[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 75 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20495-20508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7936]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[RO4-OAR-2005-GA-0002; RO4-OAR-2005-GA-0003; FRL-7901-4]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation 
of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Georgia, Redesignation of 
Atlanta 1-Hour Severe Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment for Ozone

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On February 1, 2005, the State of Georgia, through the Georgia 
Environmental Protection Division (EPD), submitted; a request to 
redesignate the 1-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard 
(NAAQS) nonattainment area of Atlanta, Georgia, to attainment; and a 
request for EPA approval of a Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP) 
revision containing a 10-year maintenance plan for the 13-county 
Atlanta area, including new motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for 
the year 2015. In addition, Georgia has requested that EPA make a 
determination that certain Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) SIP submittal 
requirements related to attainment demonstrations and reasonable 
further progress are not applicable requirements for the purposes of 
this redesignation request because the Atlanta area has attained the 1-
hour ozone NAAQS based on ambient air monitoring data for the 3-

[[Page 20496]]

year period including the years 2002, 2003, and 2004.
    EPA is proposing to determine that the Atlanta area has attained 
the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. This proposal is based on three years of 
complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for 2002 
through 2004 ozone seasons. On the basis of this proposal, EPA is also 
proposing to determine that certain attainment demonstration and 
reasonable further progress requirements along with other related 
requirements of part D of Title I of the CAA are not applicable to the 
Atlanta area.
    EPA is also proposing approval of both the 1-hour ozone 
redesignation request and the 10-year maintenance plan SIP revision, 
including the new 2015 MVEBs. EPA's proposed approval of the 1-hour 
ozone redesignation request is based on its determination that the 
Atlanta area has met the five criteria for redesignation to attainment 
specified in the CAA, including a demonstration that the Atlanta area 
has attained the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is proposing approval of the 
10-year maintenance plan SIP revision, including the new 2015 MVEBs, 
because EPA has determined that the plan complies with the requirements 
of Section 175A of the Act.
    Finally, in this proposed rulemaking, EPA is providing information 
on the status of its transportation conformity adequacy determination 
for new motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEB) for the year 2015 that 
are contained Georgia's the 10-year 1-hour ozone maintenance plan SIP 
submittal for the Atlanta area.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 20, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Regional Material in 
EDocket (RME) ID No. RO4-OAR-2005-GA-0002; RO4-OAR-2005-GA-0003, by one 
of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    2. Agency Website: http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/ RME, EPA's 
electronic public docket and comment system, is EPA's preferred method 
for receiving comments. Once in the system, select ``quick search,'' 
then key in the appropriate RME Docket identification number. Follow 
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    3. E-mail: [email protected].
    4. Fax: 404-562-9019.
    5. Mail: ``RO4-OAR-2005-GA-0002; RO4-OAR-2005-GA-0003'', Regulatory 
Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics 
Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960.
    6. Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver your comments to: Scott M. 
Martin, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, 
Pesticides and Toxics Management Division 12th floor, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Such deliveries are only accepted during 
the Regional Office's normal hours of operation. The Regional Office's 
official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, 
excluding federal holidays.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to RME ID No. RO4-OAR-2005-GA-
0002; RO4-OAR-2005-GA-0003. EPA's policy is that all comments received 
will be included in the public docket without change and may be made 
available online at http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/, including any 
personal information provided, unless the comment includes information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit 
information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through 
RME, regulations.gov, or e-mail. The EPA RME website and the federal 
regulations.gov website are ``anonymous access'' systems, which means 
EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you 
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment 
directly to EPA without going through RME or regulations.gov, your e-
mail address will be automatically captured and included as part of the 
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the 
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, 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 EPA cannot read your 
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for 
clarification, 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: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the 
RME index at http://docket.epa.gov/rmepub/. Although listed in the 
index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., 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 in RME 
or in hard copy at the Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning 
Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. EPA requests that if at all possible, you 
contact the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section to schedule your inspection. The Regional Office's official 
hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding 
federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott M. Martin, Regulatory 
Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics 
Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number 
is (404) 562-9036. Mr. Martin can also be reached via electronic mail 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The use of ``we,'' ``us,'' or ``our'' in 
this document refers to EPA.

Table of Contents

I. What Action Is EPA Taking?
II. What Is the Background for This Action?
III. Why Is EPA Taking This Action and What Are the Criteria for 
Redesignation?
IV. What Is EPA's Evaluation of the Redesignation Request?
V. Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets
VI. What Is EPA's Proposed Action on the Redesignation Request and 
Maintenance Plan for the Atlanta 1-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area?
VII. What Is an Adequacy Determination and What Is the Status of 
EPA's Adequacy Determination for the Atlanta Maintenance Area's New 
MVEB for the Year 2015?
VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

I. What Action Is EPA Taking?

    Today, EPA is proposing four actions and providing status 
information on a fifth matter. First, EPA is proposing to determine 
that the Atlanta area has attained the 1-hour ozone standard NAAQS 
based on air quality monitoring data for the 2003 through 2004 ozone 
season. Second, EPA is proposing to determine that certain CAA SIP 
submittal requirements related to attainment demonstrations and 
reasonable further progress are not applicable to the Atlanta area 
because the area is attaining the 1-hour ozone standard. If an area has 
in fact attained

[[Page 20497]]

the 1-hour ozone standard, the stated purpose of CAA SIP submissions 
relating to attainment demonstrations and reasonable further progress 
(i.e. to ensure timely attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard) has 
already been fulfilled and there is no need for an area to make further 
submissions containing additional measures to achieve attainment. 
Third, EPA is proposing to approve a change in the legal designation of 
the Atlanta area from nonattainment to attainment for the 1-hour ozone 
NAAQS. The current Atlanta 1-hour ozone nonattainment area consists of 
the following counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, 
Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and 
Rockdale (Atlanta area). Fourth, EPA is proposing to approve Georgia's 
maintenance plan SIP revision for the Atlanta area. The maintenance 
plan is designed to keep the Atlanta area in attainment for the 1-hour 
ozone standard for the next 10 years.
    Fifth, in support of the transportation conformity process, EPA is 
providing information on the status of its transportation conformity 
adequacy determination for new motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEB) 
for the year 2015 that are contained Georgia's the 10-year 1-hour ozone 
maintenance plan SIP submittal for the Atlanta area.

II. What Is the Background for This Action?

    Under section 107(d)(1)(C) of the CAA, each ozone area designated 
nonattainment for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS prior to enactment of the 1990 
CAA amendments, such as the Atlanta area, was designated nonattainment 
by operation of law upon enactment of the 1990 amendments. Under 
section 181(a) of the Act, each ozone area designated nonattainment 
under section 107(d) was also classified by operation of law as 
``marginal,'' ``moderate,'' ``serious,'' ``severe,'' or ``extreme,'' 
depending on the severity of the area's air quality problem. These 
nonattainment designations and classifications were codified in 40 CFR 
Part 81 (see 56 FR 56694, November 6, 1991). The design value for an 
area, which characterizes the severity of the air quality problem, is 
represented by the highest design value at any of the individual ozone 
monitoring sites in the area (i.e., the highest of the fourth highest 
1-hour daily maximums in a given three-year period with complete 
monitoring data). Table 1 in section 181(a) provides the design value 
ranges for each nonattainment classification. Ozone nonattainment areas 
with design values between 0.160 parts per million (ppm) and 0.180 ppm 
for the three year period 1987-1989 were classified as serious. The 
Atlanta area design value was 0.162 ppm and thus the area was 
classified as serious.
    Under section 182(c) of the CAA, states containing areas that were 
classified as serious nonattainment were required to submit SIPs to 
provide for certain controls, to show progress toward attainment, and 
to provide for attainment of the ozone NAAQS as expeditiously as 
practicable but no later than November 15, 1999.
    Because Atlanta failed to attain the 1-hour ozone NAAQS by November 
15, 1999, EPA issued a final rulemaking action in the September 26, 
2003, Federal Register (68 FR 55469) determining that, by operation of 
law, the Atlanta area was being reclassified as a severe ozone 
nonattainment area effective January 1, 2004. In addition to having 
been required to submit SIP revisions meeting requirements for 
marginal, moderate, and serious ozone nonattainment areas, Georgia was 
required to submit plans meeting the additional requirements for areas 
classified as severe as required in section 182(d) of the Act.
    Under EPA regulations at 40 CFR Part 50, the 1-hour ozone standard 
is attained when the expected number of days per calendar year with 
maximum hourly average ozone concentrations above 0.12 ppm or higher is 
equal to or less than 1, as determined in Appendix H of Part 50. Under 
Appendix H, the basic method is to record the number of exceedances of 
the standard monitored at each site in an area for each calendar year 
and then average the past three calendar years to determine if this 
average is less than or equal to one. In other words, an area has 
attained the 1-hour ozone NAAQS if there are three or fewer exceedances 
recorded over a three-year period at each of the monitoring sites 
within the area. If there are more than three exceedances over a three-
year period at any of the monitoring sites, the area has not attained 
the standard. Based on ambient ozone season air quality data for the 
years 2002, 2003, and 2004, the Atlanta area has attained 1-hour ozone 
NAAQS. (See Table 1 below).

