Document ID: EPA-R09-OAR-2014-0708-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations: California - South Coast; Applicability of Clean Air Act Requirements; Clean Data Determinations for 1997 PM2.5 Standards
Posted Date: 2014-12-09T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 9, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72999-73007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28709]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R09-OAR-2014-0708; FRL-9920-19-Region 9]

Clean Data Determination for 1997 PM[bdi2].[bdi5] 
Standards; California--South Coast; Applicability of Clean Air Act 
Requirements

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
determine that the South Coast air quality planning area in California 
has attained the 1997 annual and 24-hour fine particle 
(PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards. This 
proposed determination is based upon complete (or otherwise validated), 
quality-assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that 
the area has monitored attainment of the 1997 annual and 24-hour 
PM2.5 standards based on the 2011-2013 monitoring period. 
The EPA is further proposing that, if the EPA finalizes this 
determination of attainment, the requirements for the area to submit 
certain State implementation plan revisions shall be suspended for so 
long as the area continues to attain the 1997 annual and 24-hour 
PM2.5 standards.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R09-
OAR-2014-0708 by one of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal, at www.regulations.gov, please 
follow the on-line instructions;
    2. Email to tax.wienke@epa.gov; or
    3. Mail or delivery to Wienke Tax, Air Planning Office, AIR-2, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San 
Francisco, California 94105-3901.
    Instructions: All comments will be included in the public docket 
without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal information provided, unless the comment 
includes Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Information you consider to 
be CBI or otherwise protected should be clearly identified as such and 
should not be submitted through www.regulations.gov or email. 
www.regulations.gov is an ``anonymous access'' system, and the EPA will 
not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in 
the body of your comment. If you send an email directly to EPA, your 
email address will be automatically captured and included as part of 
the public comment. If you submit an electronic comment, the EPA 
recommends that you include your name and other contact information in 
the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If the 
EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot 
contact you for clarification, the EPA may not be able to consider your 
comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, 
any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses.
    Docket: The index to the docket for this action is available 
electronically at www.regulations.gov and in hard copy at EPA Region 
IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, California. While all documents 
in the docket are listed in the index, some information may be publicly 
available only at the hard copy location (e.g., copyrighted material), 
and some may not be publicly available at either location (e.g., CBI). 
To inspect the hard copy materials, please schedule an appointment 
during normal business hours with the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wienke Tax, (415) 947-4192, or by 
email at tax.wienke@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, ``we'', ``us'' or 
``our'' refer to the EPA. We are providing the following outline to aid 
in locating information in this proposal.

Table of Contents

I. What determination is the EPA proposing to make?
II. What is the background for this action?
    A. PM2.5 NAAQS
    B. South Coast PM2.5 Designations, Classifications, 
and SIP Revisions
    C. How does the EPA make attainment determinations?
III. What is EPA's analysis of the relevant air quality data?

[[Page 73000]]

    A. Monitoring Network and Data Considerations
    B. Monitoring Method Considerations
    C. Evaluation of Current Attainment
IV. What is the effect of a determination of attainment for the 1997 
PM2.5 NAAQS under subpart 4 of the Clean Air Act?
    A. Background for the Clean Data Policy
    B. Application of the Clean Data Policy to the Attainment-
Related Provisions of Subpart 4
V. EPA's Proposed Action and Request for Public Comment
VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What determination is the EPA proposing to make?

    The EPA is proposing to determine that the Los Angeles-South Coast 
Air Basin (``South Coast'') nonattainment area has clean data for the 
1997 annual and 24-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS 
or ``standards'') for fine particles (generally referring to particles 
less than or equal to 2.5 micrometers in diameter, 
PM2.5).\1\ This determination is based upon complete (or 
otherwise validated), quality-assured, and certified ambient air 
monitoring data showing the area has monitored attainment of the 1997 
annual and 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS based on 2011-2013 monitoring 
data.
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    \1\ The South Coast includes Orange County, the southwestern 
two-thirds of Los Angeles County, southwestern San Bernardino 
County, and western Riverside County (see 40 CFR 81.305.)
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    Based on this proposed clean data determination, we are also 
proposing to suspend the obligations on the State of California to 
submit certain state implementation plan (SIP) revisions related to 
attainment of this standard for the area for as long as the area 
continues to attain the standard.

II. What is the background for this action?

A. PM2.5 NAAQS

    Under section 109 of the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act''), the EPA 
has established NAAQS for certain pervasive air pollutants (referred to 
as ``criteria pollutants'') and conducts periodic reviews of the NAAQS 
to determine whether they should be revised or whether new NAAQS should 
be established.
    On July 1, 1987 (52 FR 24634), the EPA revised the particulate 
matter NAAQS, replacing the indicator of total suspended particulate 
matter (TSP) (i.e., particles roughly 30 micrometers or less), with a 
new indicator that includes only those particles with an aerodynamic 
diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers 
(PM10).
    On July 18, 1997 (62 FR 38652), the EPA revised the NAAQS for 
particulate matter by establishing new NAAQS for particles with an 
aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers 
(PM2.5). The EPA established primary and secondary annual 
and 24-hour standards for PM2.5.\2\ The annual primary and 
secondary standards were set at 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter ([mu]g/
m\3\), based on a 3-year average of annual mean PM2.5 
concentrations, and the 24-hour primary and secondary standards were 
set at 65 [mu]g/m\3\, based on the 3-year average of the 98th 
percentile of 24-hour PM2.5 concentrations at each 
monitoring site within an area. See 40 CFR 50.7. Collectively, we refer 
herein to the 1997 24-hour and annual PM2.5 NAAQS as the 
``1997 PM2.5 NAAQS'' or ``1997 PM2.5 standards.''
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    \2\ For a given air pollutant, ``primary'' NAAQS are those 
determined by EPA as requisite to protect the public health, 
allowing an adequate margin of safety, and ``secondary'' standards 
are those determined by the EPA as requisite to protect the public 
welfare from any known or anticipated adverse effects associated 
with the presence of such air pollutant in the ambient air. See CAA 
section 109(b).
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    On October 17, 2006 (71 FR 61144), the EPA revised the level of the 
24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS to 35 [mu]g/m\3\, and on January 15, 
2013 (78 FR 3086), the EPA revised the annual PM2.5 NAAQS to 
a level of 12 [mu]g/m\3\. Even though the EPA has lowered the 24-hour 
and annual PM2.5 standards, the original 1997 
PM2.5 standards remain in effect and represent the standards 
for which today's proposed attainment determination is made.

