Document ID: EPA-R05-OAR-2010-0034-0010
Agency: epa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Final Approval of PM 2.5 Clean Data Determination for Saint Louis
Posted Date: 2011-05-23T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 99 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29652-29656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12480]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R05-OAR-2010-0034; FRL-9309-6]

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Illinois; Missouri; Saint Louis Nonattainment Area; Determination of 
Attainment of the 1997 Annual Fine Particle Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final 
action determining that the Saint Louis fine particle 
(PM2.5) nonattainment area in Illinois and Missouri has 
attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality 
Standard (NAAQS). This final determination of attainment is based upon 
quality assured, quality controlled, and certified ambient air 
monitoring data for the 2007-2009 monitoring period which show that the 
Saint Louis area has monitored attainment of the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS, as well as quality assured data for 2010 that 
are in EPA's Air Quality System (AQS), but not yet certified, that show 
that the Saint Louis area has continued to monitor attainment of the 
1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. Pursuant to EPA's PM2.5 
implementation regulations, this final determination suspends the 
states' obligation to submit a number of plans for this area including: 
An attainment demonstration, associated reasonably available control 
measures (RACM), including reasonably available control technology 
(RACT), a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and 
other planning State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions related to 
attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS for so long as the 
area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
    EPA's determination that this area has attained the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS is not equivalent to redesignating the area to 
attainment. The designation of the area will remain nonattainment for 
the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS until such time as EPA 
determines that this area meets the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements 
for redesignation to attainment.

DATES: This final rule is effective on May 23, 2011.

ADDRESSES: EPA has established a docket for this action under Docket ID 
No. EPA-R05-OAR-2010-0034. 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 (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 www.regulations.gov or in hard copy 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 Matt Rau, 
Environmental Engineer, at (312) 886-6524 before visiting the Region 5 
office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Rau, Environmental Engineer, 
Control Strategies Section, Air Programs Branch (AR-18J), Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 
Illinois 60604, (312) 886-6524, rau.matthew@epa.gov. You may also 
contact Michael Jay, Air Planning and Development Branch, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 7, 901 North Fifth Street, Kansas City, 
Kansas 66101, (913) 551-7460, jay.michael@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' is used, we mean EPA. This supplementary information 
section is arranged as follows:

I. What action is EPA taking?
II. What is the background of this action?
III. What is EPA's analysis of the relevant air quality data?
IV. What are EPA's responses to public comments?
V. What are the effects of this action?
VI. When is this rule effective?
VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What action is EPA taking?

    EPA is making a final determination that the Saint Louis 
PM2.5 nonattainment area, in the States of Missouri and 
Illinois, has attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA 
published its proposed determination for the Saint Louis 
PM2.5 nonattainment area on March 7, 2011 (76 FR 12302). EPA 
received one set of comments on its proposal from the Interdisciplinary 
Environmental Clinic, Washington University School of Law on behalf of 
the American Bottom Conservancy. These comments and EPA's responses are 
found in Section IV of this notice. As set forth in the proposal, EPA's 
determination is based upon quality assured, quality controlled, and 
certified ambient air monitoring data from the 2007-2009 monitoring 
period and additional quality assured, quality controlled data in AQS 
for 2010 which show that the Saint Louis area has monitored attainment 
of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS.

II. What is the background of this action?

    The proposed rule (76 FR 12302, March 7, 2011) sets forth the 
background of this action. The proposed rule describes the pertinent 
PM2.5 NAAQS, the designation of the Saint Louis area as 
nonattainment for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS, and the 
effect of determining attainment of this standard on the suspension of 
attainment-related planning requirements. Details are provided in the 
notice of proposed rulemaking.

