Approval of California Air Plan; Owens Valley Serious Area Plan for the 1987 24-Hour PM10 Standard

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") requirements applicable to the Owens Valley PM<INF>10</INF> nonattainment area (NA). The Owens Valley PM<INF>10</INF> NA is classified as a "Serious" nonattainment area for the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter of ten microns or less (PM<INF>10</INF>). The submitted SIP revision is the "Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 2016 Owens Valley Planning Area PM<INF>10</INF> State Implementation Plan" ("2016 PM<INF>10</INF> Plan" or "Plan"). The State's obligation to submit the 2016 PM<INF>10</INF> Plan was triggered by the EPA's 2007 finding that the Owens Valley PM<INF>10</INF> NA had failed to meet its December 31, 2006, deadline to attain the PM<INF>10</INF> NAAQS. The CAA requires a Serious PM<INF>10</INF> nonattainment area that fails to meet its attainment deadline to submit a plan providing for attainment of the PM<INF>10</INF> NAAQS and for an annual reduction in PM<INF>10</INF> emissions of not less than five percent until attainment of the PM<INF>10</INF> NAAQS. The EPA is approving the 2016 PM<INF>10</INF> Plan because it meets all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.