Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC and SC; Determination of Attainment of the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard

EPA is taking final action to determine that the Charlotte- Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina nonattainment area has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina- South Carolina 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the "bi-state Charlotte Area") is composed of Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and a portion of Iredell (Davidson and Coddle Creek Townships) Counties in North Carolina; and a portion of York County in South Carolina. This determination is based upon complete, quality assured, quality controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the years 2008-2010 showing that the bi-state Charlotte Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Under the provisions of EPA's ozone implementation rule the requirements for the States of North Carolina and South Carolina to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures (RACM) analyses, reasonable further progress (RFP) plans, contingency measures, and other planning state implementation plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the bi-state Charlotte Area, shall be suspended for as long as the Area continues to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Additionally, EPA is responding to comments received on EPA's April 12, 2011, proposed rulemaking.