III. What is EPA's analysis of the relevant air quality data?

    In its proposal (76 FR 12302, March 7, 2011), EPA evaluated data 
recorded in the AQS database for the Saint Louis PM2.5 
nonattainment area from 2007 to 2009. Eight monitoring sites in the 
nonattainment area presented complete data. The highest design value at 
these sites was 14.1 [micro]g/m\3\ at monitor 17-119-1007 in Madison 
County, Illinois. EPA concluded that the Saint Louis area has attained 
the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS based on its evaluation of 
quality assured and certified data from the area monitoring sites with 
complete data for the 2007-2009 monitoring period. Supplemental, 
supporting air quality data were also considered, as discussed in the 
proposed rule.
    The historical certified data recorded at the monitors that were 
discontinued during the 2007-2009 monitoring period and recent 
certified data recorded at monitors that started operation during the 
period provide additional support for EPA's determination that the 
Saint Louis area has attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
    EPA also considered additional monitoring data for 2010 that have 
been submitted by the states and are in AQS, although not yet 
certified. The 2010 data indicate that the Saint Louis area continues 
in attainment for the 2008-2010 monitoring period. EPA believes that 
these data show that the area continues to meet the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS.

[[Page 29653]]

IV. What are EPA's responses to public comments?

    On March 7, 2011, EPA proposed to determine that the Saint Louis 
PM2.5 nonattainment area has attained the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS (76 FR 12302). EPA received one comment letter 
on the proposed approval, from the Interdisciplinary Environmental 
Clinic at Washington University Law School, on behalf of the American 
Bottom Conservancy (ABC). Below we set forth a summary of ABC's 
comments and EPA's responses.
    Comment: The commenter contends that U.S. Steel-Granite City Works 
(USS-GCW) is a significant source of PM2.5 emissions in the 
Saint Louis area, and that the plant's operations raise environmental 
justice concerns. The commenter states that a large number of low 
income and minority residents near USS-GCW are affected by the air 
quality resulting from the plant's substantial PM2.5 
emissions.
    Response: As stated in our proposal, the 2007-2009 design value for 
the monitor closest to the USS-GCW plant, monitor 17-119-1007 in 
Granite City, is 14.1 [micro]g/m\3\, which meets the NAAQS. We further 
found that 2010 monitoring data indicate that the 2008-2010 design 
values from monitor 17-119-1007 and also from another Granite City 
monitor close to the plant, 17-119-0024, that began operating in July 
2007, show attainment of the NAAQS. In addition to these monitors in 
Granite City, air quality is measured at more monitors in Madison 
County (Alton and Wood River) as well as by monitors in the adjacent 
Saint Clair County and elsewhere throughout the area. See Section III 
of the proposed rule for more detail, at 76 FR 12303. These monitors 
measure PM2.5 concentrations in the ambient air--the air 
people breathe. The annual PM2.5 standard was set to protect 
the public from long-term fine particulate exposure. EPA's obligation, 
in this rulemaking, is solely to determine whether quality assured 
monitored data for the most recent three-year period show that the 
Saint Louis area is meeting the annual PM2.5 NAAQS. 
Monitored attainment of the standard is the only basis of a 
determination of attainment or nonattainment, and it is the only 
relevant issue. EPA's role in this rulemaking is limited to making the 
determination in accordance with the requirements of the CAA and EPA 
regulations. See 40 CFR 50.13 and 40 CFR 50 Appendix N. Should the 
plant's operations or any other source of emissions at any time in the 
future result in monitored nonattainment of the standard, in accordance 
with the statute and EPA regulations, then EPA will take action, 
through notice and comment rulemaking, to withdraw this determination. 
Thus, people who live or work in Granite City or surrounding towns will 
be protected if the air quality falls back into nonattainment.
    EPA reviewed air quality data throughout the Saint Louis area, 
including environmental justice areas and other areas alike, and EPA is 
determining that the Saint Louis area is attaining the standard only 
because we find that all portions of the area are meeting the standard. 
