Determination of Attainment, Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Indiana; Redesignation of the South Bend-Elkhart 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area to Attainment

On May 30, 2006, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) submitted a request to EPA for approval of the redesignation of St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties to attainment of the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and of an ozone maintenance plan for St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties as revisions to the Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP). On April 18, 2007, EPA proposed to approve this submission. Today, EPA is approving Indiana's request and corresponding SIP revision. In so doing, EPA is making a determination that St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties have attained the 8- hour ozone NAAQS. This determination is based on three years of complete, quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2003-2005 ozone seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour ozone NAAQS has been attained in the area. In addition, quality-assured monitoring data for 2006 show that the area continues to attain the standard. Finally, EPA is approving, for purposes of transportation conformity, the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for the year 2020 that are contained in the 14-year 8-hour ozone maintenance plan for St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties.