Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia: Chattanooga and Macon; Determination of Attainment by Applicable Attainment Date for the 1997 Annual Fine Particulate Standards

EPA is determining that the Chattanooga, Alabama-Tennessee- Georgia, fine particulate (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as "the Chattanooga Area") and the Macon, Georgia PM<INF>2.5</INF> nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as "the Macon Area") have attained the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by the applicable attainment date of April 5, 2010. The determinations of attainment were previously finalized by EPA on May 31, 2011, for the Chattanooga Area and June 2, 2011, for the Macon Area, and were based on quality-assured and certified monitoring data for the 2007-2009 monitoring period. The Chattanooga Area is comprised of Hamilton County in Tennessee, Catoosa and Walker Counties in Georgia, and a portion of Jackson County in Alabama. The Macon Area is comprised of Bibb County in its entirety and a portion of Monroe County in Georgia. EPA is determining to find that both of the above-identified areas attained the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS by the applicable attainment date. EPA is finalizing these actions because they are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its implementing regulations.