that EPA proposed approval of Alabama's May 2, 2011, redesignation 
submittal, EPA was able to rely on CSAPR related reductions. EPA also 
recognized that the monitoring data used to demonstrate the Birmingham 
Area's attainment of the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS included 
reductions associated with CAIR. Due to the uncertainty regarding the 
legal status of CAIR when Alabama provided its submittal on May 2, 
2011, the State's analysis assumed that no additional reductions in 
SO2 or NOX emissions from utilities would occur 
above and beyond those achieved through 2012 as a result of CAIR. To 
the extent that the Alabama submittal relies on CAIR reductions that 
occurred through 2012, the recent directive from the D.C. Circuit in 
EME Homer City ensures that the reductions associated with CAIR will be 
permanent and enforceable for the necessary time period for purposes of 
CAA section 107(d)(3)(E)(iii). EPA has been ordered by the court to 
develop a new rule, and the opinion makes clear that after promulgating 
that new rule EPA must provide states an opportunity to draft and 
submit SIPs to implement that rule. CAIR thus cannot be replaced until 
EPA has promulgated a final rule through a notice-and-comment 
rulemaking process; states have had an opportunity to draft and submit 
SIPs; EPA has reviewed the SIPs to determine if they can be approved; 
and EPA has taken action on the SIPs, including promulgating a Federal 
Implementation Plan, if appropriate. The court's clear instruction to 
EPA is that it must continue to administer CAIR until a ``valid 
replacement'' exists, and thus CAIR reductions may be relied upon until 
the necessary actions are taken by EPA and states to administer CAIR's 
replacement. Furthermore, the court's instruction provides an 
additional backstop; by definition, any rule that replaces CAIR and 
meets the court's direction would require upwind states to have SIPs 
that eliminate significant contributions to downwind nonattainment and 
prevent interference with maintenance in downwind areas.
    Further, in deciding to vacate CSAPR and to require EPA to continue 
administering CAIR, the D.C. Circuit emphasized that the consequences 
of vacating CAIR ``might be more severe now in light of the reliance 
interests accumulated over the intervening four years.'' EME Homer 
City, 696 F.3d at 38. The accumulated reliance interests include the 
interests of states who reasonably assumed they could rely on 
reductions associated with CAIR, which brought certain nonattainment 
areas into attainment with the NAAQS. If EPA were prevented from 
relying on reductions associated with CAIR in redesignation actions, 
states would be forced to impose additional, redundant reductions on 
top of those achieved by CAIR. EPA believes this is precisely the type 
of irrational result the court sought to avoid by ordering EPA to 
continue administering CAIR. For these reasons also, EPA believes it is 
appropriate to allow states to rely on CAIR, and the existing emissions 
reductions achieved by CAIR, as sufficiently permanent and enforceable 
for purposes such as redesignation. Following promulgation of the 
replacement rule, EPA will review SIPs as appropriate to identify 
whether there are any issues that need to be addressed.
    In light of these unique circumstances and for the reasons 
explained above, EPA is approving the redesignation request and the 
related SIP revision for Jefferson and Shelby Counties in their 
entireties and a portion of Walker County in Alabama, including 
Alabama's plan for maintaining attainment of the 1997 Annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS in the Birmingham Area. EPA

[[Page 4344]]

continues to implement CAIR in accordance with current direction from 
the court, and thus CAIR is in place and enforceable, and will remain 
so, until substituted by a valid replacement rule. Alabama's SIP 
revision lists CAIR as a control measure, which became state-effective 
on April 3, 2007, and was approved by EPA on October 1, 2007, for the 
purpose of reducing SO2 and NOX emissions. The 
monitoring data used to demonstrate the Area's attainment of the 1997 
Annual PM2.5 NAAQS by the April 2010 attainment deadline was 
impacted by CAIR.

II. What are the actions EPA is taking?

    In today's rulemaking, EPA is approving: (1) A change to the legal 
designation of the Birmingham Area from nonattainment to attainment for 
the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS; (2) under CAA section 175A, 
Alabama's 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS maintenance plan, 
including the associated MVEBs; and (3) under CAA section 172(c)(3), 
the emissions inventory submitted with the maintenance plan for the 
Area. The maintenance plan is designed to demonstrate that the 
Birmingham Area will continue to attain the 1997 Annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS through 2024. EPA's approval of the 
redesignation request is based on EPA's determination that the 
Birmingham Area meets the criteria for redesignation set forth in CAA, 
sections 107(d)(3)(E) and 175A, including EPA's determination that the 
Birmingham Area has attained the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS. 
EPA's analyses of Alabama's redesignation request, emissions inventory, 
and maintenance plan are described in detail in the November 10, 2011, 
proposed rule (76 FR 70078).
    Consistent with the CAA, the maintenance plan that EPA is approving 
also includes 2024 NOX and PM2.5 MVEBs for the 
Birmingham Area. In this action, EPA is approving these NOX 
and PM2.5 MVEBs for the Birmingham Area for the purposes of 
transportation conformity. For required regional emissions analysis 
years that involve 2024 or beyond, the applicable budgets will be the 
new 2024 NOX and PM2.5 MVEBs.

III. Why is EPA taking these actions?

    EPA has determined that the Birmingham Area has attained the 1997 
Annual PM2.5 NAAQS and has also determined that all other 
criteria for the redesignation of the Birmingham Area from 
nonattainment to attainment of the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS 
have been met. See CAA section 107(d)(3)(E). One of those requirements 
is that the Birmingham Area has an approved plan demonstrating 
maintenance of the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA is also 
taking final action to approve the maintenance plan for the Birmingham 
Area as meeting the requirements of sections 175A and 107(d)(3)(E) of 
the CAA. In addition, EPA is approving the new NOX and 
PM2.5 MVEBs for the year 2024 for the Birmingham Area as 
contained in Alabama's maintenance plan because these MVEBs are 
consistent with maintenance of the 1997 Annual PM2.5 
standard in the Birmingham Area. Finally, EPA is approving the 
emissions inventory as meeting the requirements of section 172(c)(3) of 
the CAA. The detailed rationale for EPA's determinations and actions 
are set forth in the proposed rulemaking and in other discussion in 
this final rulemaking.

