Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Georgia: Prevention of Significant Deterioration; Greenhouse Gas Tailoring Rule and Fine Particulate Matter Revision

EPA is taking final action to approve portions of a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the State of Georgia, through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division (EPD), to EPA on September 30, 2010, for parallel processing. Georgia submitted the final version of this SIP revision on January 13, 2011. The portions of the SIP revision approved by this action incorporate two updates to Georgia's air quality regulations under Georgia's New Source Review (NSR) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. First, the SIP revision establishes appropriate emission thresholds for determining which new stationary sources and modification projects become subject to Georgia's PSD permitting requirements for its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Second, the SIP revision incorporates provisions for implementing the PSD program for the fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). EPA is approving Georgia's January 13, 2011, SIP revision because the Agency has made the determination that this SIP revision is in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA regulations, including those relating to PSD permitting for GHGs and the PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is responding to adverse comments received on EPA's November 29, 2010, proposed approval of Georgia's September 30, 2010, draft SIP revision.