Determination To Defer Sanctions; California; Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a rule and other materials on behalf of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD) that corrects deficiencies in its Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act") State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning reasonably available control technology (RACT) ozone nonattainment requirements for controlling emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) from industrial, institutional, and commercial boilers, steam generators, and process heaters. This determination is based on a proposed approval, published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, of MDAQMD Rule 1157, which regulates this source category. The effect of this interim final determination is that the imposition of sanctions that were triggered by a previous limited disapproval by the EPA in 2023 is now deferred. If the EPA finalizes its approval of MDAQMD's submission, relief from these sanctions will become permanent.