Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; North Carolina and South Carolina; Charlotte; Determination of Attainment by Applicable Attainment Date for the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standards

EPA is proposing to determine pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA), that the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina, ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as "the bi- state Charlotte Area" or "the Area") has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by its applicable attainment date of June 15, 2011. The determination of attainment was made by EPA on November 15, 2011, based on quality-assured and certified monitoring data for the 2008-2010 monitoring period. EPA is now proposing to find that the bi-state Charlotte Area attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by its applicable attainment date. EPA is proposing this action because it is consistent with the CAA and its implementing regulations.