Opinion ID: 621235
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: EPA Action on the 2004 SIP

Text: The State amended the 2004 SIP in October 2005 to substitute into the plan a new control strategy and to synchronize the rulemaking schedule with that in the Valley's plan for the NAAQS for particulate matter less than or equal to 10 micrometers in diameter. Id. The State submitted these amendments to the plan to EPA in March 2006. Id. In September 2008, the State submitted Clarifications Regarding the 2004 Extreme Ozone Attainment Demonstration Plan (2008 Clarifications), which updated information on certain control programs, ROP demonstration, and contingency measures in the 2004 SIP. Id. By operation of law, the original 2004 SIP was deemed complete on May 15, 2005, the subsequent amendments on September 6, 2006, and the 2008 Clarifications on September 23, 2008. Id.; see also 42 U.S.C. § 7410(k)(1)(B). Together, the SIP as submitted in 2004, the 2006 Amendments, and the 2008 Clarifications constitute the 2004 SIP, now at issue. In October 2008, EPA issued a proposed rule to approve the 2004 SIP and sought public comment. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans, 73 Fed. Reg. 61,381 (Oct. 16, 2008). After comments were received, EPA withdrew its proposed rule approving the 2004 SIP, and instead proposed to approve the 2004 SIP in part, disapproving only the attainment contingency measures. 74 Fed.Reg. at 33,947. In response, the State submitted supplemental technical information, and EPA withdrew its proposed disapproval and proposed to approve the attainment contingency measures, and thus the 2004 SIP in full, in October 2009. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans, 74 Fed.Reg. 50,936 (Oct. 2, 2009). EPA finally approved the 2004 SIP on March 8, 2010, six years after its original submission and just eight months before the plan's November 15, 2010 attainment deadline. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans, 75 Fed.Reg. 10,420 (Mar. 8, 2010).