III. Why Is EPA Taking This Action and What Are the Criteria for 
Redesignation?

    Section 107(d)(3)(D) of the CAA allows a Governor, or the 
Governor's designee, to initiate the redesignation process for an area 
to apply for attainment status. On February 1, 2005, the Georgia 
Environmental Protection Division (EPD) submitted a final maintenance 
plan for the Atlanta 1-hour ozone nonattainment area and a request for 
redesignation to attainment for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS.
    Nonattainment areas may be redesignated to attainment status if 
certain CAA criteria for redesignation are met. The 1990 CAA Amendments 
revised section 107(d)(3)(E) to provide five specific requirements that 
an area must meet in order to be redesignated from nonattainment to 
attainment: (1) The area has attained the applicable NAAQS; (2) the 
area has a fully approved SIP under section 110(k) of the CAA; (3) the 
air quality improvement is due to permanent and enforceable reductions 
in emissions resulting from implementation of the SIP and applicable 
Federal air pollution control regulations and other permanent and 
enforceable reductions, (4) the area has a fully approved maintenance 
plan pursuant to section 175A of the CAA; and (5) the area has met all 
applicable requirements under section 110 and part D of the CAA. As 
detailed below, EPA is proposing to determine that the Atlanta area has 
attained the 1-hour ozone standard and has fully met the requirements 
for redesignation found at section 107(d)(3)(E) of the CAA for 
redesignation of an area from nonattainment to attainment. The EPA 
believes that Georgia has demonstrated that the Atlanta area has 
attained, and that the criteria for redesignation have been met.
    EPA provided guidance on redesignation in the General Preamble for 
the Implementation of Title I of the CAA Amendments of 1990, on April 
16, 1992 (57 FR 13498), and supplemented this guidance on processing 
redesignation requests in the following documents:
     State Implementation Plans: General Preamble for the 
Implementation of Title I of the CAA Amendments of 1990 (57 FR 13498), 
April 16, 1992 (General Preamble);
     ``Maintenance Plans for Redesignation of Ozone and Carbon 
Monoxide Nonattainment Areas,'' Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, 
Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, April 30, 1992;
     ``Contingency Measures for Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) 
Redesignations,'' Memorandum from G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone and Carbon 
Monoxide Programs Branch, June 1, 1992;
     ``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas 
to Attainment,'' Memorandum from John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality 
Management Division, September 4, 1992;

[[Page 20498]]

     ``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Actions Submitted in 
Response to Clean Air Act (ACT) Deadlines,'' Memorandum from John 
Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 1992;
     ``Technical Support Documents (TSD's) for Redesignation 
Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Nonattainment Areas,'' Memorandum from 
G.T. Helms, Chief, Ozone/Carbon Monoxide Programs Branch, August 17, 
1993;
     ``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements for Areas 
Submitting Requests for Redesignation to Attainment of the Ozone and 
Carbon Monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) On 
or After November 15, 1992,'' Memorandum from Michael H. Shapiro, 
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, September 17, 
1993;
     ``Part D New Source Review (part D NSR) Requirements for 
Areas Requesting Redesignation to Attainment,'' Memorandum from Mary D. 
Nichols, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, October 14, 
1994; and
     ``Reasonable Further Progress, Attainment Demonstration, 
and Related Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment Areas Meeting the 
Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard,'' Memorandum from John S. 
Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, May 10, 
1995.

IV. What Is EPA's Evaluation of the Redesignation Request?

    EPA is proposing to determine that the Atlanta area has attained 
the 1-hour ozone NAAQS and, because of that determination, that certain 
attainment demonstration and reasonable further progress requirements 
along with other related requirements of part D of Title I of the CAA 
are not applicable to the Atlanta area. EPA is also proposing approval 
of both the 1-hour ozone redesignation request and the 10-year 
maintenance plan SIP revision, including the new 2015 MVEBs. EPA's 
proposed approval of the 1-hour ozone redesignation request is based on 
its determination that the Atlanta area has met the five criteria for 
redesignation to attainment specified in the CAA, including a 
demonstration that the Atlanta area has attained the 1-hour ozone 
NAAQS. EPA is proposing approval of the 10-year maintenance plan SIP 
revision, including the new 2015 MVEBs, because EPA has determined that 
the plan complies with the requirements of Section 175A of the Act. EPA 
is proposing to redesignate the Atlanta nonattainment area to 
attainment status for the 1-hour ozone NAAQS because all five 
redesignation criteria have been met. The basis for EPA's proposed 
actions is as follows:
    (1). Criteria (1): Atlanta Has Attained the 1-Hour Ozone NAAQS
    EPA is proposing to determine that the Atlanta area has attained 
the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. For ozone, an area may be considered attaining 
the 1-hour ozone NAAQS if there are no violations, as determined in 
accordance with 40 CFR 50.9 and Appendix H, based on three complete, 
consecutive calendar years of quality-assured air quality monitoring 
data. A violation of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS occurs when the annual 
average number of expected daily exceedances is equal to or greater 
than 1.05 per year at a monitoring site. A daily exceedance occurs when 
the maximum hourly ozone concentration during a given day is 0.125 
parts per million (ppm) or higher. The data must be collected and 
quality-assured in accordance with 40 CFR part 58, and recorded in 
Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS). The monitors should 
have remained at the same location for the duration of the monitoring 
period required for demonstrating attainment.
    The GAEPD submitted ozone monitoring data for the April through 
October ozone season from 2002 to 2004. This data has been quality 
assured and is recorded in AIRS. For the 2002 to 2004 time period, the 
design value is 0.123 ppm. The average annual number of expected 
exceedances is 1.0, or less, at each monitor for that same time period. 
The GAEPD's request is based on an analysis of quality-assured ozone 
air quality data which is relevant to the redesignation request. The 
request is based on ambient air ozone monitoring data collected for 
three consecutive ozone monitoring seasons from 2002 through 2004. The 
exceedances are summarized in the following table:

                               Table 1.--Expected and Actual Number of Exceedances
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Exceedances            Expected number  of exceedances
             Site name              ------------------------------------------------------------------   3-year
                                        2002       2003       2004       2002       2003       2004     average
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Confederate Ave....................          1          1          1          1          1          1       1.00
Conyers............................          2          0          0          2          0          0       0.67
Douglasville.......................          1          0          0          1          0          0       0.33
Fayetteville.......................          1          0          0          1          0          0       0.33
Gwinnett Tech......................          0          1          0          0          1          0       0.33
Kennesaw...........................          1          0          0          1          0          0       0.33
McDonough..........................          2          0          0          2          0          0       0.67
Newnan.............................          0          0          0          0          0          0       0.00
South DeKalb.......................          2          0          1          2          0          1       1.00
Tucker.............................          1          1          1          1          1          1       1.00
Yorkville..........................          2          0          0          2          0          0       0.67
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition, GAEPD has committed to continue monitoring in these 
areas in accordance with 40 CFR part 58. In summary, EPA agrees that 
the data submitted by Georgia provides an adequate demonstration that 
the Atlanta area has attained the 1-hour ozone NAAQS.
    (2). Criteria (2) and (5): The Area Has a Fully Approved SIP Under 
Section 110(k); and the Area Meets All Applicable Requirements Under 
Section 110 and Part D of the CAA.
    In order to analyze whether the Atlanta area meets these criteria, 
it is necessary to discuss what requirements are applicable to the 
Atlanta area, and for the applicable SIP requirements, the extent to 
which they are fully approved under section 110(k) of the CAA.

