Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Louisiana; Clean Air Interstate Rule Sulfur Dioxide Trading Program

EPA is taking a direct final action to approve a revision to the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted on September 22, 2006, enacted at Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 33, Part III, Chapter 5, Section 506(C) (LAC 33:III.506(C)). This revision addresses the requirements of EPA's Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Sulfur Dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) Trading Program, promulgated on May 12, 2005 and subsequently revised on April 28, 2006. EPA is approving the SIP revision as fully implementing the CAIR SO<INF>2</INF> requirements for Louisiana. Therefore, as a consequence of this SIP approval, EPA will also withdraw the CAIR Federal Implementation Plan (CAIR FIP) concerning SO<INF>2</INF> emissions for Louisiana. The CAIR FIPs for all States in the CAIR region were promulgated on April 28, 2006 and subsequently revised on December 13, 2006. CAIR requires States to reduce emissions of SO<INF>2</INF> and nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) that significantly contribute to, and interfere with maintenance of, the national ambient air quality standards for fine particulates and/or ozone in any downwind state. CAIR establishes State budgets for SO<INF>2</INF> and NO<INF>X</INF> and requires States to submit SIP revisions that implement these budgets in States that EPA concluded did contribute to nonattainment in downwind states. States have the flexibility to choose which control measures to adopt to achieve the budgets, including participating in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade programs. In this SIP revision that EPA is approving, EPA finds that Louisiana meets CAIR SO<INF>2</INF> requirements by participating in the EPA-administered cap-and-trade program addressing SO<INF>2</INF> emissions. The intended effect of this action is to reduce SO<INF>2</INF> emissions from the State of Louisiana that are contributing to nonattainment of the PM<INF>2.5</INF> National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) in downwind states. This action is being taken under