Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Revisions To Implement the Revocation of the 1997 Ozone NAAQS

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Commonwealth of Virginia state implementation plan (SIP). The revisions pertain to amendments made to the Virginia Administrative Code. These amendments updated the State Air Pollution Control Board's Regulations for the Control and Abatement of Air Pollution to be consistent with EPA's final rule implementing the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and revoking the 1997 ozone NAAQS. See 80 FR 12264 (March 6, 2015). The amendments revised a regulation listing nonattainment areas under the 1997 ozone NAAQS and a regulation regarding the 1997 ozone standard to reflect the revocation of the 1997 ozone NAAQS, which was effective April 6, 2015. The amendments also added clarifying text to two transportation and general conformity regulations in order to reflect the revocation of the 1997 ozone NAAQS. EPA is approving these revisions updating the Virginia Administrative Code to reflect the revocation of the 1997 ozone NAAQS in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).