Applicable Requirements

    1. General SIP requirements: Section 110(a)(2) of the CAA 
delineates the general requirements for a SIP, which include 
enforceable emission

[[Page 20499]]

limitations and other control measures, means, or techniques, 
provisions for the establishment and operation of appropriate devices 
necessary to collect data on ambient air quality, and programs to 
enforce the limitations. These requirements are discussed in the 
following EPA documents: ``Procedures for Processing Requests to 
Redesignate Areas to Attainment,'' John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality 
Management Division, September 4, 1992; ``State Implementation Plan 
(SIP) Actions Submitted in Response to Clean Air Act (CAA) Deadlines,'' 
John Calcagni, Director, Air Quality Management Division, October 28, 
1992; and ``State Implementation Plan (SIP) Requirements for Areas 
Submitting Requests for Redesignation to Attainment of the Ozone and 
Carbon Monoxide (CO) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on 
or after November 15, 1992,'' Michael H. Shapiro, Acting Assistant 
Administrator, September 17, 1993.
    EPA has analyzed the Georgia SIP and determined that it is 
consistent with the requirements of CAA section 110(a)(2). Title 40 CFR 
52.570 subpart L contains the historical record of the Georgia SIP. The 
SIP contains enforceable emission limitations; requires monitoring, 
compiling, and analyzing ambient air quality data; requires 
preconstruction review of new major stationary sources and major 
modifications to existing ones; provides for adequate funding, staff, 
and associated resources necessary to implement its requirements; and 
requires stationary source emissions monitoring and reporting.
    2. Part D: General Provisions for Nonattainment Areas:
    Before an area may be redesignated to attainment, it must have 
fulfilled the applicable requirements of part D. Under part D of title 
I of the CAA, an area's ozone classification determines the 
requirements to which it is subject. Subpart 1 of part D specifies the 
basic requirements applicable to all nonattainment areas. Subpart 2 of 
part D establishes additional requirements for nonattainment areas 
classified under Table 1 of section 181(a) of the CAA. As described in 
the General Preamble for Implementation of title I of the CAA, specific 
requirements of subpart 2 may override or modify subpart 1's general 
provisions (57 FR 13501, April 16, 1992). Therefore, in order to be 
redesignated, the State must meet the applicable requirements of 
subpart 1 of part D--specifically section 172(c), as well as the 
applicable requirements of subpart 2 of part D (section 182).
    Section 172(c). A thorough discussion of the requirements contained 
in section 172(c) may be found in the General Preamble for 
Implementation of title I (57 FR 13498, April 16, 1992). Section 172(c) 
requires Georgia to adopt reasonable further progress plans, emission 
inventories, and establish a permit program for the construction of new 
and modified sources. The discussion below regarding section 182(a)(1) 
and section 182(d)(1)(A) describes how Georgia satisfies the 
requirements for emission inventories and rate-of-progress plans. In 
addition, Georgia's permit program was originally approved on August 
20, 1976 (41 FR 35184) and was last revised on July 11, 2002, (67 FR 
45909). These general requirements for nonattainment plans have been 
met by Georgia's adoption and implementation, and EPA's approval into 
the Georgia SIP, of programs and rules needed to attain the 1-hour 
NAAQS.
    Section 182(a)(1)--This provision of the Act provided for the 
submission of a 1990 Baseline inventory. The EPA approved Georgia's 
1990 Baseline Emissions Inventory on April 26, 1999 (64 FR 20186), 
effective May 26, 1999.
    Section 182(a)(2)(A)--This provision of the Act required areas that 
were designated nonattainment before the Amendments of 1990 to correct 
any deficiencies in the area's reasonably available control technology 
(RACT) rules. Modifications to GAEPD's case-by-case volatile organic 
compound (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) rules were adopted 
by the Georgia Board of Natural Resources on December 7, 2004, and 
filed with the Georgia Secretary of State on December 10, 2004. The EPA 
intends to propose approval of these rule revisions in a separate 
action. Final action on these rule revisions will occur on or before 
the date of any final action to redesignate the Atlanta area to 
attainment.
    Section 182(a)(2)(B)--This provision of the Act relates to the 
savings clause for vehicle inspection and maintenance. It requires 
marginal areas to adopt vehicle inspection and maintenance programs. 
The discussion below regarding section 182(c)(3) describes how Georgia 
satisfies this requirement.
    Section 182(a)(2)(C)--This provision of the Act required Georgia to 
adopt a New Source Review (NSR) Permit Program or to correct its 
existing program to meet EPA guidance requirements issued prior to 
1990. Georgia's nonattainment NSR program was submitted November 13, 
1992, and approved by EPA March 8, 1995, (60 FR 12688), effective May 
8, 1995.
    Section 182(a)(3)(A)--This provision of the Act requires a 
triennial Periodic Emissions Inventory for the nonattainment area. The 
most recent inventory for the Atlanta area was compiled for 2002 and 
submitted to EPA in June 2004, as required by the Consolidated 
Emissions Reporting Rule (CERR) which was promulgated by EPA on June 
10, 2002. The CERR consolidates the requirements of this portion of the 
Act with other general provisions of Section 110 and continues the 
triennial reporting requirement for 2002 and beyond.
    Section 182(a)(3)(B)--This provision of the Act requires sources of 
VOCs and NOX in the nonattainment area to submit annual 
Emissions Statements regarding the quantity of emissions from the 
previous year. Georgia's Emissions Statements Program was submitted on 
November 13, 1992. Its approval by EPA was published in the Federal 
Register on February 2, 1996, (61 FR 3819), effective April 2, 1996.
    Section 182(b)(2)--This provision of the Act requires RACT for each 
category of VOC sources covered by a control technique guideline (CTG). 
Georgia has adopted numerous VOC controls which can be found by 
referencing 40 CFR 52.570 subpart L.
    Section 182(b)(4)--This provision of the Act requires the adoption 
of motor vehicle inspection and maintenance programs. The discussion 
below regarding section 182(c)(3)describes how Georgia satisfies this 
requirement.
    Section 182(b)(5)--This provision of the Act requires the adoption 
of a general offset requirement of at least 1.15 to 1. The discussion 
below regarding section 182(d)(2) describes how Georgia satisfies this 
requirement.
    Section 182(b)(3)--This provision of the Act requires Stage II 
refueling vapor recovery in ozone nonattainment areas classified as 
moderate or worse. Georgia's rule implementing the Stage II program was 
submitted November 13, 1992, and approved by EPA on February 2, 1996, 
(61 FR 3819), effective April 2, 1996.
    Section 182(c)(1)--This provision of the Act requires enhanced 
monitoring of ozone and its precursors in ozone nonattainment areas 
classified as serious or worse. The Code of Federal regulations (40 CFR 
Part 58) was subsequently revised to require States to establish 
Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) as part of their 
SIP monitoring networks. Georgia's PAMS network was approved in a 
November 23, 1993, memorandum from EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards.
    Section 182(c)(3)--This provision of the Act requires enhanced 
vehicle inspection and maintenance (I/M) in ozone nonattainment areas 
classified as

[[Page 20500]]

serious or worse. Georgia's enhanced I/M rule was submitted to EPA on 
August 9, 1999, and approved on April 19, 2002 (67 FR 19335), effective 
June 18, 2002.
    Section 182(c)(4)--This provision of the Act requires a clean-fuel 
vehicle program in ozone nonattainment areas classified as serious or 
worse. Georgia's clean-fueled fleets rule was submitted to EPA on May 
5, 1994, and approved on December 21, 1995, (60 FR 66150), effective 
May 22, 1994.
    Section 182(c)(6)--This provision of the Act requires a serious or 
worse ozone nonattainment area to submit a de minimis rule for its NSR 
program. Georgia's rule was submitted November 13, 1992, and approved 
by EPA March 8, 1995, (60 FR 12688), effective May 8, 1995.
    Section 182(c)(7)--This provision of the Act requires a special NSR 
rule for sources that emit less than 100 tons per year. Georgia's rule 
was submitted November 13, 1992, and approved by EPA March 8, 1995, (60 
FR 12688), effective May 8, 1995.
    Section 182(c)(8)--This provision of the Act requires a special NSR 
rule for sources that emit 100 or more tons per year. Georgia's rule 
was submitted November 13, 1992, and approved by EPA March 8, 1995, (60 
FR 12688), effective May 8, 1995.
    Section 182(d)--This provision of the Act requires that the major 
source threshold be defined as 25 tons per year. On March 15, 2005, 
GAEPD submitted rule revisions addressing this requirement. EPA intends 
to propose approval for this revision in a separate action. Final 
action on these revisions will occur on or before the date of any final 
action to redesignate the Atlanta area to attainment.
    Section 182(d)(1)(A)--This provision of the Act requires severe 
ozone nonattainment areas to offset growth in emissions attributable to 
growth in vehicle miles traveled (VMT); to select and implement 
transportation control measures (TCMs) necessary to comply with the 
periodic emissions reduction requirements of Sections 182(b) and (c); 
and to consider TCMs specified in Section 108(f), and implement such 
TCMs as necessary to demonstrate attainment with the ozone standard. 
The first requirement was addressed in Georgia's Severe Area VMT SIP, 
submitted June 30, 2004. EPA intends to propose approval for this 
submittal in a separate action. Final action on these revisions will 
occur on or before the date of any final action to redesignate the 
Atlanta area to attainment. The second requirement was addressed in 
Georgia's 15 percent reasonable further progress (RFP) SIP (the 15 
Percent Plan), the last revision to which was submitted on June 17, 
1996, and approved by EPA on April 26, 1999 (64 FR 20186), effective 
May 26, 1999. That approval also included the TCMs in the 15 Percent 
Plan and therefore satisfies the second requirement. The third 
requirement, the selection and implementation of TCMs as necessary to 
demonstrate attainment of the ozone standard, is not applicable because 
the Atlanta area is attaining the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. A further 
discussion of non-applicability of requirements because of the 
attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard is set forth below.
    Section 182(d)(2)--This provision of the Act requires a ratio of 
total emission reductions to total increased emissions of at least 1.3 
to 1. Georgia's VOC offset rule, revised to address this severe 
nonattainment area requirement, was approved by the Georgia Board of 
Natural Resources on April 28, 2004. EPA intends to propose approval 
for this submittal in a separate action. Final action on these 
revisions will occur on or before the date of any final action to 
redesignate the Atlanta area to attainment.
    Section 182(f)--This provision of the Act requires that plan 
provisions required for major stationary sources of VOCs shall also 
apply to major stationary sources of NOX (under title I, 
part D, and subpart 2) unless the Administrator determines that net air 
quality benefits are greater in the absence of reductions of 
NOX from the sources concerned. The Georgia SIP was amended 
in 1992 to add the requirements of NOX offsets for new or 
modified major stationary sources in the nonattainment area. EPA 
approved this revision on March 8, 1995, (60 FR 12688), effective May 
8, 1995.

