Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Georgia: Atlanta; Determination of Attaining Data for the 1997 Annual Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards

EPA has determined that the Atlanta, Georgia, fine particulate (PM<INF>2.5</INF>) nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the "Atlanta Area" or "Area") has attained the 1997 annual average PM<INF>2.5</INF> national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and, additionally, that the Area has attained the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS by its applicable attainment date of April 5, 2010. The Atlanta Area is comprised of Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton Counties in their entireties, and portions of Heard and Putnam Counties. First, the determination that the Atlanta Area has attained the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS is based on upon quality-assured and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2008-2010 period showing that the Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. The requirements for the Area to submit an attainment demonstration and associated reasonably available control measures (RACM), a reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions related to attainment of the standard shall be suspended so long as the Area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS. Second, the determination that the Atlanta Area has attained the 1997 PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS by its applicable attainment date of April 5, 2010, is based upon quality-assured and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2007- 2009 period showing that the Area has monitored attainment of the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS during that period. Additionally, in this action EPA is addressing a typographical error found in the proposed approval for these actions.