Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards: State Implementation Plan Requirements

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing requirements that state, local and tribal air agencies would have to meet as they implement the current and future national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Specifically, this notice provides details on how the EPA proposes that air agencies meet the statutory state implementation plan (SIP) requirements that apply to areas designated nonattainment for any PM2.5 NAAQS, such as: general requirements for attainment plan due dates and attainment dates; emissions inventories; attainment demonstrations; provisions for demonstrating reasonable further progress; quantitative milestones; contingency measures; and nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) permitting programs, among other things. This proposed rule clarifies the specific attainment planning requirements that would apply to PM2.5 NAAQS nonattainment areas based on their classification (either Moderate or Serious), and the process for reclassifying Moderate areas to Serious. Additionally in this notice, the EPA is proposing to revoke the 1997 primary annual standard because the EPA revised the primary annual standard in 2012. The EPA first established the PM2.5 NAAQS in 1997, completed a review of those standards in 2006, and most recently completed a review of the PM2.5 NAAQS on December 14, 2012.