Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; California; Western Mojave Desert Ozone Nonattainment Area; Reclassification to Severe

Under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), EPA is granting a request from the State of California to reclassify the Western Mojave Desert ozone nonattainment area from "Moderate" to "Severe-15" for the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is also reclassifying Indian country under the jurisdiction of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians of California located within the boundaries of the Western Mojave Desert area in the same manner, following consultation with the Tribe, to maintain consistency with the classification of the surrounding areas under State jurisdiction.