Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina Portion of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-North Carolina 1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area; Reasonable Further Progress Plan

EPA is taking direct final action to approve state implementation plan (SIP) revision, submitted by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR), on June 15, 2007, as updated on November 30, 2009, to address the reasonable further progress (RFP) plan requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina- South Carolina 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the "bi-state Charlotte Area") is comprised of Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and a portion of Iredell (Davidson and Coddle Creek Townships) Counties in North Carolina (hereafter referred to as the "North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte Area"); and a portion of York County in South Carolina. EPA is also providing the status of its adequacy determination for the motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEB) for volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) that were included in North Carolina's RFP plan. Further, EPA is approving these MVEB. These actions are being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). EPA will take action on South Carolina's RFP plan for its portion of the bi-state Charlotte Area, in a separate action.