This means that the health of citizens who live or work in 
environmental justice communities is protected just as the health of 
citizens who live or work elsewhere in the area is protected.
    Comment: ``The highest ambient PM2.5 air monitoring 
values in [the Saint Louis area] consistently have been associated with 
monitor 17-119-1007 in Madison County, Illinois, just a few blocks from 
USS-GCW. The facility is a significant source of PM2.5 and 
has been identified [by Illinois] as a contributor to PM2.5 
nonattainment'' at the monitor.
    Response: EPA agrees that Madison County, Illinois monitors have 
generally recorded the highest ambient PM2.5 concentrations 
in the Saint Louis area. In addition to monitor 17-119-1007, area high 
values have been recorded at monitor 17-119-0024. Both monitors are in 
Granite City near USS-GCW. Nevertheless, the two most recent three-year 
periods of data (2007-2009 and 2008-2010) show that all area monitors, 
including monitors 17-119-0024 and 17-119-1007 in Granite City, are 
meeting the annual PM2.5 standard. For the monitor of 
greatest concern to the commenter, EPA calculated the 2008-2010 design 
value as 13.8 [micro]g/m\3\, which is the area's highest design value. 
This supports EPA's determination that the Saint Louis area continues 
to meet the annual PM2.5 NAAQS.
    Comment: The commenter argues that the proposed determination of 
attainment is based on air quality data that are unrepresentative of 
air quality during ``normal'' operation of the USS-GCW facility. The 
commenter asserts that the period of USS-GCW's shutdown from the end of 
2008 through a substantial portion of 2009 is associated with 
considerably lower than normal ambient PM2.5 values, based 
on data from monitor 17-119-1007. Thus, the commenter claims that the 
apparent finding of attainment is ``illusory'' because it is dependent 
on air data gathered during the plant shutdown that the commenter 
believes are not indicative of USS-GCW's true impact on the air quality 
and risks to public health in the community. ABC asks that EPA 
reconsider its decision to make a determination of attainment for the 
Saint Louis area for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS based on 
the unrepresentative period from 2007-2009.
    ABC also noted that steel production at USS-GCW remained relatively 
constant between 2004 and 2008 with annual production of 2,294,000 to 
2,545,000 tons. The commenter states that in 2009, steel production 
dropped sharply to 906,000 tons because the plant was closed for a 
substantial portion of the year. USS-GCW steel production then 
increased significantly from 2009 to 2010 with the facility producing 
2,539,000 tons of steel in 2010. The commenter asserts that as a 
result, ambient air quality PM2.5 concentrations near the 
USS-GCW facility increased in 2010 as well.
    Response: First, EPA notes that the commenter concedes that air 
quality data for 2007-2009 for the Saint Louis area meet the 1997 
annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The commenter argues, however, that 
these data are not ``representative'' of air quality in the area. While 
EPA agrees that the 2009 air quality values monitored in the Saint 
Louis area generally were lower than the 2007, 2008, and 2010 values 
recorded at the same monitors, EPA disagrees with the commenter's 
position that this should prevent EPA from determining that the Saint 
Louis area is meeting the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard. A 
determination of attainment under 40 CFR 50 Appendix N is based on an 
analysis of the three most recent years of complete, quality assured 
monitoring data. These data by definition are representative of air 
quality during the requisite period. And here, EPA determined that both 
2007 to 2009 data and 2008 to 2010 data indicate that the area is 
attaining the standard.
    A determination of attainment centers on the monitored air quality 
during a specific time period. The underlying causes of the monitored 
values are not relevant to the determination. Maintenance of the 
standard in the future is also not relevant to an assessment of current 
attainment. The ability of an area to maintain attainment of the NAAQS 
is reserved for consideration as a required element for EPA approval of 
an area's redesignation request, and is a question that is separate 
from and independent of a determination of attainment. See CAA section 
107(d)(3)(E), listing separately among the requirements for 
redesignation a determination of attainment and an approved

