Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Air Quality Implementation Plans and Determination of Attainment by the Attainment Date; California; San Joaquin Valley Serious Area and Section 189(d) Plan for Attainment of the 1997 24-Hour PM2.5 NAAQS

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve in part and disapprove in part portions of a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") requirements for the 1997 24- hour fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area. Specifically, the EPA is proposing to approve all but the contingency measure element of the submitted SIP revision as meeting all applicable Serious area and CAA section 189(d) requirements for the 1997 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS and is proposing disapproval of the contingency measure element. The EPA is also proposing to determine that the San Joaquin Valley air quality planning area has attained the 1997 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. This determination is based on sufficient, quality-assured, and certified data for 2018-2020. Based on our proposed finding that the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area has attained the 1997 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS, we are proposing to determine that the requirement for contingency measures will no longer apply to the San Joaquin Valley nonattainment area for these NAAQS. Thus, the EPA is proposing to issue a protective finding for transportation conformity determinations for this proposed disapproval.