Non-Applicable Requirements Due to Attainment of 1-Hour Ozone Standard

    EPA interprets the CAA's general nonattainment provisions of 
subpart 1 of part D of Title I (sections 171 and 172) and the more 
specific attainment demonstration and related provisions of subpart 2 
(section 182), relating to SIP requirements for ozone nonattainment 
areas to not require the submission of SIP revisions concerning 
reasonable further progress (RFP), attainment demonstrations, or 
contingency measures for areas where the monitoring data show that the 
area is attaining the 1-hour ozone standard. (See Sierra Club v. EPA, 
99 F.3d 1551 (10th Cir. 1996)). This rationale is described in a 
memorandum from John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards, entitled ``Reasonable Further Progress, Attainment 
Demonstration, and Related Requirements for Ozone Nonattainment Areas 
Meeting the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard,'' dated May 
10, 1995. (See also, the final determination of attainment for St. 
Louis, 68 FR 25418, May 12, 2003; the proposed determination of 
attainment for St. Louis, 68 FR 4847, 4848, January 30, 2003; the 
proposed determination of attainment for Louisville, 66 FR 27483, 
27486, May 17, 2001; and the proposed determination of attainment for 
Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, 66 FR 1925, January 10, 2001, for more recent 
applications of this interpretation).
    EPA believes it is reasonable to interpret the provisions regarding 
RFP and attainment demonstrations, along with other certain related 
provisions, not to require SIP submissions if an ozone nonattainment 
area subject to those requirements is monitoring attainment of the 
ozone standard (i.e., attainment of the NAAQS demonstrated with three 
consecutive years of complete, quality-assured, air quality monitoring 
data). EPA believes this interpretation is reasonable because the 
stated purpose of CAA provisions addressing or relating to RFP and 
attainment demonstrations is to ensure attainment of the standard by 
the applicable attainment date. If an area has in fact attained the 
standard, the stated purpose of the requirement will have been 
fulfilled and there will be no need for an area to make a further 
submission containing additional measures to achieve attainment. EPA 
has explained at length in other actions its rationale for the 
reasonableness of this interpretation of the CAA and incorporates those 
explanations by reference. See (67 FR 49600) (Cincinnati-Hamilton, 
Kentucky, July 31, 2002); (66 FR 53095) (Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley, 
Pennsylvania, October 19, 2001); (65 FR 37879) (Cincinnati-Hamilton, 
Ohio and Kentucky, June 19, 2000); (61 FR 20458) (Cleveland-Akron-
Lorain, Ohio, May 7, 1996); (60 FR 36723) (Salt Lake and Davis 
Counties, Utah, July 18, 1995); (60 FR 37366 (July 20, 1995); (61 FR 
31832-31833) (June 21, 1996) (Grand Rapids, MI). The United States 
Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has upheld EPA's interpretation. 
Sierra Club v. EPA, 99 F.3d 1551 (10th Cir. 1996).
    Pursuant to this interpretation, EPA's is proposing to determine 
that the following CAA provisions are not applicable requirements for 
purposes of this redesignation request because EPA believes the Atlanta 
area is currently attaining the 1-hour ozone standard:

[[Page 20501]]

    Section 172(c)(2): Reasonable further progress (all nonattainment 
areas). As 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 
13564).
    Section 172(c)(9): Contingency Measures. EPA has previously 
interpreted the contingency measure requirements of this section as no 
longer being applicable once an area has attained the standard since 
those ``contingency measures are directed at ensuring RFP and 
attainment by the applicable date.'' (57 FR 13564).
    Section 182(b)(1)(A): Reasonable further progress (the 15 Percent 
Plan -VOC reductions for moderate and above nonattainment areas). 
Similar reasoning applies to this section. Although not an applicable 
requirement, Georgia's last revision was submitted June 17, 1996, 
approved April 26, 1999 (64 FR 20186), with an effective date of May 
26, 1999.
    Section 182(c)(2)(A): Attainment Demonstration (for serious and 
above nonattainment areas). As noted above, if an area has, in fact, 
monitored attainment of the relevant NAAQS, EPA believes there is no 
need for an area to make a further submission containing additional 
measures to achieve attainment. Upon attainment, the focus of state 
planning efforts shifts to the maintenance of the NAAQS and the 
development of a maintenance plan under section 175A.
    Section 182(c)(2)(B): Reasonable further progress (for serious and 
above nonattainment areas). Similar reasoning applies to this section. 
Although not applicable requirements, the 9 Percent Plan 
(NOX reductions), required by Section 182(c)(2)(B), were 
submitted by Georgia on June 17, 1996, approved March 18, 1999 (64 FR 
13348), effective April 19, 1999. In addition, the Post-1999 Rate-of-
Progress (ROP) Plan (NOX reductions), required by Section 
182(c)(2)(B), was submitted by Georgia on December 24, 2003, approved 
July 19, 2004 (69 FR 42880), effective August 18, 2004.
    Section 182(c)(5): Triennial Demonstrations (for serious and above 
nonattainment areas). Similar reasoning applies to this section.
    Section 182(c)(9): Contingency Provisions (for serious and above 
nonattainment areas). Similar reasoning applies to this section.
    Section 182(g): Milestones. Similar reasoning applies to this 
section.

Other Non-Applicable Requirements

    Section 176(c): Section 176(c) of the CAA requires states to 
establish criteria and procedures to ensure that federally supported or 
funded projects, before they are undertaken, conform to the air quality 
planning goals in the SIP. The requirement to determine conformity 
applies to transportation plans, programs and projects developed, 
funded or approved under Title 23 U.S.C. of the Federal Transit Act 
(``transportation conformity''), as well as to all other Federally 
supported or funded projects (``general conformity''). Section 176 
further provides that state conformity revisions must be consistent 
with Federal conformity regulations that the CAA required the EPA to 
promulgate.
    Since 1995, EPA has consistently interpreted the conformity 
requirements as not applying to the evaluation of redesignation 
requests under section 107(d) by the Agency. The rationale for this is 
based on a combination of two factors. First, the requirement to submit 
SIP revisions to comply with the conformity provisions of the CAA 
continues to apply to areas after redesignation to attainment, since 
such areas would be subject to a section 175A maintenance plan. Second, 
EPA's Federal conformity rules require the performance of conformity 
analyses in the absence of Federally approved state rules. Therefore, 
because areas are subject to the conformity requirements regardless of 
whether they are redesignated to attainment and must implement 
conformity under Federal rules if states rules are not yet approved, 
EPA believes it is reasonable to view these requirements as not 
applying-to evaluations of redesignation requests by the Agency. See, 
Wall v. EPA, 265 F.3d 426, 439 (6th Cir. 2001) upholding this 
interpretation.
    (3). Criteria (3): The Air Quality Improvement in the Atlanta Area 
Is Due to Permanent and Enforceable Reductions in Emissions Resulting 
From Implementation of the SIP and Applicable Federal Air Pollution 
Control Regulations and Other Permanent and Enforceable Reductions.
    For the following reasons, EPA has determined that this Criteria 
has been met. First, EPA approved Georgia's SIP control strategy for 
the Atlanta area, including rules and the emission reductions achieved 
as a result of those rules that are enforceable. Second, a number of 
Federal and Statewide rules are in place which have significantly 
improved the ambient air quality in these areas. The following table is 
a partial list of rules which have been adopted, are permanent, 
enforceable, and demonstrate that the improvements in air quality in 
Atlanta are a result of control measures.

