Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Tennessee: Knoxville; Determination of Attaining Data for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standards

On February 19, 2010, the State of Tennessee, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), submitted a request to EPA to make a determination that the Knoxville, Tennessee nonattainment area for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) has attained these standards based on quality assured, quality controlled monitoring data from 2007 through 2009. The Knoxville 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area is comprised of Anderson, Blount, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, and Sevier Counties in their entireties, and the portion of Cocke County that falls within the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (hereafter referred to as "the Knoxville Area"). In this action, EPA is taking final action to determine that the Knoxville Area has attained the 1997 8- hour ozone NAAQS. This determination is based upon complete, quality assured, quality controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the years 2007-2009 showing that the Knoxville Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. This final action is consistent with the CAA, and EPA policy and guidance.