B. South Coast PM2.5 Designations, Classifications, and SIP 
Revisions

    Effective April 5, 2005, the EPA established the initial air 
quality designations for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. See 70 FR 944 
(January 5, 2005). The South Coast was designated nonattainment for the 
1997 PM2.5 NAAQS at this time, with an attainment deadline 
of April 5, 2010.\3\
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    \3\ Originally, the EPA designated nonattainment areas under 
subpart 1 of part D (of title I) of the CAA, not under subpart 4, 
but as discussed later in this document, the EPA has now established 
classifications for areas designated as nonattainment for the 1997 
PM2.5 under subpart 4.
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    Within three years of the effective date of designations, states 
with areas designated as nonattainment for the 1997 PM2.5 
NAAQS were required to submit SIP revisions that, among other elements, 
provide for implementation of reasonably available control measures 
(RACM), reasonable further progress (RFP), attainment of the standard 
as expeditiously as practicable but no later than five years from the 
nonattainment designation (in this instance, no later than April 5, 
2010) unless the state justified up to a five-year attainment date 
extension, as well as contingency measures. See CAA section 172(a)(2), 
172(c)(1), 172(c)(2), and 172(c)(9).
    On November 28, 2007, the California Air Resources Board (CARB or 
State) submitted the ``Final 2007 Air Quality Management Plan, June 
2007'' (``South Coast 2007 AQMP''), which was prepared by the South 
Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD or District). The South 
Coast 2007 AQMP included a PM2.5 attainment demonstration 
for the South Coast for the 1997 NAAQS. In order to meet relevant CAA 
requirements for the PM2.5 NAAQS, the South Coast 2007 AQMP 
includes base and projected year PM2.5 emissions inventories 
for the South Coast nonattainment area; air quality monitoring data; 
short-, medium- and long-term District control measures; a summary of 
CARB's control measures; transportation control measures (TCMs); a 
demonstration of reasonable further progress (RFP); a modeled 
attainment demonstration; a demonstration of reasonably available 
control measures/reasonably available control technology (RACM/RACT); 
RFP and attainment contingency measures for the South Coast 
PM2.5 nonattainment area; and a request to extend the 
attainment date for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS to April 5, 2015.
    To demonstrate attainment, the South Coast 2007 AQMP relied in part 
on measures in CARB's State Strategy for California's 2007 State 
Implementation Plan (``2007 State Strategy''). The 2007 State Strategy 
discussed CARB's overall approach to addressing, in conjunction with 
local plans, attainment of both the 1997 PM2.5 and 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS not only in the South Coast nonattainment area, but also in 
California's other nonattainment areas, such as the San Joaquin Valley 
and the Sacramento area. It also included CARB's commitments to propose 
15 defined State measures and to obtain specific amounts of aggregate 
emissions reductions of direct PM2.5, sulfur oxides 
(SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and volatile 
organic compounds (VOC) in the South Coast from sources under the 
State's jurisdiction, such as on- and off-road motor vehicles, engines, 
and fuels.
    On November 9, 2011, we approved the portions of the South Coast 
2007 AQMP and 2007 State Strategy, as revised in 2009 and 2011, that 
addressed attainment of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS in the South 
Coast PM2.5 nonattainment area, except for the attainment 
contingency measures, which we disapproved. (see 76 FR 69928, November 
9, 2011). On October 29, 2013, we approved SIP revisions addressing the 
attainment contingency

[[Page 73001]]

measure requirements for the South Coast PM2.5 nonattainment 
area (see 78 FR 64402, October 29, 2013).

C. How does the EPA make attainment determinations?

    A determination of whether an area's air quality currently meets 
the PM2.5 NAAQS is generally based upon the most recent 
three years of complete, quality-assured data gathered at established 
State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS) in a nonattainment area 
and entered into the AQS database. Data from ambient air monitors 
operated by state/local agencies in compliance with the EPA monitoring 
requirements must be submitted to EPA's Air Quality System (AQS).\4\ 
Monitoring agencies annually certify that these data are accurate to 
the best of their knowledge. Accordingly, the EPA relies primarily on 
data in AQS when determining the attainment status of areas. See 40 CFR 
50.7; 40 CFR part 50, appendix L; 40 CFR part 53; 40 CFR part 58, and 
40 CFR part 58, appendices A, C, D, and E. All data are reviewed to 
determine the area's air quality status in accordance with 40 CFR part 
50, appendix N.
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    \4\ The Air Quality System (AQS) is EPA's repository of ambient 
air quality data.
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    Under EPA regulations in 40 CFR part 50, section 50.7 and in 
accordance with appendix N, the 1997 annual PM2.5 standard 
is met when the design value is less than or equal to 15.0 [micro]g/m 
\3\ (based on the rounding convention in 40 CFR part 50, appendix N) at 
each eligible monitoring site within the area.\5\ Data completeness 
requirements for a given year are met when at least 75 percent of the 
scheduled sampling days for each quarter have valid data.
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    \5\ The annual PM2.5 standard design value is the 3-
year average of annual mean concentration, and the 1997 annual 
PM2.5 NAAQS is met when the annual standard design value 
at each eligible monitoring site is less than or equal to 15.0 
[micro]g/m\3\.
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    Under EPA regulations in 40 CFR part 50, section 50.7 and in 
accordance with appendix N, the 1997 24-hour PM2.5 standard 
is met when the design value is less than or equal to 65 [micro]g/m\3\ 
(based on the rounding convention in 40 CFR part 50, appendix N) at 
each eligible monitoring site within the area.\6\ Data completeness 
requirements for a given year are met when at least 75 percent of the 
scheduled sampling days for each quarter have valid data.
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    \6\ The 24-hour PM2.5 standard design value is the 3-
year average of annual 98th percentile 24-hour average values 
recorded at each eligible monitoring site, and the 1997 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS is met when the 24-hour standard design value 
at each monitoring site is less than or equal to 65 [micro]g/m\3\.
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III. What is EPA's analysis of the relevant air quality data?