[[Page 29654]]

maintenance plan. Even after EPA finalizes a determination of 
attainment for the Saint Louis area, the area remains designated 
nonattainment, and the determination is subject to revision if in the 
future EPA determines that the air quality in the area once again fails 
to meet the standard.
    We note that the monitored ambient PM2.5 levels rose 
from 2009 to 2010, but they did not reach the levels above the standard 
that had been recorded a few years earlier. The Granite City monitor 
17-119-1007 recorded an 11.3 [micro]g/m\3\ annual PM2.5 
average in 2009 and the data in EPA's AQS for 2010 show an annual 
average of 14.3 [micro]g/m\3\. This 2010 value is below the standard 
and less than the annual averages of 15.1 [micro]g/m\3\ in 2007 and 
15.7 [micro]g/m\3\ in 2008 at monitor 17-119-1007, when the plant was 
also operating at a level of production that the commenter regards as 
``normal.'' For a determination of attainment of the annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS, the design value is calculated using the 
arithmetic mean of three consecutive annual averages, such as 2007-2009 
or 2008-2010. However, for the sole purpose of showing what the air 
quality might have been without the impact of the plant shutdown, EPA 
calculated the mean using the annual averages from the three most 
recent years when USS-GCW had ``normal'' steel production, i.e., 2007, 
2008, and 2010. The mean derived from this calculation, 15.0 [micro]g/
m\3\, meets the level of the 1997 PM2.5 annual standard. 
While this calculated value does not obey the requirement to use 
consecutive years and thus is not a design value that can be compared 
to the NAAQS for regulatory purposes, it does provide reassurance that 
data from recent years during which the plant operated at higher levels 
of production do not undermine EPA's determination, using the 
appropriate design value, that the Saint Louis area attains the annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS.
    EPA also notes the design values history in the Saint Louis area. 
The 2008-2010 design values appear likely to be similar to or even a 
little lower than the 2007-2009 design values. Most significantly, 
despite any increase in 2010 values from the 2009 values, the air 
quality meets the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard. The historic 
design values at monitor 17-119-1007, which is closest to USS-GCW, are 
shown on Table 1. The 2008-2010 design value in Table 1 was calculated 
using quality assured but not yet certified 2010 data.

                                                   Table 1--Annual PM2.5 Design Values at 17-119-1007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Years                         2001-2003         2002-2004    2003-2005    2004-2006    2005-2007    2006-2008    2007-2009    2008-2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Value................................  17.5 [micro]g/m\3\             16.9         17.0         16.6         16.5         15.7         14.1       * 13.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Value calculated with quality assured, but uncertified 2010 data.

