Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; Determinations of Attainment of the 1997 Annual Fine Particulate Standard for the Philadelphia-Wilmington Nonattainment Area; Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule

Due to an adverse comment, EPA is withdrawing the direct final rule, published on January 23, 2012 (77 FR 3147), that made two determinations regarding the Philadelphia-Wilmington fine particulate (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) nonattainment area (the Philadelphia Area), which is comprised of the New Castle County in Delaware; Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey; and Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania. First, EPA made a determination that the Philadelphia Area attained the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by its attainment date of April 5, 2010. Second, EPA made a clean data determination, finding that the Philadelphia Area has attained the 1997 PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS, based on quality assured and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 monitoring periods. In the direct final rule, EPA stated that if we received adverse comment by February 22, 2012, the rule would be withdrawn and not take effect. EPA subsequently received adverse comments. EPA will address the comments received in a subsequent final action based upon the proposed action also published on January 23, 2012 (77 FR 3223). EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action.