A. Monitoring Network and Data Considerations

    The SCAQMD is the governmental agency with the authority and 
responsibility under state law for collecting ambient air quality data 
within the South Coast nonattainment area. Annually, SCAQMD submits 
monitoring network plans to EPA. These plans discuss the status of the 
air monitoring network, as required under 40 CFR part 58. The EPA 
reviews these annual network plans for compliance with the applicable 
reporting requirements in 40 CFR 58.10. With respect to 
PM2.5, we have found that SCAQMD's annual network plans meet 
the applicable requirements under 40 CFR part 58.\7\ Furthermore, we 
concluded in our Technical System Audit Report concerning SCAQMD's 
ambient air quality monitoring program that SCAQMD's ambient air 
monitoring network currently meets or exceeds the requirements for the 
minimum number of monitoring sites designated as SLAMS for 
PM2.5 in the South Coast nonattainment area.\8\ Also, SCAQMD 
annually certifies that the data it submits to AQS are quality-
assured.\9\
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    \7\ See, e.g., letter from Meredith Kurpius, Manager, Air 
Quality Analysis Office, EPA Region IX, to Dr. Matt Miyasato, Deputy 
Executive Officer, SCAQMD, dated September 30, 2014.
    \8\ EPA Region IX, Technical System Audit Report, South Coast 
Air Quality Management District, September 24-25, 2013, dated 
September 2014.
    \9\ See, e.g., letter from Dr. Matt Miyasato, Deputy Executive 
Officer, SCAQMD, to Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administration, EPA 
Region IX, dated May 1, 2014.
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    The SCAQMD operated 18 PM2.5 SLAMS during the 2011-2013 
period within the South Coast PM2.5 nonattainment area. Nine 
of the sites are located in the Los Angeles County portion of the South 
Coast (Azusa, Burbank, Los Angeles (Main Street), Reseda, Compton, Pico 
Rivera, Pasadena, Long Beach (North), and South Long Beach); four are 
located in the San Bernardino County portion of the South Coast 
(Ontario Fire Station, Fontana, Big Bear, and San Bernardino); three 
are located in the Riverside portion of the South Coast (Riverside 
(Magnolia), Rubidoux, and Mira Loma (Van Buren)); and two are located 
in Orange County (Anaheim and Mission Viejo).\10\
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    \10\ Please see figure 8 in appendix A of SCAQMD's Annual Air 
Quality Monitoring Network Plan (July 2014) for a map showing 
PM2.5 ambient monitoring locations.
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    For the purposes of this proposed action, we have reviewed the data 
for the most recent three-year period (2011-2013) for completeness, and 
we determined that the data collected by the SCAQMD meets the 
completeness criterion for all 12 quarters at most PM2.5 
monitoring sites. Of the 18 PM2.5 monitoring sites, five 
monitoring sites did not meet the 75% completeness requirements in 40 
CFR part 50, appendix N, section 4.1 and 4.2(b) for the annual and 24-
hour PM2.5 standards, respectively. Specifically, the 
Pasadena, Riverside (Magnolia), Ontario Fire Station, Big Bear, and San 
Bernardino monitoring sites had less that 75% data completeness in one 
or more quarters during the 2011-2013 period.
    For the Riverside (Magnolia), Ontario Fire Station, Big Bear, and 
San Bernardino monitoring sites, the EPA has performed the maximum 
quarterly value data substitution test procedure in 40 CFR part 50, 
appendix N, section 4.1(c)(ii) and 4.2(c)(ii) for the annual and 24-
hour standards, respectively, and determined that these monitoring 
sites pass the data substitution diagnostic test for both the annual 
and 24-hour standards.\11\ The EPA concludes that the design values for 
these monitoring sites are valid for NAAQS comparison purposes.
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    \11\ Please see files entitled ``Maximum Quarterly Value Data 
Substitution Test for the 24-hour 1997 p.m.2.5 NAAQS'' and ``Maximum 
Quarterly Value Data Substitution Test for the Annual 1997 p.m.2.5 
NAAQS'' for documentation regarding the maximum quarterly value data 
substitution test in the docket for today's proposed action.
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    The remaining monitoring site, Pasadena, is not eligible for the 
maximum quarterly value data substitution test due to having less than 
50% completeness during the first quarter of 2011, the fourth quarter 
of 2012, and the first and second quarters of 2013. The provisions in 
40 CFR part 50, appendix N, section 4.1(c)(ii) and 4.2(c)(ii) state 
that, if any quarter has less than 50% data capture, then the 
substitution test cannot be used. While the Pasadena monitoring site is 
not eligible for the substitution test, per 40 CFR part 50, appendix N, 
section 4.1(d) and 4.2(d), the design value may also be considered 
valid with the approval of the EPA Administrator, who may consider 
factors such as monitoring site closures/moves, monitoring diligence, 
the consistency and levels of the daily values that are available, and 
nearby concentrations in determining whether to use such data.
    The Pasadena monitoring site had 47% completeness in the first 
quarter of 2011 due to poor quality assurance results and sampler 
operational issues, and 71% completeness in the third quarter of 2012 
due to multiple different sampler operational issues and site

[[Page 73002]]

operator error. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012 through the 
second quarter of 2013, the Pasadena site had less than 50% 
completeness due to site repairs (i.e. SCAQMD was working to replace 
the monitoring site shelter from mid-November 2012 until the beginning 
of June 2013).
    Per 40 CFR part 50, appendix N, section 4.1(d) and 4.2(d), the EPA 
evaluated the location of the Pasadena monitoring site relative to the 
historical design value site for the area, the historical annual and 
24-hour PM2.5 design values trends over the past 12 years at 
nearby monitoring sites, and causes of incomplete data when determining 
whether the 2011-2013 design value at the Pasadena monitoring site 
could be considered valid for the purposes of this action. First, the 
Pasadena monitoring site is not located near the previous and current 
design value sites for the area. Historically, the Rubidoux and the 
Mira Loma (Van Buren) monitoring sites have been the design value sites 
for the area for both the annual and 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. 
The Rubidoux monitoring site was the design value site for both the 
annual and 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS from 2001 to 2006, while the 
Mira Loma (Van Buren) monitoring site was the design value site for 
both the annual and 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS from 2006 to 2013. 
The Pasadena monitoring site is located in the center of Los Angeles 
County, while the Rubidoux and Mira Loma (Van Buren) monitoring sites 
are located approximately 38 miles to the east in Riverside County, 
where higher values are typically measured.
    Second, an assessment of the long-term trends at the Pasadena 
monitoring site and nearby monitoring sites shows nearby sites have 
design values below both the annual and 24-hour 1997 PM2.5 
NAAQS and the Pasadena monitoring site has the lowest design value 
compared to these nearby sites. For example, during the 2001 to 2013 
period, the Pasadena monitoring site has consistently measured lower 
design values for both the annual and 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS 
than the Azusa, Burbank, Pico Rivera (AQS ID: 06-037-1601), Pico Rivera 
#2, and Los Angeles (Main Street) monitoring sites, which are all 
located within an approximately 12-mile radius from the Pasadena 
monitoring site. These four sites all have complete annual and 24-hour 
design values below the 1997 NAAQS for the 2011-2013 period and provide 
appropriate characterization of air quality for the area surrounding 
the Pasadena monitoring site.
    Based on the location of the Pasadena monitoring site and the 
historical design value concentrations relative to both the annual and 
24-hour 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS at the site and nearby locations, 
the incomplete data should not preclude the EPA from determining the 
area has attained the NAAQS. Therefore, we consider the 
PM2.5 data set for the 2011-2013 period from the Pasadena 
monitor to be valid for the purposes of determining whether the area 
has attained the standards.
    For the reasons discussed above, we consider the PM2.5 
data set for 2011-2013 from the 18 PM2.5 monitoring sites to 
be valid for the purposes of determining whether the area has attained 
the standards.

