Approval, and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Ohio; Redesignation of the Ohio Portion of the Huntington-Ashland Area to Attainment of the 1997 Annual Standard for Fine Particulate Matter

On May 4, 2011, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency submitted a request for EPA to approve the redesignation of the Ohio portion of the Huntington-Ashland (OH-KY-WV) nonattainment area to attainment of the 1997 annual standard for fine particulate matter (PM<INF>2.5</INF>). EPA is proposing to approve Ohio's request. EPA is proposing to approve several additional related actions. EPA is proposing to determine that the entire Huntington-Ashland (OH-KY-WV) area continues to attain the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> standard. EPA is proposing to approve, as revisions to the Ohio State Implementation Plan (SIP), the state's plan for maintaining the 1997 annual PM<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS through 2022 in the area. EPA is proposing to approve the 2005 emissions inventory for the Ohio portion of the Huntington-Ashland area as meeting the comprehensive emissions inventory requirement of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). Ohio's maintenance plan submission includes an insignificance finding for the mobile source contribution of PM<INF>2.5</INF> and nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) to Ohio's portion of the Huntington-Ashland PM<INF>2.5</INF> Area for transportation conformity purposes. EPA agrees with this finding. These proposed actions are being taken in accordance with the CAA and EPA's implementation regulation regarding the 1997 p.m.<INF>2.5</INF> NAAQS.