    Table 1 shows the design values have decreased from values above 16 
[micro]g/m\3\ to 15.7 [micro]g/m\3\ in 2006-2008. That is, these data 
suggest a downward trend in PM2.5 concentrations even in 
years with similar levels of steel production at USS-GCW, suggesting 
that air quality has improved as a result of long-term emission 
reductions from sources throughout the Saint Louis area and elsewhere. 
See also EPA's response to the comment below. Nevertheless, as we noted 
before, a determination of attainment is a straightforward assessment 
of air quality during a particular time period. EPA is not required, 
when making a determination of attainment, to account for the causes of 
attainment or to show that attainment is due to permanent and 
enforceable emissions reductions. That showing, like maintenance, is a 
specific requirement for redesignation of an area to attainment, and 
independent of a determination of attainment. EPA will consider this 
requirement for redesignation at such time as the states submit any 
requests for redesignation. It is not, however, a relevant requirement 
in this rulemaking. Compare section 107(d)(3)(E) (i) and (iii).
    Comment: ABC commented that, ``Not only is USS-GCW a significant 
source of PM2.5 in the [Saint Louis] area, but the facility 
has a history of air pollution noncompliance. Regardless of EPA's 
determination of attainment, ABC urges ``EPA and IEPA to be vigilant 
about enforcing CAA violations at USS-GCW to reduce the threats of air 
pollution to the surrounding community.'' ABC noted some enforcement 
actions taken at USS-GCW. ABC concluded by asking EPA ``to use all 
legal authorities to protect the community from excessive 
PM2.5 emissions.''
    Response: A determination of attainment is simply an evaluation of 
the ambient air quality data that are compared to the NAAQS. For the 
Saint Louis area, EPA has determined that the most recent air quality 
data establish that the area meets the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. The 
evaluation is not required to consider the emission limits or 
compliance history of sources. The determination of attainment does not 
express or imply any EPA position on the compliance history of USS-GCW. 
EPA is also working with Illinois and Missouri to seek additional 
emission reductions to continue to improve the air quality in the Saint 
Louis area. For example, important steps toward further control of USS-
GCW are provided in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that U.S. 
Steel and Illinois signed on June 30 and July 1, 2010, respectively. 
This agreement is expected to provide significant reductions of 
PM2.5 emissions from USS-GCW by the start of 2012 and again 
in spring 2013. Although some MOU conditions to aid compliance are 
already in place, particulate matter emission limits on several units 
are effective beginning January 1, 2012, and on additional units 
starting March 31, 2013.
    EPA stated in the proposed rule and has reiterated in this final 
rule that this determination of attainment is not a redesignation. The 
Saint Louis area remains designated nonattainment. For the area to be 
redesignated to attainment, Illinois and Missouri must show that the 
improvement in air quality is due to permanent and enforceable 
emissions reductions, and EPA must fully approve a maintenance plan 
meeting the requirements of section 175A of the CAA. Thus, in any 
PM2.5 redesignation request that Illinois or Missouri 
submits for this area, the state would be required to demonstrate, 
among other things, that controls at USS-GCW and other sources in the 
area and upwind are sufficient to assure that the area will continue to 
attain the standard for at least 10 years beyond the date of the 
redesignation.

V. What are the effects of this action?

    This determination suspends, under the provisions of the 
PM2.5 Implementation Rule (40 CFR 51.1004(c)), the 
requirements for the Saint Louis PM2.5 nonattainment area 
and the States of Illinois and Missouri to submit attainment 
demonstrations, RACM (including RACT), reasonable further progress 
plans, contingency measures, and other planning SIPs revisions related 
to attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS provided

[[Page 29655]]

that the area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM2.5 
NAAQS.
    As discussed further, final approval of the determination of 
attainment for the Saint Louis PM2.5 nonattainment area: (1) 
Suspends the obligation for Missouri and Illinois to submit the 
requirements listed above; (2) continues such suspension until such 
time, if any, that EPA subsequently determines that any monitor in the 
area has violated the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS; and, (3) is 
separate from, and will not influence or otherwise affect, any future 
designation determination or requirements for the Saint Louis 
PM2.5 nonattainment area based on the 2006 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS or future PM2.5 NAAQ revision. Final 
approval also suspends the sanction and Federal Implementation Plan 
(FIP) timetables for Illinois that were started on November 27, 2009 
(EPA found in a November 27, 2009 Final Rule (74 FR 62251), that 
Illinois failed to submit a plan with the elements listed in the 
previous paragraph for the Saint Louis PM2.5 nonattainment 
area). If, in the future, EPA determines, after notice-and-comment 
rulemaking in the Federal Register, that the area has violated the 1997 
annual PM2.5 NAAQS, the basis for the suspension of the 
specific requirements, set forth above, would no longer exist, and the 
States of Missouri and Illinois would thereafter have to address the 
pertinent requirements. The suspension of the sanction and FIP 
timetables would also end and those timetables would begin again at the 
point at which they were suspended.
    This rulemaking action is limited to a determination that the air 
quality data show that the Saint Louis PM2.5 nonattainment 
area has monitored attainment of the 1997 annual PM2.5 
NAAQS, and it is not equivalent to the redesignation of the Saint Louis 
PM2.5 nonattainment area to attainment of the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS. It is not a redesignation to attainment under 
section 107(d)(3) of the CAA because the EPA has not yet approved a 
maintenance plan for the area as required under CAA section 175A, nor a 
determination that the Saint Louis PM2.5 nonattainment area 
has met the other requirements for redesignation under the CAA. The 
designation status of the Missouri and Illinois portions of the Saint 
Louis PM2.5 nonattainment area will remain nonattainment for 
the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS until such time as the EPA takes 
final rulemaking action to determine that such portions meet the CAA 
requirements for redesignation to attainment.

