
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56797-56798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22467]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R09-OAR-2011-0492; FRL-9726-5]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California; 
Determinations of Attainment for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing determinations relating to 1997 8-hour ozone 
nonattainment areas in California. First, EPA is proposing to determine 
that six 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas in California (Amador and 
Calaveras Counties, Chico, Kern County, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, 
Nevada County, and Sutter County) (``six CA areas'') attained the 1997 
8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by their 
applicable attainment dates. Second, in making these proposed 
determinations for Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties and Nevada County, 
EPA is also proposing to grant them one-year attainment date 
extensions. Lastly, EPA is proposing to determine that the six CA areas 
and the Ventura County 8-hour ozone nonattainment area in CA have 
attained and continue to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS based on 
the most recent three years of data. Under the provisions of EPA's 
ozone implementation rule, these proposed determinations suspend the 
requirements for these areas to submit revisions to the state 
implementation plan related to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone 
standard for as long as these areas continue to meet the 1997 8-hour 
ozone NAAQS.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments, identified by docket number EPA-R09-OAR-
2011-0492, by one of the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal, at www.regulations.gov, please 
follow the on-line instructions;

[[Page 56798]]

    2. Email to ungvarsky.john@epa.gov; or
    3. Mail or delivery to John Ungvarsky, Air Planning Office, AIR-2, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, 75 Hawthorne Street, 
San Francisco, California 94105-3901.

Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules section 
of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to submit 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Ungvarsky, (415) 972-3963, or by 
email at ungvarsky.john@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For further information, please see the 
direct final action, of the same title, which is located in the Rules 
section of this Federal Register. EPA is approving: the determinations 
of attainment by applicable attainment dates; attainment date 
extensions; and determinations of continued attainment as a direct 
final rule without prior proposal because EPA views these as 
noncontroversial actions and anticipates no adverse comments. A 
detailed rationale for these actions is set forth in the preamble to 
the direct final rule. If EPA receives no adverse comments, EPA will 
not take further action on this proposed rule.
    If EPA receives adverse comments, EPA will withdraw the direct 
final rule, and it will not take effect. EPA will address all public 
comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA 
will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties 
interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. 
Please note that if we receive adverse comment on an amendment, 
paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed 
from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions 
of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.

    Dated: August 30, 2012.
Jared Blumenfeld,
Regional Administrator, EPA Region IX.
[FR Doc. 2012-22467 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
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