Severe Area Submission Requirements for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS; California; Eastern Kern Nonattainment Area

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting a request by the California Air Resources Board (CARB or "State") to voluntarily reclassify the Eastern Kern nonattainment area ("Eastern Kern") from "Serious" to "Severe" for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) under section 181(b)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). In this action, the EPA is proposing a schedule for the State to submit revisions to the state implementation plan (SIP) addressing Severe area requirements and to submit revisions to the title V operating permit rules for this area. Under the EPA's proposed schedule, California would be required to submit SIP revisions addressing Severe area requirements for Eastern Kern, including revisions to New Source Review (NSR) rules, no later than 18 months from the effective date of the EPA's final rule reclassifying Eastern Kern to Severe. Submittal of any corresponding revisions to the title V rules that apply in Eastern Kern would be due within six months of the effective date of the reclassification. Lastly, the EPA is proposing a deadline for implementation of new Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) rules as expeditiously as practicable but no later than 18 months from the date when the Severe area RACT SIP will be due.