Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Arizona State Implementation Plan Revision, Maricopa County

EPA is taking direct final action on revisions to the Arizona State Implementation Plan. The revisions concern rules from Maricopa County (Maricopa). The rules control particulate matter (PM) emissions from residential wood combustion. This final approval action will incorporate these rules into the federally approved SIP. In addition, this action will serve as a final determination that deficiencies in the rules (identified by EPA in a final limited approval/limited disapproval action on March 31, 1998) have been corrected and that any sanctions or Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) clocks are permanently stopped. An Interim Final Determination published in today's Federal Register will stay the imposition of sanctions until the effective date of this action. The intended effect of approving these rules is to regulate emissions of PM in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). Thus, EPA is finalizing the approval of these rules into the Arizona SIP under provisions of the CAA regarding EPA action on SIP submittals, SIPs for national primary and secondary ambient air quality standards, and plan requirements for nonattainment areas.