                    Table 2.--State Control Strategy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State control strategy        Compliance date       Implemented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requiring Stage I Vapor          Prior to November   Yes.
 Recovery at Gasoline             15, 1994.
 Dispensing Facilities in 13
 counties (391-3-1-.02(2)(rr)).
Expanding VOC and NOX RACT       Prior to May 1,     Yes.
 requirements to 6 additional     2003.
 counties (391-3-1-.02(2)(tt)
 and (yy)).
Requiring Stage II Vapor          Prior to November  Yes.
 Recovery at Gasoline             15, 1995.
 Dispensing Facilities in 13
 counties (391-3-1-.02(2)(zz)).
Lowering Automobile Windshield   Prior to January    Yes.
 Washer Fluid VOC Content in 13   1, 1996.
 counties (391-3-1-.02(2)(aaa)).
Lowering Reid Vapor Pressure     Prior to June 1,    Yes.
 (RVP) of gasoline sold in 45     1999.
 counties (391-3-1-.02(2)(bbb)).
Lowering Sulfur Content of       Prior to September  Yes.
 gasoline sold in 45 counties     16, 2003.
 (391-3-1-.02(2)(bbb)).
Limiting NOX Emissions from 5    Prior to May 1,     Yes.
 Georgia Power Plants (Bowen,     2003.
 Hammond, McDonough, Wansley,
 and Yates) to 0.13 lb/MMBtu
 (391-3-1-.02(2)(jjj)).
Limiting NOX Emissions from 7    Prior to May 1,     Yes.
 Georgia Power Plants (Bowen,     2003.
 Hammond, McDonough, Wansley,
 Yates, Branch and Scherer) to
 0.20 lb/MMBtu (391-3-1-
 .02(2)(jjj)).
Regulating NOX Emissions from    Prior to May 1,     Yes.
 Fuel-Burning Equipment in 45     2000.
 counties (391-3-1-.02(2)(lll)).

[[Page 20502]]

 
Regulating NOX Emissions from    Prior to May 1,     Yes.
 Stationary Gas Turbines and      2003.
 Stationary Engines used to
 Generate Electricity in 45
 counties (391-3-1-.02(2)(mmm)).
Regulating NOX Emissions from    Prior to May 1,     Yes.
 Large Stationary Gas Turbines    2003.
 in 45 counties (391-3-1-
 .02(2)(nnn)).
Implementing a ban on Open       Prior to May 1,     Yes.
 Burning activities during the    2001.
 ozone season in 45 counties
 (391-3-1-.02(5)).
Implementation of stricter PSD   June 6, 1999......  Yes.
 permitting requirements
 including lower applicability
 thresholds and emission offset
 requirements in 6 additional
 counties (391-3-1-.03(8)).
Improving rule effectiveness     June 1996.........  Yes.
 for various rules (e.g.,
 Graphic Arts Rule (391-3-1-
 .02(2)(mm)) and Coil Coating
 Rule (391-3-1-.02(2)(v))).
Implementing an enhanced         October 1, 1996...  Yes.
 inspection and maintenance
 program for vehicles in 13
 counties (391-3-1-20).
Limiting emissions from          May 1, 2003.......  Yes.
 specific industrial sources
 through air quality permits
 (e.g., Blue Circle Cement
 (Lafarge), Transcontinental
 Gas Pipeline, Austell Box
 Board).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to the State adopted rules the following Federal 
control measures are also implemented in the Atlanta area:

                   Table 3.--Federal Control Strategy
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Federal control measures       Compliance date       Implemented
------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Architectural Coatings  August 14, 1998...  Yes.
 Rule.
National Autobody Refinishing    August 14, 1998...  Yes.
 Rule.
National Consumer Products Rule  September 11, 1998  Yes.
Federal Motor Vehicle Control    February 10, 2000.  Yes.
 Program, including National
 Tier 0, 1, and 2 Tailpipe
 Standards.
Federal Heavy-Duty Highway       October 6, 2000...  Yes.
 Engine Standards (both sets:
 2004-and-later, 2007-and-
 later).
National Standards for New       April 25, 2000....  Yes.
 Nonroad Spark-Ignition Engines
 At or Below 19 kW.
Small Non-Road Gasoline Engines  April 25, 2000....  Yes.
Large Non-Road Gasoline Engines  November 8, 2002..  Yes.
Federal Consumer and Commercial  August 14, 1998...  Yes.
 Products Requirements.
Federal Non-Road Diesel Engine   May 11, 2004......  Yes.
 Phases 2 and 3 Requirements.
Federal Marine Engine            October 4, 1996;    Yes.
 Requirements.                    November 8, 2002;
                                  February 28, 2003.
Federal Locomotive Requirements  December 17, 1997.  Yes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Third, the ambient ozone monitoring data in Table 1 demonstrates 
that the Atlanta area has attained the 1-hour ozone NAAQS during the 
time period of 2002-2004. Tables 2 and 3 list many, but not all, of the 
control measures which have been implemented in the Atlanta area to 
ensure that the reductions in ozone are permanent and enforceable. 
Fourth, based upon data previously supplied by the State of Georgia 
these control measures have resulted in more than 430 tpd in 
NOX emissions reductions, and 80 tpd VOC emissions 
reductions from the 1990 baseline inventory.
    Fifth, EPA believes that the improvement in air quality is 
attributable to reductions in emissions rather than solely from 
favorable meteorology. The GA EPD conducted an analysis of both the 
meteorological conditions and concentrations of ozone and its precursor 
gases during the 1999-2004 period. This analysis examined the 
variability in temperature, wind speed, and cloud cover which all play 
a role in producing conditions conducive to ozone formation. While, on 
average, meteorological conditions in 2002-2004 were less conducive to 
ozone formation than those conditions during 1999-2001, all factors 
that are generally agreed to contribute to high ozone concentrations 
were present. When high ozone days from the 1999-2001 period are 
compared with high ozone days during the 2002-2004 period it can be 
seen that the meteorological conditions were very similar. In addition, 
based on data noted above there is also a downward trend in 
NO2 and NOX concentrations during the same years. 
The downward trend in ambient ozone concentrations coincides with the 
implementation of NOX control measures by the State of 
Georgia. In 1999, the Atlanta nonattainment area's ozone design value 
was 0.156 ppm, and in 2004, the design value decreased to 0.123 ppm. 
This is significant since scientific studies have generally shown ozone 
in the Atlanta region to be limited primarily by NOX. 
Therefore, while meteorological variability may have contributed to the 
downward trend in ozone, substantial NOX emission reductions 
have occurred (data referenced above) concurrently strongly suggesting 
that the reductions in NOX emissions contributed 
substantially to reductions in ozone concentrations during the 2002-
2004 time period. Thus, EPA agrees with the State's analysis that 
decreases in ozone concentrations in the Atlanta area have coincided 
with and are attributable to the implementation of emission control 
measures rather than favorable meteorology.
    (4). Criteria (4): The Area Has a Fully Approved Maintenance Plan 
Pursuant to Section 175A of the CAA. EPA is proposing to approve 
Georgia's 10-year 1-hour ozone maintenance plan SIP submittal for the 
Atlanta area, including the newly established motor vehicle emission 
budgets for the year 2015. EPA

