Finding of Failure To Attain and Reclassification of Tribal Portions of the Greater Connecticut Ozone Nonattainment Area as Serious for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing its finding that the tribal portions of the Greater Connecticut area (the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Indian Tribe) did not attain the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by the attainment date and a reclassification of those portions of the area to Serious nonattainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS. Additionally, the EPA is taking final action on an exceptional events request submitted by CT DEEP on July 1, 2024, and the EPA's July 22, 2024 concurrence and nonconcurrence with CT DEEP's request. This final action fulfills the EPA's statutory obligation to determine whether the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Indian Tribe's portions of the Greater Connecticut area attained the NAAQS by the attainment date. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.