Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; West Virginia; Redesignation of the West Virginia Portion of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH 1997 Annual Fine Particulate Matter Nonattainment Area to Attainment and Approval of the Associated Maintenance Plan

EPA is approving a redesignation request and State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of West Virginia. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) requested that the West Virginia portion of the Huntington- Ashland, WV-KY-OH fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) nonattainment area (``Huntington-Ashland Area'' or ``Area'') be redesignated as attainment for the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). In this rulemaking action, EPA is approving the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> redesignation request for the West Virginia portion of the Area. EPA is also approving the maintenance plan SIP revision that the State submitted in conjunction with its redesignation request. The maintenance plan provides for continued attainment of the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS for 10 years after redesignation of the West Virginia portion of the Area. The maintenance plan includes an insignificance determination for the onroad motor vehicle contribution of PM<INF>2.5</INF>, nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>), and sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) for the West Virginia portion of the Area for purposes of transportation conformity. EPA is approving West Virginia's insignificance determination for transportation conformity. EPA is also finding that the Area continues to attain the standard. This rulemaking action approving the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS redesignation request, maintenance plan, and insignificance determination for transportation conformity for the West Virginia portion of the Area is based on EPA's determination that the Area has met the criteria for redesignation to attainment specified in the Clean Air Act (CAA).