[[Page 20503]]

approval of the maintenance plan would satisfy the final criteria for 
redesignation of the Atlanta area to attainment status for the 1-hour 
ozone standard.
    Section 175A of the CAA sets forth the elements of maintenance plan 
for areas seeking redesignation from nonattainment to attainment. Under 
section 175A, the plan must demonstrate continued attainment of the 
applicable NAAQS for at least ten years after the Administrator 
approves a redesignation to attainment. Eight years after the 
redesignation, the State must submit a revised maintenance plan which 
demonstrates that attainment will continue to be maintained for the ten 
years following the initial ten-year period. To provide for the 
possibility of future NAAQS violations, the maintenance plan contains 
contingency measures, with a schedule for implementation, adequate to 
assure prompt correction of any future 1-hour ozone violations.
    On February 1, 2005, GAEPD submitted its revision to the Georgia 
SIP to include a 10-year maintenance plan as required by section 175A 
of the CAA. The maintenance plan shows compliance and maintenance of 
the 1-hour ozone standard by assuring that current and future emissions 
of VOC and NOX remain at or below attainment year emission 
levels.
    Monitored attainment of the 1-hour standard was achieved for the 
2002-2004 three-year period. The most recent comprehensive periodic 
(triennial) emissions inventory for the Atlanta area was compiled for 
2002 pursuant to section 182(a)(3)(A). In accordance with federal 
requirements, the triennial inventory for 2002 was submitted to EPA by 
June 1, 2004.
    According to the September 4, 1992, EPA guidance document entitled, 
``Procedures for Processing Requests to Redesignate Areas to 
Attainment,'' the base attainment inventory should be consistent with 
EPA's most recent guidance on emission inventories and should represent 
the emissions during the time period associated with the monitoring 
data showing attainment. For purposes of demonstrating maintenance of 
the standard, 2002 was chosen as the base year representing the 
monitoring period of 2002-2004. The attainment year is 2004.
Attainment Inventory
    Georgia's complete 2002 Periodic Emissions Inventory (PEI), 
submitted to EPA in June 2004, was the basis for point and area source 
emissions projections. The point source emissions for calendar year 
2002 included in the 2002 PEI were taken from the data obtained from 
these regulated facilities. The 2002 point and area source inventories 
were grown to later years using projection factors from EPA's Economic 
Growth Analysis System (EGAS) 4.0. The resulting point and area 
inventories are conservatively high because no control factors were 
applied to the projected emissions. Updated nonroad and on-road mobile 
emissions for 2002 were calculated based on EPA-approved models 
(NONROAD and MOBILE6.2.03, respectively).
    With the exception of mobile sources and nonroad sources, which 
were explicitly modeled for each year, emissions were in general, 
projected by applying projection factors to 2002 emissions inventories. 
The projection factors were produced using EPA's Economic Growth 
Analysis System (EGAS) software, Version 4.0.
Maintenance Demonstration
    The required maintenance plan must become a part of the SIP and 
provide for maintenance of the air quality in the affected area for at 
least 10 years after designation. Georgia has chosen 2015 as the end 
year of the maintenance plan for the Atlanta area.
    The approach used for the maintenance plan to demonstrate that 
attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard will continue to be maintained 
is based upon restricting future anthropogenic emissions to a level 
that is representative of attainment of the standard. If these future 
emissions are no greater than the actual emissions during a year in the 
three year period for which attainment of the standard was monitored, 
then it can be assumed that attainment of the standard will also be 
achieved in future years.
    It can be seen from Table 3 and Table 4 that there is a calculated 
safety margin for both VOC and NOX for each year for which 
projections were made in the maintenance plan. Note that the mobile 
source emissions for 2005, 2010, and 2015 include the small emissions 
increases (0.09 NOX tons per day, 0.24 VOC tons per day) 
resulting from the senior citizen vehicle inspection exemption in 2004.

   Table 4.--Atlanta 1-Hour Ozone Attainment Area Maintenance Plan NOX
                                Emissions
                          [Tons per summer day]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Source category           2002       2005       2010       2015
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total for the Atlanta area:
    Point...................      55.58      54.99      58.43      63.79
    Area....................      28.57      29.52      31.75      33.81
    Mobile..................     365.55     284.72     191.65     110.80
    Nonroad.................     114.35     116.24     107.72      98.15
                             ------------
        Total...............     564.05     485.48     389.55     306.55
-----------------------------
  Maintenance Plan Decrease from 2002,       78.57     174.50    257.50
          (NOX Safety Margin*)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*After assigning 11.08 TPD of the 2015 NOX safety margin to the Motor
  Vehicle Emissions Budget, the revised 2015 NOX safety margin will be
  246.42 TPD.


   Table 5.--Atlanta 1-Hour Ozone Attainment Area Maintenance Plan VOC
                                Emissions
                          [Tons per summer day]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Source category           2002       2005       2010       2015
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total for the Atlanta area:
    Point...................      15.71      17.11      19.69      22.12
    Area....................     294.20     314.68     357.11     398.41
    Mobile..................     184.84     141.91     112.34      75.84

[[Page 20504]]

 
    Nonroad.................      83.44      64.28      48.96      47.02
                             ------------
        Total...............     578.19     537.98     538.10     543.40
-----------------------------
  Maintenance Plan Decrease from 2002
          (VOC Safety Margin*)               40.21      40.09     34.79
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*After assigning 7.58 TPD of the 2015 VOC safety margin to the Motor
  Vehicle Emissions Budget, the revised 2015 VOC safety margin will be
  27.21 TPD.

    A ``safety margin'' is the difference between the attainment level 
of emissions (from all sources) and the projected level of emissions 
(from all sources) in the maintenance plan. The attainment level of 
emissions is the level of emissions during one of the years in the 
three year period for which the area met the NAAQS. For example, the 
Atlanta area attained the 1-hour ozone NAAQS during the 2002-2004 time 
period. Georgia uses 2002 as the attainment level of emissions for the 
area. The emissions from point, area, nonroad, and mobile sources in 
2002 equaled 578.19 tpd of VOC for the Atlanta area. Projected VOC 
emissions out to the year 2015 equaled 543.40 tpd of VOC. The safety 
margin for VOCs is calculated to be the difference between these 
amounts or, in this case, 34.79 tpd of VOC for 2015. By this same 
method, 257.50 tpd (i.e., 564.05 in 2002 minus 306.55 in 2015) is the 
safety margin for NOX for 2015. The emissions are projected 
to maintain the area's air quality consistent with the NAAQS. The 
safety margin is the extra emissions that can be allocated as long as 
the total attainment level of emissions is maintained. The credit, or a 
portion thereof, can be allocated to any of the source categories. The 
State of Georgia has also committed in the maintenance plan to the 
necessary continued operation of the ozone monitoring network in 
compliance with 40 CFR part 58.
    Under section 211 of the Act, the requirement to use reformulated 
gasoline (RFG) became effective for the Atlanta severe nonattainment 
area on January 1, 2005. Georgia petitioned EPA to waive the RFG 
requirement for Atlanta. EPA found that it lacked the authority to 
grant the waiver request and denied the petition. Georgia filed a 
lawsuit to stop the implementation of RFG in Atlanta. The State's 
request for a preliminary injunction was denied and Georgia appealed 
that decision. Nevertheless, the RFG requirement was stayed pending 
appeal by order of the Federal District Court for the Northern District 
of Georgia in the case of State of Georgia v. Michael Leavitt, Docket 
 1:04-CV-2778-CC. That case is now pending before the 11th 
Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. In its 1-hour maintenance 
demonstration, GAEPD's mobile source modeling of the 1-hour ozone 
standard through the year 2015 was broken down as follows: Emissions 
for 2005-2015 were modeled assuming RFG with a 10 percent (by volume) 
ethanol oxygenate and 7.3 psi Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP); emissions for 
2004 and earlier were modeled using the low sulfur (30 ppm)/low RVP 
(7.0 psi) Georgia gasoline in place under the SIP before the mandated 
RFG implementation date. EPA's independent analysis of the impacts of 
RFG for air quality in the 13-county Atlanta nonattainment area during 
our review of the Georgia petition to waive the RFG requirement, 
indicated that RFG would likely lead to a slight increase in 
NOX emissions and would be relatively equivalent in emission 
benefit for VOC. This analysis indicates that a mobile run using only 
Georgia gasoline would likely produce at least equivalent 
NOX and VOC levels. In any event, any increases would be 
well within the safety margin discussed above. Therefore, maintenance 
is indicated under either future fuel scenario (i.e., using RFG or 
Georgia gasoline currently in place). EPA intends to confirm this 
conclusion prior to final action on this proposed redesignation. Thus, 
EPA believes that GAEPD's mobile source emissions modeling supports 
maintenance of the 1-hour ozone standard through the year 2015. EPA 
will address the applicability of RFG to severe areas like Atlanta 
after redesignation to maintenance and after the revocation of the one-
hour standard in a separate action.
Plan To Maintain Air Quality
    The GAEPD has implemented programs that will remain enforceable to 
ensure that maintenance of the 1-hour standard will continue. 
Regulations are prohibited from being removed from the SIP (``anti-
backsliding'') following the redesignation of the area unless such a 
change is first approved by the EPA as a revision to the Georgia SIP, 
as provided by section 110(l) of the Act.
    Control measures have been implemented on point, area, mobile, and 
nonroad sources to reduce emissions of oxides of NOX and 
VOCs, both in the 13-county Atlanta nonattainment area and in 
surrounding counties. Control measures have been developed at both the 
state and federal level. Table 1 and Table 2 are lists of state and 
federal controls, respectively. These tables show the control measures 
relied upon to attain and maintain the 1-hour NAAQS.
    All controls relied upon to attain the 1-hour NAAQS were 
implemented no later than May 1, 2003, except for the regional 
NOX SIP Call and a portion of the Georgia gasoline marketing 
rule. The gasoline marketing rule requiring 30 ppm average sulfur year-
round was implemented on September 16, 2003. The air quality impact of 
the new gasoline marketing sulfur content rule was realized in the 2004 
ozone season with additional reductions of NOX and VOCs. The 
NOX SIP Call was implemented in neighboring States (AL, KY, 
TN, SC, and NC) on May 31, 2004. This resulted in the reduction of 
regional transport of ozone and its precursors.
Verification of Continued Attainment
    Verification of continued attainment is accomplished through 
operation of the ambient ozone monitoring network and the periodic 
updates of the area's emissions inventory.
    The 11 ambient ozone monitors currently operating in the Atlanta 
area will continue to operate unless a change is approved by EPA 
consistent with 40 CFR part 58. No plans are underway to discontinue 
operation, relocate, or otherwise affect the ambient monitoring network 
in place.
    As noted above, the 1990 Amendments required a triennial Periodic 
Emissions Inventory for the