B. Monitoring Method Considerations

    The monitoring requirements are specified by regulation in 40 CFR 
part 58. These requirements are applicable to State, and where 
delegated, local air monitoring agencies that operate criteria 
pollutant monitors. In section 4.7 of appendix D to 40 CFR part 58, the 
EPA specifies minimum monitoring requirements for PM2.5 to 
operate at State and Local Air Monitoring Stations (SLAMS). SLAMS 
produce data comparable to the NAAQS, and therefore, the monitor must 
be an approved federal reference method (FRM), federal equivalent 
method (FEM), or approved regional method (ARM). The minimum number of 
SLAMS required is described in section 4.7.1, and can be met by either 
filter-based or continuous FRMs or FEMs. The monitoring regulations 
also provide that each core-based statistical area (CBSA) must operate 
a minimum number of PM2.5 continuous monitors (section 
4.7.2); however, this requirement can be met by either an FEM or a non-
FEM continuous monitor, and the continuous monitors can be located with 
other SLAMS or at a different location. Consequently, the monitoring 
requirements for PM2.5 can be met with a filter-based FRMs/
FEMs, continuous FEMs, continuous non-FEMs, or a combination of 
monitors at each required SLAMS.
    In 2006, the EPA published performance criteria and field testing 
requirements for approval of PM2.5 continuous FEMs and 
PM2.5 continuous ARMs in 40 CFR part 53. Subsequently, 
several PM2.5 continuous monitors have been approved \12\ as 
FEMs. As monitoring agencies implemented PM2.5 continuous 
FEMs in their networks, the EPA assessed the available data from these 
monitors and included a summary of that assessment in the PM Policy 
Assessment in April of 2011.\13\
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    \12\ The EPA maintains a list of designated FRMs and FEMs on the 
web at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/amtic/criteria.html.
    \13\ EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Policy 
Assessment for the Review of the Particulate Matter National Ambient 
Air Quality Standards, EPA 452/R-11-003, April 2011. This report is 
available at: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/standards/pm/s_pm_2007_pa.html.
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    Recognizing that in some cases monitoring agencies were still 
testing and working to optimize the performance of their 
PM2.5 continuous FEMs, but were beyond the 24-month period 
that allows data from an approved method to be set aside using the 
provisions described in 40 CFR 58.20 on Special Purpose Monitoring 
(SPMs), the EPA proposed and finalized a new provision to allow 
PM2.5 FEM data to be considered not eligible for comparison 
to the NAAQS under certain conditions, even if more than 24 months of 
data are collected.
    This provision was part of the PM NAAQS final rule published on 
January 15, 2013 (78 FR 3086), and included criteria for monitoring 
agencies to use, if they choose, that allow for PM2.5 
continuous FEM or ARM data to be set aside and not used for determining 
NAAQS calculations, if certain performance criteria are not met (40 CFR 
58.11(e)).
    This provision to allow PM2.5 continuous FEM data to be 
excluded from comparison to the NAAQS is applicable, when in accordance 
with Annual Monitoring Network Plan provisions described in 40 CFR 
58.10(b)(13), the monitoring agency has assessed the data to determine 
if it meets the criteria described in 40 CFR 58.11(e), and has also 
sought and received approval from the applicable EPA Regional office.
    As noted above, the SCAQMD operated 18 PM2.5 SLAMS 
within the South Coast during the 2011-2013 period. At these sites, 
SCAQMD operates manual filter-based FRMs to measure PM2.5. 
At seven of the 18 sites, SCAQMD also measured PM2.5 using 
(automated) continuous FEM monitors: Anaheim, Burbank, Los Angeles 
(Main Street), Long Beach (North), South Long Beach, Rubidoux, and Mira 
Loma (Van Buren). SCAQMD's primary purpose in operating the continuous 
FEM monitors at these sites is to support forecasting and reporting of 
the Air Quality Index (AQI). However, under EPA's monitoring 
regulations, data from continuous FEM monitors is generally considered 
valid for NAAQS comparison purposes, unless the applicable monitoring 
agency justifies excluding the data for NAAQS comparison purposes under 
40 CFR 58.11(e).

[[Page 73003]]

    In this instance, as part of its 2013 and 2014 annual air quality 
monitoring network plans, SCAQMD requested that the data from the 
continuous FEM monitors at the seven monitoring sites in the 
PM2.5 monitoring network be considered not eligible for 
comparison to the NAAQS.\14\ The EPA evaluated SCAQMD's request per 40 
CFR 58.11(e), confirmed that the acceptable bias criteria were not met 
during the 2010-2012 and 2011-2013 periods, and therefore approved the 
request for the continuous FEM monitor data from the sites listed above 
to be considered not eligible for comparison to the NAAQS.\15\ As a 
result, the monitoring data presented in the next section of this 
document reflects data collected by filter-based PM2.5 FRMs 
operated by the SCAQMD at the 18 PM2.5 SLAMS within the 
South Coast.
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    \14\ See appendix C (``PM2.5 Continuous Monitor 
Comparability Assessment and Request for Waiver'') of SCAQMD's 
Annual Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan (July 2013); and appendix 
C with the same title of SCAQMD's Annual Air Quality Monitoring 
Network Plan (July 2014).
    \15\ See letter, Meredith Kurpius, Manager, Air Quality Analysis 
Office, Air Division, EPA Region 9, to Jason Low, Ph.D., South Coast 
Air Quality Management District, dated September 9, 2014.
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C. Evaluation of Current Attainment

    EPA's evaluation of whether the South Coast PM2.5 
nonattainment area has attained the 1997 annual and 24-hour 
PM2.5 NAAQS is based on our review of the monitoring data 
and takes into account the adequacy of the PM2.5 monitoring 
network in the nonattainment area and the reliability of the data 
collected by the network as discussed in the previous sections of this 
document.
    Table 1 and table 2 show the annual and 24-hour PM2.5 
design values, respectively, at each of the 18 SLAMS monitoring sites 
within the South Coast nonattainment area for the most recent three-
year period (2011-2013). The data show that the design value for the 
2011-2013 period was equal to or less than 65 [micro]g/m\3\ (for the 
24-hour standard) and 15.0 [micro]g/m\3\ (for the annual standard) at 
all monitors. Therefore, we are proposing to determine, based on 
complete (or otherwise validated), quality-assured, and certified data 
for 2011-2013, that the South Coast area has attained the 1997 annual 
and 24-hour PM2.5 standards. At the present time, AQS 
includes no PM2.5 data for year 2014 for the South Coast, 
but several quarters of preliminary data are expected to be uploaded to 
AQS prior to EPA's final action on the proposed determination of 
attainment. The EPA will review the preliminary 2014 data prior to 
taking final action to ensure that they are consistent with the 
determination of attainment.