VI. When is this rule effective?

    EPA finds that there is good cause for this determination of 
attainment to become effective on the date of publication of this 
action in the Federal Register, because a delayed effective date is 
unnecessary due to the nature of the action. The expedited effective 
date for this action is authorized under both 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), which 
provides that rule actions may become effective less than 30 days after 
publication if the rule ``grants or recognizes an exemption or relieves 
a restriction,'' and 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), which allows an effective date 
less than 30 days after publication ``as otherwise provided by the 
agency for good cause found and published with the rule.'' As noted 
above, this determination of attainment will result in a suspension of 
the requirements for the Saint Louis area to submit an attainment 
demonstration, a RFP plan, section 172(c)(9) contingency measures, and 
any other planning SIPs related to attainment of the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS for so long as the area continues to attain the 
PM2.5 NAAQS. The suspension of these requirements is 
sufficient reason to allow an expedited effective date of this rule 
under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1). This determination of attainment will also 
suspend the sanction and FIP timetables for Illinois on the effective 
date of this rule. In addition, the suspension of the obligations of 
Illinois and Missouri to make submissions for these requirements 
provides good cause to make this rule effective on the date of 
publication of this action in the Federal Register, pursuant to 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3). The purpose of the 30-day waiting period prescribed 
in 5 U.S.C. 553(d) is to give affected parties a reasonable time to 
adjust their behavior and prepare before the final rule takes effect. 
Where, as here, the final rule suspends requirements rather than 
imposing obligations, affected parties, such as the Saint Louis area, 
do not need time to adjust and prepare before the rule takes effect.

VII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action makes a determination of attainment based on air 
quality, and results in the suspension of certain Federal requirements 
and does 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).
    In addition, this 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

[[Page 29656]]

action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the 
appropriate circuit by July 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Intergovernmental relations, Particulate matter, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: May 10, 2011.
Susan Hedman,
Regional Administrator, Region 5.
    Dated: May 16, 2011.
Karl Brooks,
Regional Administrator, Region 7.

    40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows:

PART 52--[AMENDED]

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

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

Subpart O--Illinois

0
2. Section 52.725 is amended by adding paragraph (k) to read as 
follows:

Sec.  52.725  Control strategy: Particulates.

* * * * *
    (k) Determination of Attainment. EPA has determined, as of May 23, 
2011, that the Saint Louis, Illinois-Missouri PM2.5 
nonattainment area has attained the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. This 
determination, in accordance with 40 CFR 51.1004(c), suspends the 
requirements for this area to submit an attainment demonstration, 
associated reasonably available control measures, reasonable further 
progress, contingency measures, and other plan elements related to 
attainment of the standards for as long as the area continues to meet 
the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS.

Subpart AA--Missouri

0
3. Subpart AA is amended by adding Sec.  52.1341 to read as follows:

Sec.  52.1341  Control strategy: Particulate Matter.

    Determination of Attainment. EPA has determined, as of May 23, 
2011, that the Saint Louis, Illinois-Missouri PM2.5 
nonattainment area has attained the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. This 
determination, in accordance with 40 CFR 51.1004(c), suspends the 
requirements for this area to submit an attainment demonstration, 
associated reasonably available control measures, reasonable further 
progress, contingency measures, and other plan elements related to 
attainment of the standards for as long as the area continues to meet 
the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS.

[FR Doc. 2011-12480 Filed 5-20-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P