[[Page 20505]]

nonattainment area. The most recent inventory for the Atlanta area was 
compiled for 2002. The Consolidated Emissions Reporting Rule (CERR) was 
promulgated by EPA on June 10, 2002. For the purposes of verifying 
continued attainment based upon the emissions inventory, the three main 
components of the inventory will be updated on different schedules. The 
major point sources of air pollution will continue to submit data on 
their emissions on an annual basis. This has been required under 40 CFR 
51, subpart Q for many years. For the area source and mobile source 
portions of the inventory, these emissions will continue to be 
quantified on a three-year cycle. The inventory will be updated and 
maintained on a three-year cycle. As required by the CERR, the next 
overall emissions inventory will be compiled for 2005.
Contingency Plan
    Section 175A(d) of the Act requires that the maintenance plan 
include provisions for contingency measures that would assure that the 
State will promptly correct any violation of the one-hour ozone NAAQS 
after redesignation of an area as an attainment area. A list of 
potential contingency measures that could be considered for future 
implementation in such an event should also be included in the 
maintenance plan.
    The GAEPD has developed a contingency plan for the Atlanta 1-hour 
ozone nonattainment area. Contingency measures are intended to provide 
further emission reductions in the event that violations of the one-
hour ozone NAAQS occur after redesignation to attainment. Consistent 
with this plan, GAEPD agrees to adopt and implement, as expeditiously 
as practicable, the necessary corrective actions in the event that 
violations of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS occur anywhere within the Atlanta 
maintenance area after redesignation to attainment. Contingency 
measures under Tier I or Tier II triggers would be implemented within 
18 months unless GAEPD demonstrated to EPA that technical or economic 
feasibility warranted an implementation period longer than 18 months. 
Tier I and Tier II triggers are discussed below.
    Under Section 175A(d), the minimum requirement for contingency 
measures is the implementation of all measures that were contained in 
the SIP before the redesignation. This is met due to the designation of 
the Atlanta area as nonattainment for the 8-hour ozone standard. The 
existing measures are expected to remain in place under the active 
portion of the SIP.
    The State of Georgia will use actual ambient monitoring data as the 
indicator or trigger to determine whether additional contingency 
measures would be implemented. In accordance with 40 CFR Part 58, 
ambient ozone monitoring data that indicates a future violation of the 
1-hour ozone NAAQS will begin the process to implement these 
contingency measures according to the protocols identified below. The 
contingency plan provides for different levels of corrective responses 
should the 1-hour ozone NAAQS be exceeded or violated, or if emissions 
in the region increase significantly above current levels.
Contingency Measure Triggers
    Tier I: Any monitored ambient concentration of ozone at any ambient 
monitoring station in the Atlanta maintenance area above 0.124 ppm that 
occurs more than once per year, or, if the periodic emission inventory 
updates reveal excessive or unanticipated growth greater than 10 
percent in emissions of either ozone precursor over the baseline or 
intermediate emissions inventories. The GAEPD will evaluate the 
exceedances to determine if the trend is likely to continue. If it is 
determined that additional emission reductions are necessary, GAEPD 
will implement the schedule below to implement any required measures as 
expeditiously as practicable, taking into consideration the ease of 
implementation and the technical and economic feasibility of selected 
measures.
    Tier II: Any recorded violation of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS at any 
ambient monitoring station in the Atlanta maintenance area. The GAEPD 
will work to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the causes of 
the violation, and the control measures necessary to mitigate the 
problem. The comprehensive analysis will examine:
     The number, location, and severity of the ambient ozone 
concentrations above the standard;
     The weather patterns contributing to ozone levels;
     Potential, contributing emission sources;
     The geographic applicability of possible contingency 
measures;
     Emission trends, including implementation timelines of 
scheduled control measures;
     Current and recently identified control technologies; and
     Air quality contributions from outside the maintenance 
area.

Implementation will be conducted as expeditiously as practicable, 
taking into consideration the ease of implementation and the technical 
and economic feasibility of selected measures.

     Table 6.--Timeline for the Development of Contingency Required
                               Regulations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Months
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Identify potential sources for reductions...............               3
Identify applicable control measures....................               3
Initiate a stakeholder process..........................               3
Draft SIP regulations...................................               3
Initiate rulemaking process (including public comment                  6
 period, hearing, Board adoption and final submission to
 EPA). This process may be initiated simultaneous with
 drafting of regulations................................
Completion no later than................................              18
------------------------------------------------------------------------


            Table 7.--List of Potential Contingency Measures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point Source Measures........  Expanded geographic coverage of current
                                point source measures.
                               Apply RACT to smaller sources.
                               MACT controls for industrial sources.
                               LAER and offsets.
                               Evaluate sources for additional control.
                               Other measures to be identified.
Mobile Source Measures.......  California Engine Standards.

[[Page 20506]]

 
                               Diesel retrofits.
                               Diesel I/M.
                               Truck idling reductions.
                               Incentives for vehicle retrofits.
                               Other measures to be identified.
Area Source Measures.........  California Architectural/Industrial
                                Maintenance (AIM).
                               Expanded geographic coverage of current
                                area source measures for NOX.
                               Low-sulfur off-road fuel standards.
                               California Off-Road Engine Standards.
                               Locomotive emission reduction measures.
                               Other measures to be identified.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Contingency measures will be selected from those listed in the 
above table or from any other measure deemed appropriate and effective 
at the time the selection is made. Which measure will be implemented 
will be determined based upon cost effectiveness, emission reduction 
potential, economic and social considerations, ease and timing of 
implementation, and other appropriate factors. Implementation of 
necessary controls in response to a Tier II trigger will take place as 
expeditiously as possible, but in no event later than 18 months after 
Georgia makes a determination, based on quality-assured ambient data, 
that a violation of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS has occurred.

V. Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets

    Under the CAA, states are required to submit, at various times, 
control strategy SIPs and maintenance plans in ozone areas. These 
control strategy SIPs and maintenance plans create motor vehicle 
emissions budgets (MVEBs) for criteria pollutants and/or their 
precursors to address pollution from cars and trucks. The MVEB is the 
portion of the total allowable emissions that is allocated to highway 
and transit vehicle use and emissions. The MVEBs serve as a ceiling on 
emissions from an area's planned transportation system.
    Motor vehicle emissions budgets for 2004 were established in the 
Atlanta Post-1999 ROP plan for ozone. The emissions budgets established 
limits at 160.80 tons/day of VOC and 318.24 tons/day of NOX. 
The Atlanta Post-1999 ROP plan, including the motor vehicle emissions 
budgets, was approved by EPA on July 19, 2004 (69 FR 42880), effective 
August 18, 2004. A correction to the VOC budget was published August 9, 
2004 (69 FR 48150), also effective August 18, 2004.
    Georgia's 1-hour ozone redesignation request for the Atlanta area 
does not alter, by increasing or decreasing, the current 2004 mobile 
vehicle emissions budgets. The MVEB established in the Post-1999 ROP 
plan will be used for regional emissions analyses through the year 
2014. However, Georgia's 10-year maintenance plan SIP submittal 
establishes new MVEBs for the year 2015. Both the 2004 MVEBs and the 
new 2015 MVEBs are set out in Table 8 below. These 2015 MVEB will be 
used for regional emissions analysis for 2015 and any required analysis 
year beyond 2015.