              Table 1--2011-2013 Annual PM2.5 Design Values for the South Coast Nonattainment Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Annual mean ([micro]g/m\3\)              2011-2013
                                                 ------------------------------------------------ annual  design
       General location           Site (AQS ID)                                                       values
                                                       2011            2012            2013         ([micro]g/
                                                                                                       m\3\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES COUNTY:
    East San Gabriel Valley...  Azusa (06-037-              12.1            11.0            10.5            11.2
                                 0002).
    East San Fernando Valley..  Burbank (06-037-            13.2            12.2            12.1            12.5
                                 1002).
    Central Los Angeles.......  Los Angeles                 13.0            12.6            12.0            12.5
                                 (Main St.) (06-
                                 037-1103).
    West San Fernando Valley..  Reseda (06-037-             10.2            10.5             9.9            10.2
                                 1201).
    South Central Los Angeles   Compton (06-037-            13.0            11.7            12.0            12.2
     County.                     1302).
    South San Gabriel Valley..  Pico Rivera #2              12.5            11.9            11.8            12.0
                                 (06-037-1602).
    West San Gabriel Valley...  Pasadena (06-037-         * 10.8          * 10.1          * 10.2            10.4
                                 2005).
    South Coastal Los Angeles   Long Beach                  11.0            10.4            11.3            10.9
     County.                     (North) (06-037-
                                 4002).
    South Coastal Los Angeles   South Long Beach            10.7            10.6            11.0            10.8
     County.                     (06-037-4004).
ORANGE COUNTY:
    Central Orange County.....  Anaheim (06-059-            11.0            10.8            10.1            10.6
                                 0007).
    Saddleback Valley.........  Mission Viejo                8.5             7.9             8.1             8.2
                                 (06-059-2022).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY:
    Metropolitan Riverside      Riverside                   11.8          * 11.4            11.3            11.5
     County.                     (Magnolia) (06-
                                 065-1003).
    Metropolitan Riverside      Rubidoux (06-065-           13.6            13.5            12.5            13.2
     County.                     8001).
    Mira Loma.................  Mira Loma (Van              15.3            15.1            14.1            14.8
                                 Buren) (06-065-
                                 8005).
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY:
    Southwest San Bernardino    Ontario Fire                13.3            12.4          * 12.0            12.6
     Valley.                     Station (06-071-
                                 0025).
    Central San Bernardino      Fontana (06-071-            12.6            12.8            12.3            12.6
     Valley.                     2002).
    East San Bernardino         Big Bear (06-071-            8.4           * 8.0             9.7             8.7
     Mountains.                  8001).
    Central San Bernardino      San Bernardino            * 12.2            11.8            11.4            11.8
     Valley.                     (06-071-9004).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The annual standard is set at 15.0 [micro]g/m\3\. Annual values not meeting completeness criteria are
  marked with an asterisk (`*') but, as discussed above, the EPA has determined that the data is valid for the
  NAAQS comparison purposes.
Source: EPA, Design Value Report, October 6, 2014.

              Table 2--2011-2013 24-Hour PM2.5 Design Values for the South Coast Nonattainment Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          98th Percentile ([micro]g/m\3\)          2011-2013 24-
                                                 ------------------------------------------------  hour  design
       General location           Site (AQS ID)                                                       values
                                                       2011            2012            2013         ([micro]g/
                                                                                                       m\3\)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOS ANGELES COUNTY:

[[Page 73004]]

 
    East San Gabriel Valley...  Azusa (06-037-              30.6            25.6            26.4              28
                                 0002).
    East San Fernando Valley..  Burbank (06-037-            33.5            28.2            30.4              31
                                 1002).
    Central Los Angeles.......  Los Angeles                 31.5            32.0            29.0              31
                                 (Main St.) (06-
                                 037-1103).
    West San Fernando Valley..  Reseda (06-037-             23.6            31.2            23.0              26
                                 1201).
    South Central Los Angeles   Compton (06-037-            31.5            30.3            24.3              29
     County.                     1302).
    South San Gabriel Valley..  Pico Rivera #2              31.5            28.5            28.7              30
                                 (06-037-1602).
    West San Gabriel Valley...  Pasadena (06-037-          *29.8           *25.7           *20.5              25
                                 2005).
    South Coastal Los Angeles   Long Beach                  27.8            26.5            26.1              27
     County.                     (North) (06-037-
                                 4002).
    South Coastal Los Angeles   South Long Beach            26.6            25.6            24.6              26
     County.                     (06-037-4004).
ORANGE COUNTY:
    Central Orange County.....  Anaheim (06-059-            28.1            25.0            22.7              25
                                 0007).
    Saddleback Valley.........  Mission Viejo               28.8            17.6            17.5              21
                                 (06-059-2022).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY:
    Metropolitan Riverside      Riverside                   28.0           *26.8            29.2              28
     County.                     (Magnolia) (06-
                                 065-1003).
    Metropolitan Riverside      Rubidoux (06-065-           31.0            33.7            34.6              33
     County.                     8001).
    Mira Loma.................  Mira Loma (Van              36.6            35.1            37.5              36
                                 Buren) (06-065-
                                 8005).
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY:
    Southwest San Bernardino    Ontario Fire                35.3            28.6           *26.8              30
     Valley.                     Station (06-071-
                                 0025).
    Central San Bernardino      Fontana (06-071-            28.2            35.6            33.1              32
     Valley.                     2002).
    East San Bernardino         Big Bear (06-071-           30.6           *27.4            35.1              31
     Mountains.                  8001).
    Central San Bernardino      San Bernardino             *32.5            27.1            33.4              31
     Valley.                     (06-071-9004).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: The 24-hour standard is set at 65 [micro]g/m\3\. Daily values not meeting completeness criteria are marked
  with an asterisk (`*') but, as discussed above, the EPA has determined that the data is valid for the NAAQS
  comparison purposes.
Source: EPA, Design Value Report, October 6, 2014.

