Findings of Failure To Submit State Implementation Plan Submissions for the 2012 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to find that three states have failed to submit timely revisions to their state implementation plans (SIPs) as required to satisfy certain requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for implementation of the annual 2012 Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2012 PM2.5 NAAQS). These findings of failure to submit apply to states with overdue SIP revisions (or attainment plans) for certain areas initially designated as nonattainment and classified as Moderate for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS on April 15, 2015. The SIP revisions to address all applicable Moderate area attainment plan requirements for these areas were due on October 15, 2016. If a state does not make the required complete SIP submission within 18 months of the effective date of these findings, the CAA requires the imposition of sanctions for the affected area(s). In addition, EPA is obligated to promulgate a federal implementation plan (FIP) to address any outstanding SIP requirements, if a state does not submit, and EPA does not approve, a state's submission within 24 months of the effective date of these findings.