Mobile Source Maintenance Budget

    The Atlanta area 1-hour ozone maintenance plan establishes an 
attainment inventory for the year 2002, the first year of the three-
year period with monitoring data showing attainment. This attainment 
inventory identifies the base level of emissions in the area which is 
sufficient to maintain the 1-hour ozone NAAQS. Maintenance of the 1-
hour ozone NAAQS is demonstrated by showing that future emissions of 
NOX and VOC will not exceed the level of the attainment 
inventory. NOX and VOC emissions from on-road mobile sources 
were projected for the year 2015. NOX and VOC emissions were 
also projected for the year 2015 for point, area and nonroad mobile 
sources. These projections are shown in Table 4 for NOX and 
Table 5 for VOC. As can be seen in Tables 4 and 5, total emissions of 
NOX and VOC are projected to decrease from the 2002 base 
year through the year 2015. Specifically, NOX emissions are 
projected to decrease by 257.50 tons per day and VOC emissions are 
projected to decrease by 34.79 tons per day. These projected decreases 
in emissions from the base year through 2015 are termed the ``safety 
margins.'' In establishing motor vehicle emissions budgets for the last 
year of the maintenance plan (2015 in this case), all or a portion of 
the safety margins may be allocated to the MVEB.
    Under the maintenance plan, 10 percent of the projected 2015 mobile 
source NOX and VOC emissions are being allocated to the MVEB 
to allow for likely changes in mobile source modeling assumptions. The 
maintenance plan establishes the 2015 MVEB at 121.88 tons per day for 
NOX (110.80 x 1.1 = 121.88) and 83.43 tons per day for VOC 
(75.84 x 1.1 = 83.42). The Atlanta area emissions and safety margins 
are listed in Table 4 and Table 5.

                  Table 8.--13-County Atlanta Area MVEB
------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Year for which MVEB            Where
         established             established      NOX TPD      VOC TPD
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2004.........................  Post-1999 ROP         318.24       160.80
                                Plan.
2015.........................  Atlanta One-          121.88        83.42
                                Hour
                                Maintenance
                                Plan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

VI. What Is EPA's Proposed Action on the Redesignation Request and 
Maintenance Plan for the Atlanta 1-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area?

    Today, EPA is proposing to approve the redesignation of the Atlanta 
1-hour ozone nonattainment area to attainment. EPA has evaluated the 
State of Georgia's redesignation request and determined that it meets 
the five redesignation criteria set in section 107(d) of the Act. EPA 
believes that the redesignation request and monitoring data demonstrate 
that this area has attained the 1-hour ozone standard. In this 
redesignation request, EPA's is also proposing to determine that 
certain CAA provisions are not applicable requirements because the 
Atlanta area is currently attaining the 1-hour ozone standard. The 
final approval of this

[[Page 20507]]

redesignation request will change the official designation for the 
Atlanta area from severe nonattainment to attainment for the 1-hour 
ozone standard.
    EPA is also proposing to approve the maintenance plan, and 
associated 2015 MVEB, SIP revision submitted by Georgia for the Atlanta 
area in conjunction with its redesignation request. EPA is proposing to 
approve the maintenance plan for Atlanta because it meets the 
requirements of section 175A as described more fully above. The new 
2015 MVEBs will be effective on the date of publication (in the Federal 
Register) of EPA's final rulemaking on this action.

VII. What Is an Adequacy Determination and What Is the Status of EPA's 
Adequacy Determination for the Atlanta Maintenance Area's New MVEB for 
the Year 2015?

    Under Section 176(c) of the CAA, new transportation projects, such 
as the construction of new highways, must ``conform'' to (e.g., be 
consistent with) the part of the State's air quality plan that 
addresses pollution from cars and trucks. ``Conformity'' to the SIP 
means that transportation activities will not cause new air quality 
violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of 
the NAAQS. Under the transportation conformity rule, at 40 CFR part 93, 
projected emissions from transportation plans and programs must be 
equal to or less than the MVEB for the area. If a transportation plan 
does not ``conform,'' most projects that would expand the capacity of 
roadways cannot go forward. Regulations at 40 CFR part 93 set forth EPA 
policy, criteria, and procedures for demonstrating and assuring 
conformity of such transportation activities to a SIP.
    Until a MVEB in a SIP submittal is approved by EPA, it cannot be 
used for transportation conformity purposes unless EPA makes an 
affirmative finding that the MVEB contained therein are ``adequate.'' 
Once EPA affirmatively finds the submitted MVEB adequate for 
transportation conformity purposes, those MVEB can be used by the State 
and Federal agencies in determining whether proposed transportation 
projects ``conform'' to the SIP even though EPA approval of the SIP 
revision containing those MVEB has not yet been finalized. EPA's 
substantive criteria for determining ``adequacy'' of MVEB in submitted 
SIPs are set out in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4).
    EPA's process for determining ``adequacy'' of MVEB in submitted 
SIPs consists of three basic steps: public notification of a SIP 
submission, a public comment period, and EPA's adequacy finding. This 
process for determining the adequacy of submitted SIP MVEB is set out 
in EPA's May 1999 guidance, ``Conformity Guidance on Implementation of 
March 2, 1999, Conformity Court Decision.'' This guidance is formalized 
in EPA's July 1, 2004, final rulemaking entitled ``Transportation 
Conformity Rule Amendments for the New 8-hour Ozone and PM2.5 National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards and Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing 
areas; Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments: Response to Court 
Decision and Additional Rule Changes (68 FR 38974). EPA follows this 
process in making its adequacy determinations.
    The Atlanta area maintenance plan submission contains new proposed 
VOC and NOX MVEB for the year 2015. The availability of the 
SIP submission with these 2015 MVEB was announced for public comment on 
EPA's adequacy Web page on January 24, 2005, at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/transp/conform/currsips.htm. The EPA public comment period on 
adequacy of the 2015 MVEB for the Atlanta Area closed on February 24, 
2005, and no adverse comments were received. Following an evaluation of 
whether the adequacy criteria have been met, EPA will make its adequacy 
determination. EPA intends to make its determination of the adequacy of 
the 2015 MVEB for the Atlanta Area for transportation conformity 
purposes in the final rulemaking on the Atlanta area's 10-year 1-hour 
ozone maintenance plan submittal (the subject of this proposed 
rulemaking).
    If EPA announces its adequacy finding for the 2015 MVEB, the 2015 
MVEB would be effective on the date of publication of EPA's final 
rulemaking in the Federal Register. If EPA announces its adequacy 
determination for the 2015 MVEB before final action on this rulemaking, 
the adequate 2015 MVEB will be available for use for transportation 
conformity purposes on the effective date of the Federal Register 
notice which makes such an adequacy determination. For transportation 
plan analysis years that involve the year 2014 or before, the 
applicable budget for the purposes of conducting transportation 
conformity analyses will be the 2004 VOC (160.80 tpd) and 
NOX (318.24 tpd) MVEB for this maintenance area. For 
transportation plan analysis years that involve the year 2015 or 
beyond, the applicable budget for the purposes of conducting 
transportation conformity analyses will be the 2015 VOC (83.42 tpd) and 
NOX (121.88 tpd) MVEB for this maintenance area.

VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

    Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this 
proposed action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and 
therefore is not subject to review by the Office of Management and 
Budget. For this reason, this proposed action is also not subject to 
Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 
28355, May 22, 2001). This proposed action merely proposes to approve 
state law as meeting Federal requirements and imposes no additional 
requirements beyond those imposed by state law. Accordingly, the 
Administrator certifies that this proposed rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). Because 
this rule proposes to approve pre-existing requirements under state law 
and does not impose any additional enforceable duty beyond that 
required by state law, it 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).
    This proposed rule also does not have tribal implications because 
it will not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian 
tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian 
tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between 
the Federal Government and Indian tribes, as specified by Executive 
Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, November 9, 2000). This action also does not 
have Federalism implications because it does not have substantial 
direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government, as specified 
in Executive Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999). This action 
merely proposes to approve a state rule implementing a Federal 
standard, and does not alter the relationship or the distribution of 
power and responsibilities established in the Clean Air Act. This 
proposed rule also is not subject to Executive Order 13045 ``Protection 
of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 
19885, April 23, 1997), because it is not economically significant.
    In reviewing SIP submissions, EPA's role is to approve state 
choices, provided that they meet the criteria of the Clean Air Act. In 
this context, in the

[[Page 20508]]

absence of a prior existing requirement for the State to use voluntary 
consensus standards (VCS), EPA has no authority to disapprove a SIP 
submission for failure to use VCS. It would thus be inconsistent with 
applicable law for EPA, when it reviews a SIP submission, to use VCS in 
place of a SIP submission that otherwise satisfies the provisions of 
the Clean Air Act. Thus, the requirements of section 12(d) of the 
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note) do not apply. This proposed rule does not impose an information 
collection burden under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

    Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Intergovernmental 
relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate matter, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile organic compounds.

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

    Dated: April 12, 2005.
J.I. Palmer Jr.,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 05-7936 Filed 4-19-05; 8:45 am]
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