IV. What is the effect of a determination of attainment for the 1997 
PM2.5 NAAQS under subpart 4 of the Clean Air Act?

    This section of the EPA's proposal addresses the effects of a final 
determination of attainment for the South Coast nonattainment area.
    For the 1997 PM2.5 standard, 40 CFR 51.1004(c) of the 
EPA's Implementation Rule embodies the EPA's ``Clean Data Policy'' 
interpretation under subpart 1. The provisions of section 51.1004(c) 
set forth the effects of a determination of attainment for the 1997 
PM2.5 standard.\16\ 72 FR 20585, 20665 (April 25, 2007).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, section 51.004(c) 
states: ``Upon a determination by EPA that an area designated 
nonattainment for the PM2.5 NAAQS has attained the 
standard, the requirements for such area to submit attainment 
demonstrations and associated reasonably available control measures, 
reasonable further progress plans, contingency measures and other 
planning SIPs related to attainment of the PM2.5 NAAQS 
shall be suspended until such time as the area is redesignated to 
attainment, at which time the requirements no longer apply; or EPA 
determines that that area has violated the PM2.5 NAAQS, 
at which time the area is again required to submit such plans.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On January 4, 2013, in Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA, 
the DC Circuit remanded to the EPA the ``Final Clean Air Fine Particle 
Implementation Rule'' (72 FR 20586, April 25, 2007) and the 
``Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR) Program for Particulate 
Matter Less than 2.5 Micrometers (PM2.5)'' final rule (73 FR 
28321, May 16, 2008) (collectively, ``1997 PM2.5 
Implementation Rule'' or ``Implementation Rule''). 706 F.3d 428 (D.C. 
Cir. 2013). The Court found that the EPA erred in implementing the 1997 
PM2.5 NAAQS pursuant solely to the general implementation 
provisions of subpart 1 of part D of title I of the CAA, rather than 
the particulate-matter-specific provisions of subpart 4 of part D of 
title I. The Court remanded the EPA's Implementation Rule for further 
proceedings consistent with the Court's decision.
    In light of the Court's decision and its remand of the 
Implementation Rule, the EPA in this proposed rulemaking addresses the 
effect of a final determination of attainment for the South Coast 
nonattainment area as a moderate nonattainment area under subpart 
4.\17\ As set forth in more detail below, under the EPA's Clean Data 
Policy interpretation, a determination that the area has attained the 
standard suspends the State's obligation to submit attainment-related 
plan revisions under subpart 4 (and the applicable provisions of 
subpart 1) for so long as the area continues to attain the standard. 
These include requirements to submit an attainment demonstration, RFP, 
RACM, and contingency measures, because the purpose of these provisions 
is to help reach attainment, a goal which has already been achieved.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ In response to the court's ruling, the EPA published a 
final rule on June 2, 2014 classifying all 1997 and 2006 
PM2.5 areas as moderate, and setting a December 31, 2014 
deadline for submittal of any remaining subpart 4 SIP requirements 
(see 79 FR 31566, June 2, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A. Background for the Clean Data Policy

    Over the past two decades, the EPA has consistently applied its 
``Clean Data Policy'' interpretation to attainment-related provisions 
of subparts 1, 2 and 4. The Clean Data Policy is the subject of several 
EPA memoranda and regulations. In addition, numerous individual 
rulemakings published in the Federal Register have applied the 
interpretation to a spectrum of NAAQS, including the 1-hour and 1997 
ozone, PM10, PM2.5, CO and lead standards. The DC 
Circuit has upheld the Clean Data Policy interpretation as embodied in

[[Page 73005]]

EPA's 8-hour ozone implementation rule, 40 CFR 51.918.\18\ Natural 
Resources Defense Council v. EPA, 571 F. 3d 1245 (D.C. Cir. 2009). 
Other U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals that have considered and reviewed 
EPA's Clean Data Policy interpretation have upheld it and the 
rulemakings applying EPA's interpretation. Sierra Club v. EPA, 99 F.3d 
1551 (10th Cir. 1996); Sierra Club v. EPA, 375 F.3d 537 (7th Cir. 
2004); Our Children's Earth Foundation v. EPA, N. 04-73032 (9th Cir. 
June 28, 2005 (Memorandum Opinion)), Latino Issues Forum, v. EPA, Nos. 
06-75831 and 08-71238 (9th Cir. March 2, 2009 (Memorandum Opinion)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \18\ The EPA's ``Final Rule to Implement the 8-hour Ozone 
National Ambient Air Quality Standard--Phase 2,'' 70 FR 71612, 
71645-46 (November 29, 2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As noted above, the EPA incorporated its Clean Data Policy 
interpretation in both its 1997 8-hour ozone implementation rule (40 
CFR 51.918) and in its PM2.5 Implementation Rule (40 CFR 
51.1004(c)). 70 FR 71612, 71702 (November 29, 2005) (1997 8-hour ozone) 
and 72 FR 20585, 20665 (April 25, 2007)(1997 PM2.5). While 
the DC Circuit, in its January 4, 2013 decision, remanded the 1997 
PM2.5 Implementation Rule, the court did not address the 
merits of that regulation, nor cast doubt on the EPA's existing 
interpretation of the statutory provisions.
    However, in light of the Court's decision, we set forth here the 
EPA's Clean Data Policy interpretation under subpart 4, for the purpose 
of identifying the effects of a determination of attainment for the 
1997 PM2.5 standard for the South Coast nonattainment area. 
The EPA has previously articulated its Clean Data interpretation under 
subpart 4 in implementing the 2006 PM2.5 and the 
PM10 standard. See, e.g., 78 FR 41901 (July 12, 2013) and 78 
FR 54394 (September 4, 2013) (proposed and final determination of 
attainment of the 2006 PM2.5 standard in West Central Pinal 
area, Arizona); 75 FR 27944 (May 19, 2010) (determination of attainment 
of the PM10 standard in Coso Junction, California); 71 FR 
6352 (February 8, 2006) (determination of attainment of the 
PM10 standard in Ajo, Arizona); 71 FR 13021 (March 14, 2006) 
(determination of attainment of the PM10 standard in Yuma, 
Arizona); 71 FR 44920 (August 8, 2006) (determination of attainment of 
the PM10 standard in Rillito, Arizona); 71 FR 63642 (October 
30, 2006) (determination of attainment of the PM10 standard 
in San Joaquin Valley, California); and 72 FR 14422 (March 28, 2007) 
(determination of attainment of the PM10 standard in Miami, 
Arizona). Thus, the EPA has established that, under subpart 4, an 
attainment determination suspends the obligations to submit an 
attainment demonstration, RACM, RFP, contingency measures, and other 
measures related to attainment.

