Finding of Failure To Submit State Implementation Plan Submissions for the 2008 and 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards; California; San Diego County Area

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to find that California has failed to submit State Implementation Plan (SIP) elements required under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the "Act") for the 2008 and 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in the San Diego County nonattainment area. California was required to submit a SIP submission demonstrating that reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements are implemented at the "Serious" nonattainment area classification for the 2008 and 2015 ozone NAAQS. The State submitted the required RACT demonstrations on December 28, 2020, but subsequently withdrew portions of its submission on August 23, 2024. If the EPA has not affirmatively found that the State has submitted a complete SIP for the withdrawn RACT element requirements within 18 months of this finding, the offset sanction will apply in the area. If within six additional months the EPA has still not affirmatively determined that the State has submitted a complete SIP for the withdrawn RACT element requirements, the highway funding sanction will apply in the area. No later than two years after the EPA makes this finding, if the State has not submitted and the EPA has not approved each of the required RACT elements, the EPA must promulgate a federal implementation plan (FIP) to address the remaining requirements.