Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Ohio; Redesignation of the Cleveland-Akron-Lorain Area to Attainment for Ozone

EPA is taking several related actions affecting the Cleveland- Akron-Lorain, Ohio 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. EPA is making a determination under the Clean Air Act (CAA) that the Cleveland-Akron- Lorain area (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, and Summit Counties) has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This determination is based on quality-assured ambient air quality monitoring data for the 2006-2008 ozone seasons that demonstrate that the 8-hour ozone NAAQS has been attained in the area. Preliminary 2009 air quality data show that the area continues to attain the 8-hour ozone standard. EPA is approving, as a revision to the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP), the state's plan for maintaining the 8-hour ozone NAAQS through 2020 in the area. EPA is approving a request from the state of Ohio to redesignate the Cleveland-Akron-Lorain area to attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS. EPA is approving the 2002 base year emissions inventory for the Cleveland-Akron-Lorain area as meeting the requirements of the CAA. EPA is approving Ohio's 15 percent (15%) Rate of Progress (ROP) plan as meeting the requirements of the CAA for the 1-hour ozone standard. EPA is also approving a waiver, for the Cleveland-Akron- Lorain area, from the oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) requirements of section 182(f) of the CAA in relation to the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Finally, EPA finds adequate and is approving the state's 2012 and 2020 volatile organic compound (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X</INF>) Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for the Cleveland-Akron-Lorain area.