B. Application of the Clean Data Policy to the Attainment-Related 
Provisions of Subpart 4

    In the EPA's proposed and final rulemakings determining that the 
San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area attained the PM10 
standard, the EPA set forth at length its rationale for applying the 
Clean Data Policy to PM10 under subpart 4. The Ninth Circuit 
upheld EPA's final rulemaking, and specifically EPA's Clean Data 
Policy, in the context of subpart 4. Latino Issues Forum v. EPA, Nos. 
06-75831 and 08-71238 (9th Cir. March 2, 2009 (Memorandum Opinion)). In 
rejecting petitioner's challenge to the Clean Data Policy under subpart 
4 for PM10, the Ninth Circuit stated, ``As the EPA 
explained, if an area is in compliance with PM10 standards, 
then further progress for the purpose of ensuring attainment is not 
necessary.''
    The general requirements of subpart 1 apply in conjunction with the 
more specific requirements of subpart 4, to the extent they are not 
superseded or subsumed by the subpart 4 requirements. Subpart 1 
contains general air quality planning requirements for areas designated 
as nonattainment. See section 172(c). Subpart 4 itself contains 
specific planning and scheduling requirements for PM10 
nonattainment areas, and under the Court's January 4, 2013 decision in 
Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA, these same statutory 
requirements also apply for PM2.5 nonattainment areas. The 
EPA has longstanding general guidance that interprets the 1990 
amendments to the CAA, making recommendations to states for meeting the 
statutory requirements for SIPs for nonattainment areas. See, ``State 
Implementation Plans; General Preamble for the Implementation of Title 
I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990,'' 57 FR 13498 (April 16, 
1992) (the ``General Preamble''). In the General Preamble, the EPA 
discussed the relationship of subpart 1 and subpart 4 SIP requirements, 
and pointed out that subpart 1 requirements were to an extent 
``subsumed by, or integrally related to, the more specific 
PM10 requirements.'' 57 FR 13538 (April 16, 1992). These 
subpart 1 requirements include, among other things, provisions for 
attainment demonstrations, RACM, RFP, emissions inventories, and 
contingency measures.
    The EPA has long interpreted the provisions of part D, subpart 1 of 
the Act (sections 171 and 172) as not requiring the submission of RFP 
for an area already attaining the ozone NAAQS. For an area that is 
attaining, showing that the State will make RFP towards attainment 
``will, therefore, have no meaning at that point.'' 57 FR at 13564. See 
71 FR 40952 and 71 FR 63642 (proposed and final determination of 
attainment for San Joaquin Valley); 75 FR 13710 and 75 FR 27944 
(proposed and final determination of attainment for Coso Junction).
    Section 189(c)(1) of subpart 4 states that:

    Plan revisions demonstrating attainment submitted to the 
Administrator for approval under this subpart shall contain 
quantitative milestones which are to be achieved every 3 years until 
the area is redesignated attainment and which demonstrate reasonable 
further progress, as defined in section [section 171(1)] of this 
title, toward attainment by the applicable date.

    With respect to RFP, section 171(1) states that, for purposes of 
part D, RFP ``means such annual incremental reductions in emissions of 
the relevant air pollutant as are required by this part or may 
reasonably be required by the Administrator for the purpose of ensuring 
attainment of the applicable [NAAQS] by the applicable date.'' Thus, 
whether dealing with the general RFP requirement of section 172(c)(2), 
the ozone-specific RFP requirements of sections 182(b) and (c), or the 
specific RFP requirements for PM10 areas of part D, subpart 
4, section 189(c)(1), the stated purpose of RFP is to ensure attainment 
by the applicable attainment date.
    Although section 189(c) states that revisions shall contain 
milestones, which are to be achieved until the area is redesignated to 
attainment, such milestones are designed to show reasonable further 
progress ``toward attainment by the applicable attainment date,'' as 
defined by section 171. Thus, it is clear that once the area has 
attained the standard, no further milestones are necessary or 
meaningful. This interpretation is supported by language in section 
189(c)(3), which mandates that a State that fails to achieve a 
milestone must submit a plan that assures that the State will achieve 
the next milestone or attain the NAAQS if there is no next milestone. 
Section 189(c)(3) assumes that the requirement to submit and achieve 
milestones does not continue after attainment of the NAAQS.

[[Page 73006]]

    In the General Preamble, we noted with respect to section 189(c) 
that the purpose of the milestone requirement ``is `to provide for 
emission reductions adequate to achieve the standards by the applicable 
attainment date' (H.R. Rep. No. 490, 101st Cong., 2d Sess. 267 
(1990)).'' 57 FR 13539 (April 16, 1992). If an area has in fact 
attained the standard, the stated purpose of the RFP requirement will 
have already been fulfilled.\19\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \19\ Thus, we believe that it is a distinction without a 
difference that section 189(c)(1) speaks of the RFP requirement as 
one to be achieved until an area is ``redesignated attainment,'' as 
opposed to section 172(c)(2), which is silent on the period to which 
the requirement pertains, or the ozone nonattainment area RFP 
requirements in sections 182(b)(1) or 182(c)(2), which refer to the 
RFP requirements as applying until the ``attainment date,'' since 
section 189(c)(1) defines RFP by reference to section 171(1) of the 
Act. Reference to section 171(1) clarifies that, as with the general 
RFP requirements in section 172(c)(2) and the ozone-specific 
requirements of section 182(b)(1) and 182(c)(2), the PM-specific 
requirements may only be required ``for the purpose of ensuring 
attainment of the applicable national ambient air quality standard 
by the applicable date.'' 42 U.S.C. 7501(1). As discussed in the 
text of this rulemaking, the EPA interprets the RFP requirements, in 
light of the definition of RFP in section 171(1), and incorporated 
in section 189(c)(1), to be a requirement that no longer applies 
once the standard has been attained.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Similarly, the requirements of section 189(c)(2) with respect to 
milestones no longer apply so long as an area has attained the 
standard. Section 189(c)(2) provides in relevant part that:

    Not later than 90 days after the date on which a milestone 
applicable to the area occurs, each State in which all or part of 
such area is located shall submit to the Administrator a 
demonstration . . . that the milestone has been met.

    Where the area has attained the standard and there are no further 
milestones, there is no further requirement to make a submission 
showing that such milestones have been met. This is consistent with the 
position that the EPA took with respect to the general RFP requirement 
of section 172(c)(2) in the April 16, 1992 General Preamble and also in 
the May 10, 1995 Seitz memorandum\20\ with respect to the requirements 
of section 182(b) and (c). In the May 10, 1995 Seitz memorandum, the 
EPA also noted that section 182(g), the milestone requirement of 
subpart 2, which is analogous to provisions in section 189(c), is 
suspended upon a determination that an area has attained. The 
memorandum, also citing additional provisions related to attainment 
demonstration and RFP requirements, stated:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \20\ Memorandum from John S. Seitz, Director, EPA Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards, ``Reasonable Further Progress, 
Attainment Demonstration, and Related Requirements for Ozone 
Nonattainment Areas Meeting the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality 
Standard,'' dated May 10, 1995 (``Seitz memorandum'').

    Inasmuch as each of these requirements is linked with the 
attainment demonstration or RFP requirements of section 182(b)(1) or 
182(c)(2), if an area is not subject to the requirement to submit 
the underlying attainment demonstration or RFP plan, it need not 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
submit the related SIP revision either.

