Finding of Failure To Submit a Required State Implementation Plan for Particulate Matter, California-San Joaquin Valley

EPA is taking final action to find that California failed to make a particulate matter (PM-10) nonattainment area state implementation plan (SIP) submittal required for the San Joaquin Valley Planning Area under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). The San Joaquin Planning Area is a serious PM-10 nonattainment area. Under the Act, states are required to submit SIPs providing for, among other things, reasonable further progress and attainment of the PM-10 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in areas classified as serious. The State of California submitted a serious area plan for the San Joaquin Valley in 1997. On February 26, 2002, prior to action on the plan by EPA, the State withdrew the submittal from the Agency's consideration. As a result of that withdrawal, EPA is today finding that California failed to make the PM-10 nonattainment area SIP submittal required for the San Joaquin Valley Planning Area under the Act. This action triggers the 18-month time clock for mandatory application of sanctions and 2-year time clock for a federal implementation plan (FIP) under the Act. This action is consistent with the CAA mechanism for assuring SIP submissions.