Clean Air Plans; Contingency Measures for the Fine Particulate Matter Standards; San Joaquin Valley, California

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve two state implementation plan (SIP) submissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) that address the contingency measure requirements for the 1997 annual, 2006 24-hour, and 2012 annual fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or "standards") for the San Joaquin Valley PM<INF>2.5</INF> nonattainment area in California. The two SIP submissions include the area's contingency measure plan element and two specific contingency measures that would apply to residential wood burning heaters and fireplaces and to non-agricultural, rural open areas. A third contingency measure, applicable to light-duty on-road motor vehicles, has been approved into the California SIP in a separate action by the EPA, and the related emission reductions from the third measure are accounted for in this final rule. The EPA is finalizing approval of the SIP submissions because the Agency has determined that they are in accordance with the applicable requirements for such SIP submissions under the CAA and the EPA's implementing regulations for the PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS.