Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of California; Determination Regarding Applicability of Certain Reasonable Further Progress and Attainment Demonstration Requirements; Monterey Bay Area

The EPA is, through direct final procedure, approving the redesignation of the Monterey Bay Area from nonattainment to attainment for ozone. Through this direct final action, EPA is also approving for the Monterey Bay Area the maintenance plan, 1990 base year emissions inventory, emission statement rule, volatile organic compound (VOC) reasonably available control technology (RACT) rule 419 and oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X) RACT rule 431 as revisions to California's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for ozone. In addition, EPA is determining that the Monterey Bay Area has attained the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and, therefore, that certain reasonable further progress (RFP) and attainment demonstration requirements, along with certain other related requirements of Part D of Title 1 of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), are not applicable to the Monterey Bay Area for as long as the area continues to attain the ozone NAAQS, and that upon final redesignation of the Monterey Bay Area, the area will be entirely relieved of these requirements. EPA is publishing this document without prior proposal because the Agency views these actions as noncontroversial and anticipates no adverse comments. However, in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register, EPA proposes these actions should adverse or critical comments be filed. If adverse comments are received, EPA will withdraw this final rule and address these comments in a final rule based on the proposed rule published in this Federal Register. The Agency will not issue a second comment period on these actions.