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 approving the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's request to redesignate to attainment the Pittsburgh Nonattainment Area (Pittsburgh Area or Area) for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard). EPA has determined that the Pittsburgh Area attained both the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. In addition, EPA is approving as a revision to the Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) the associated maintenance plan to show maintenance of the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through 2025 for the Pittsburgh Area. The maintenance plan includes the 2017 and 2025 PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides (NOX) motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for the Pittsburgh Area for the 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, which EPA is approving for transportation conformity purposes. Furthermore, EPA is approving the 2007 emissions inventories for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS and the 2011 emissions inventories for the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS included in the maintenance plan for the Pittsburgh Area. These actions are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).