Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Plans; Illinois; Post-1996 Rate of Progress Plan for the Chicago Ozone Nonattainment Area

The EPA is approving the post-1996 Rate-of-Progress (ROP) plan submitted by the State of Illinois for the Chicago ozone nonattainment area, as a requested revision of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for ozone. A post-1996 ROP plan is required for the Chicago ozone nonattainment area under the Clean Air Act (Act). The purpose of the post-1996 ROP plan is to incrementally reduce ground-level ozone (smog) pollution in the Chicago ozone nonattainment area and to provide for progress toward attainment of the 1-hour ozone standard in this nonattainment area. The submitted plan, which covers the period of 1996 through 1999 and emission reductions occurring prior to November 15, 1999, shows that Illinois reduced emissions of ozone-forming pollutants by the amounts required by the Act to occur prior to November 15, 1999. These pollutants include emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>). The submittal includes a demonstration that the Chicago area has also achieved a sufficient emission reduction to meet contingency measure requirements under the Act. In addition to the post-1996 ROP plan and the contingency measure provisions, the EPA is approving, as a revision to the SIP, certain Transportation Control Measures (TCM) included in the plan. EPA is also approving a 1999 on-road mobile source emissions budget of 279.3 tons/ day of volatile organic compounds for the Chicago ozone nonattainment area. EPA proposed approval on this SIP revision submittal on March 3, 2000. This final action addresses public comments submitted regarding the proposed rulemaking and the State submittal.