Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Connecticut; Redesignation of Connecticut Portion of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut Nonattainment Area to Attainment of the 1997 Annual and 2006 24-Hour Standards for Fine Particulate Matter

EPA is approving the State of Connecticut's June 22, 2012 request to redesignate the Connecticut portion of the New York-N. New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT fine particle (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) area (i.e., New Haven and Fairfield Counties; herein called the "Southwestern CT Area" or "the Area") from nonattainment to attainment for the 1997 annual National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standards), as well as for the 2006 24-hour PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. As part of these approvals, EPA is approving: A State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a 10-year maintenance plan for the Area; a 2007 base-year emissions inventory for the Area; and new motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for the years 2017 and 2025 that are contained in the 10-year PM<INF>2.5</INF> maintenance plan for the Area. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.