Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of Massachusetts; Change in National Policy Regarding Applicability of Conformity Requirements to Redesignation Requests

On December 12, 1994, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP) submitted a request to redesignate the Boston metropolitan area, including the communities of Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Malden, Medford, Quincy, Revere, and Somerville, from nonattainment to attainment for carbon monoxide (CO). Under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA), designations can be revised if sufficient data is available to warrant such revisions. In this action, EPA is approving the Massachusetts request because it meets the redesignation requirements set forth in the CAA. In addition, EPA is approving two related State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions by Massachusetts DEP. On November 15, 1993, Massachusetts DEP submitted a final 1990 base year emission inventory for CO emissions, which includes emissions data for all sources of CO in Massachusetts' CO nonattainment areas, as well as CO emissions for the entire state. On October 29, 1993, Massachusetts DEP submitted an oxygenated gasoline program for the Boston consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA). In this action, EPA is approving the CO emissions inventory and oxygenated fuels SIP submissions.