Determinations of Attainment by the Attainment Date, Extensions of the Attainment Date, and Reclassification of Several Areas Classified as Marginal for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing three separate and independent determinations related to the 36 areas that are currently classified as ``Marginal'' for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). First, the EPA is proposing to determine that 17 areas attained the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of July 20, 2015, based on complete, quality-assured and certified ozone monitoring data for 2012-2014. Second, the EPA is proposing to grant 1-year attainment date extensions for eight areas on the basis that the requirements for such extensions under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) have been met. Third, the EPA is proposing to determine that 11 areas failed to attain the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the applicable attainment date of July 20, 2015, and that they are not eligible for an extension, and to reclassify these areas as ``Moderate'' for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. Once reclassified as Moderate, states must submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions that meet the statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to 2008 ozone NAAQS nonattainment areas classified as Moderate. In this action, the EPA is proposing and taking comment on two options for the deadline by which states would need to submit to the EPA for review and approval the SIP revisions required for Moderate areas once their areas are reclassified.