Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes in Ohio; Redesignation of Cincinnati to Attainment of the 1-Hour Ozone Standard and Approval of Ozone Maintenance Plan; Approval of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Control Regulations; and Approval of Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets

EPA is approving a request from the State of Ohio, submitted in draft on March 10, 2005 and in final on May 20, 2005, to redesignate the Cincinnati area (Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties) from nonattainment to attainment for the 1-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). In conjunction with this approval, EPA is approving the State's plan for maintaining the 1-hour ozone NAAQS in the Cincinnati area through 2015 as a revision to the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP). EPA is approving Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission control regulations for various source categories, thus completing Ohio's obligation to adopt Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) regulations for the Cincinnati area. EPA is approving periodic VOC and Oxides of Nitrogen (NO<INF>x</INF>) emission inventories for the Cincinnati area. EPA finds as adequate and is approving the 2015 VOC and NO<INF>x</INF> Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for the Cincinnati area as contained in the Cincinnati area ozone maintenance plan. EPA is not, at this time, taking action on Ohio's demonstrations that termination of the vehicle Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) programs in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas will not interfere with the attainment and maintenance of the 1-hour ozone NAAQS in these areas, and is not taking action on the State's requests for conversion of the vehicle I/M programs in these areas to contingency measures in the 1- hour ozone maintenance plans. The State did not submit a demonstration of non-interference with the 8-hour ozone or fine particulate (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) standards, or with any other applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Such actions, however, may be considered in subsequent rulemakings.