Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Jersey 15 Percent Rate of Progress Plans, Recalculation of 9 Percent Rate of Progress Plans and 1999 Transportation Conformity Budget Revisions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a New Jersey State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision involving the State's Ozone plan. Specifically, EPA is approving the 15 Percent Rate of Progress (ROP) Plans, recalculation of the 9 Percent ROP Plans, revisions to the 1990 base year emission inventories, revisions to the 1996 and 1999 projection year emission inventories, and the 1999 transportation conformity budgets. The intended effect of this action is to approve programs required by the Clean Air Act which will result in emission reductions that will help achieve attainment of the 1-hour national ambient air quality standard for ozone. In addition, this approved SIP revision corrects the deficiency which led EPA to disapprove, on December 12, 1997, New Jersey's 15 Percent ROP Plans. Consequently, the sanction and Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) process that was started by EPA's disapproval are terminated. The sanction clock associated with the State's failure to implement the enhanced inspection and maintenance program continues to run.