1995 Seitz memorandum at page 5.

    With respect to the attainment demonstration requirements of 
section 172(c) and section 189(a)(1)(B), an analogous rationale leads 
to the same result. Section 189(a)(1)(B) requires that the plan provide 
for ``a demonstration (including air quality modeling) that the [SIP] 
will provide for attainment by the applicable attainment date . . ..'' 
As with the RFP requirements, if an area is already monitoring 
attainment of the standard, The EPA believes there is no need for an 
area to make a further submission containing additional measures to 
achieve attainment. This is also consistent with the interpretation of 
the section 172(c) requirements provided by the EPA in the General 
Preamble, the Page memorandum,\21\ and the section 182(b) and (c) 
requirements set forth in the Seitz memorandum. As the EPA stated in 
the General Preamble, no other measures to provide for attainment would 
be needed by areas seeking redesignation to attainment since 
``attainment will have been reached.'' 57 FR at 13564.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ Memorandum from Stephen D. Page, Director, EPA Office of 
Air Quality Planning and Standards, ``Clean Data Policy for the Fine 
Particle National Ambient Air Quality Standards,'' December 14, 2004 
(``Page memorandum'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Other SIP submission requirements are linked with these attainment 
demonstration and RFP requirements, and similar reasoning applies to 
them. These requirements include the contingency measure requirements 
of sections 172(c)(9). We have interpreted the contingency measure 
requirements of section 172(c)(9) (and section 182(c)(9) for ozone) as 
no longer applying when an area has attained the standard because those 
``contingency measures are directed at ensuring RFP and attainment by 
the applicable date.'' 57 FR at 13564; Seitz memorandum, pages 5-6.
    CAA section 172(c)(9) provides that SIPs in nonattainment areas 
``shall provide for the implementation of specific measures to be 
undertaken if the area fails to make reasonable further progress, or to 
attain the [NAAQS] by the attainment date applicable under this part. 
Such measures shall be included in the plan revision as contingency 
measures to take effect in any such case without further action by the 
State or [EPA].'' This contingency measure requirement is inextricably 
tied to the reasonable further progress and attainment demonstration 
requirements. Contingency measures are implemented if reasonable 
further progress targets are not achieved, or if attainment is not 
realized by the attainment date. Where an area has already achieved 
attainment by the attainment date, it has no need to rely on 
contingency measures to come into attainment or to make further 
progress to attainment. As the EPA stated in the General Preamble: 
``The section 172(c)(9) requirements for contingency measures are 
directed at ensuring RFP and attainment by the applicable date.'' See 
57 FR 13564. Thus these requirements no longer apply when an area has 
attained the standard.
    Both sections 172(c)(1) and 189(a)(1)(C) require ``provisions to 
assure that reasonably available control measures'' (i.e., RACM) are 
implemented in a nonattainment area. The General Preamble, 57 FR at 
13560 (April 16, 1992), states that the EPA interprets section 
172(c)(1) so that RACM requirements are a ``component'' of an area's 
attainment demonstration. Thus, for the same reason the attainment 
demonstration no longer applies by its own terms, the requirement for 
RACM no longer applies. The EPA has consistently interpreted this 
provision to require only implementation of potential RACM measures 
that could contribute to reasonable further progress or to attainment. 
General Preamble, 57 FR at 13498. Thus, where an area is already 
attaining the standard, no additional RACM measures are required.\22\ 
The EPA is interpreting section 189(a)(1)(C) consistent with its 
interpretation of section 172(c)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ The EPA's interpretation that the statute requires 
implementation only of RACM measures that would advance attainment 
was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth 
Circuit (Sierra Club v. EPA, 314 F.3d 735, 743-745 (5th Cir. 2002), 
and by the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit (Sierra 
Club v. EPA, 294 F.3d 155, 162-163 (D.C. Cir. 2002)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The suspension of the obligations to submit SIP revisions 
concerning these RFP, attainment demonstration, RACM, contingency 
measures and other related requirements exists only for as long as the 
area continues to monitor attainment of the standard. If the EPA 
determines, after notice-and-comment rulemaking, that the area has 
monitored a violation of the NAAQS, the basis for the requirements 
being suspended would no longer exist. In that case, the area would 
again be subject to a

[[Page 73007]]

requirement to submit the pertinent SIP revision or revisions and would 
need to address those requirements. Thus, a final determination that 
the area need not submit one of the pertinent SIP submittals amounts to 
no more than a suspension of the requirements for so long as the area 
continues to attain the standard. Only if and when the EPA redesignates 
the area to attainment would the area be relieved of these submission 
obligations. Attainment determinations under the Clean Data Policy do 
not shield an area from obligations unrelated to attainment in the 
area, such as provisions to address pollution transport.
    As set forth above, based on our proposed determination that the 
South Coast area is currently attaining the 1997 PM2.5 
NAAQS, we propose to find that the obligations to submit any remaining 
attainment-related provisions that may be necessary to satisfy the 
requirements applicable to moderate areas under subpart 4 of part D (of 
title I of the Act) are suspended for so long as the area continues to 
monitor attainment of the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. If, in the 
future, the EPA determines after notice-and-comment rulemaking that the 
area again violates the 1997 annual or 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, 
the basis for suspending any remaining SIP obligations would no longer 
apply.

V. EPA's Proposed Action and Request for Public Comment

    The EPA proposes to determine, based on the most recent three years 
(2011-2013) of complete (or otherwise validated), quality-assured, and 
certified data meeting the requirements of 40 CFR part 50, appendix N, 
that the South Coast PM2.5 nonattainment area has attained 
the 1997 annual and 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS.
    In conjunction with and based upon our proposed determination that 
the South Coast area has attained and is currently attaining the 
standard, the EPA proposes to determine that the obligation to submit 
any remaining attainment-related SIP revisions arising from 
classification of the South Coast as a moderate nonattainment area 
under subpart 4 of part D (of title I of the Act) for the 1997 
PM2.5 NAAQS is not applicable for so long as the area 
continues to attain the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. These attainment-
related requirements include, but are not limited to, the part D, 
subpart 4 obligations to provide an attainment demonstration pursuant 
to section 189(a)(1)(B), the RACM provisions of section 189(a)(1)(C), 
and the RFP provisions of section 189(c). This proposed action, if 
finalized, would not constitute a redesignation to attainment under CAA 
section 107(d)(3).
    The EPA is soliciting public comments on the issues discussed in 
this document or on other relevant matters. We will accept comments 
from the public on this proposal for the next 30 days. We will consider 
these comments before taking final action.

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    This action proposes to make a determination of attainment based on 
air quality and to suspend certain federal requirements, and thus, 
would not impose additional requirements beyond those imposed by state 
law. For that reason, this proposed 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 the EPA with the discretionary authority 
to address disproportionate human health or environmental effects with 
practical, appropriate, and legally permissible methods under Executive 
Order 12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
    In addition, this proposed action does not have tribal implications 
as specified by Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000), 
because the SIP obligations discussed herein do not apply to Indian 
tribes and thus this proposed action will not impose substantial direct 
costs on tribal governments or preempt tribal law.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Incorporation by 
reference, Nitrogen dioxide, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.

    Dated: November 20, 2014.
Jared Blumenfeld,
Regional Administrator, Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2014-28709 Filed 12-8-14; 8:45 am]
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