IV. What are the effects of these actions?

    Approval of the redesignation request changes the legal designation 
of the Birmingham Area from nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 
Annual PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA is modifying the regulatory table in 
40 CFR 81.301 to reflect a designation of attainment for these full and 
partial counties. EPA is also approving, as a revision to the Alabama 
SIP, Alabama's plan for maintaining the 1997 Annual PM2.5 
NAAQS in the Birmingham Area through 2024. The maintenance plan 
includes contingency measures to remedy possible future violations of 
the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS and establishes NOX 
and PM2.5 MVEBs for the year 2024 for the Birmingham Area. 
Additionally, this action approves the emissions inventory for the 
Birmingham Area pursuant to section 172(c)(3) of the CAA.

V. Final Action

    EPA is taking final action to approve three separate but related 
actions, some of which involve multiple elements: (1) The redesignation 
of the Birmingham Area to attainment for the 1997 Annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS; (2) under CAA section 175A, Alabama's 1997 
Annual PM2.5 NAAQS maintenance plan, including the 
associated MVEBs; and (3) under CAA section 172(c)(3), the emissions 
inventory submitted with the maintenance plan for the Area. The 1997 
Annual PM2.5 maintenance plan for the Birmingham Area 
includes the new 2024 NOX and PM2.5 MVEBs of 
15,981.50 tpy and 442.07 tpy, respectively. Within 24 months from the 
effective date of EPA's adequacy determination, the transportation 
partners will need to demonstrate conformity to the new NOX 
and PM2.5 MVEBs pursuant to 40 CFR 93.104(e).\2\
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    \2\ The adequacy finding becomes effective upon the date of 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. 40 CFR 
93.118(f)(2)(iii).
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VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under the CAA, redesignation of an area to attainment and the 
accompanying approval of the maintenance plan under CAA section 
107(d)(3)(E) are actions that affect the status of a geographical area 
and do not impose any additional regulatory requirements on sources 
beyond those required by state law. A redesignation to attainment does 
not in and of itself impose any new requirements, but rather results in 
the application of requirements contained in the CAA for areas that 
have been redesignated to attainment. Moreover, the Administrator is 
required to approve a SIP submission that complies with the provisions 
of the Act and applicable federal regulations. 42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 
CFR 52.02(a). Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to 
approve state choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the CAA. 
Accordingly, this action merely approves state law as meeting federal 
requirements and does not impose additional requirements beyond those 
imposed by state law. For these reasons, these actions:
     Are 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);
     Do not impose an information collection burden under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);
     Are 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.);
     Do 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);
     Do not have Federalism implications as specified in 
Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999);
     Are not an economically significant regulatory action 
based on health or safety risks subject to Executive Order 13045 (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997);
     Are not significant regulatory action subject to Executive 
Order 13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001);
     Are not subject to requirements of Section 12(d) of the 
National

[[Page 4345]]

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,
     Do 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).

In addition, this final rule does not have tribal implications as 
specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
because the SIP is not approved to apply in Indian country located in 
the State, and EPA notes that it will not impose substantial direct 
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.
    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 March 25, 2013. 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

40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, and Particulate matter.

40 CFR Part 81

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, National parks.

    Dated: January 9, 2013.
 Gwendolyn Keyes Fleming,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.

    40 CFR parts 52 and 81 are amended as follows:

PART 52--APPROVAL AND PROMULGATION OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS

0
1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:

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

Subpart B--Alabama

0
2. Section 52.50(e) is amended by adding a new entry for ``1997 Annual 
PM2.5 Maintenance Plan for the Birmingham Alabama Area'' at 
the end of the table to read as follows:

Sec.  52.50  Identification of plan.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

                                 EPA-Approved Alabama Non-Regulatory Provisions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Applicable      State submittal
    Name of nonregulatory SIP        geographic or      date/effective   EPA approval date       Explanation
            provision              nonattainment area        date
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
1997 Annual PM2.5 Maintenance     Birmingham PM2.5             5/2/11   1/22/13 [Insert      ...................
 Plan for the Birmingham Area.     Nonattainment Area.                   citation of
                                                                         publication].
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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. In Sec.  81.301, the table entitled ``Alabama--PM2.5 
(Annual NAAQS)'' is amended under ``Birmingham, AL'' by revising the 
entry for ``Jefferson County, Shelby County, Walker County (part)'' to 
read as follows:

Sec.  81.301  Alabama.

* * * * *

                      Alabama--PM2.5 (Annual NAAQS)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Designation \a\
         Designated area         ---------------------------------------
                                       Date \1\              Type
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birmingham, AL:
    Jefferson County............  This action is      Attainment.
                                   effective 1/22/13.
    Shelby County...............  This action is      Attainment.
                                   effective 1/22/13.
    Walker County (part) The      This action is      Attainment.
     area described by U.S.        effective 1/22/13.
     Census 2000 block group
     identifiers 01-127-0214-5,
     01-127-0215-4, and 01-127-
     0216-2.
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\a\ Includes Indian Country located in each county or area, except as
  otherwise specified.
\1\ This date is 90 days after January 5, 2005, unless otherwise noted.

[[Page 4346]]

* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2013-00954 Filed 1-18-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P