Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Redesignation Request and Associated Maintenance Plan for the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Nonattainment Area for the 1997 Annual and 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Matter Standard

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's December 22, 2014 request to redesignate to attainment the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley nonattainment area (Pittsburgh Area or Area) for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards). EPA is also proposing to determine that the Area continues to attain the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, EPA is proposing to approve as a revision to the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) the associated maintenance plan that was submitted with the redesignation request, to show maintenance of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025 for the Area. EPA is also proposing to approve as revisions to the Pennsylvania SIP the 2007 emissions inventories for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS and the 2011 emissions inventories for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS that were included in the maintenance plan. The maintenance plan also included the 2017 and 2025 PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides (NOX) motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for the Area for both NAAQS which EPA is proposing to approve for conformity purposes. This rulemaking action to propose approval of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS redesignation request and associated maintenance plan for the Area is based on EPA's determination that Pennsylvania has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA) for both NAAQS.