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Contact EPA Pacific Southwest Air Program

Pacific Southwest, Region 9

Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations

Air Actions, California

South Coast Air Actions

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Lead

February 2014: Final Approval of the 2012 Los Angeles County Lead Attainment SIP

On February 11, 2014, EPA's Regional Administrator signed a final rule to approve the 2012 Los Angeles County Lead Attainment SIP. The plan was developed and adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and adopted and submitted by the California Air Resources Board, and shows how the area will attain the lead standard by the attainment date of December 31, 2015. The final rule is effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Fine Particulate Matter (PM-2.5) Pollution

Finding that the South Coast Has Attained the 1997 PM2.5 Standards

On July 8, EPA made a finding that the South Coast has attained the 1997 24-hour and annual PM2.5 standards based on 2011-2013 data.


Final Action on the South Coast 2012 PM2.5 Plan and 2015 Supplement for the 2006 PM2.5 Standard

On March 15, 2016, EPA finalized action on the South Coast 2012 PM2.5 Plan and 2015 Supplement, which address Clean Air Act requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.

Contact Information
Wienke Tax (Tax.Wienke@epa.gov)
(415) 947-4192

Proposed Approval of 2012 South Coast Plan and 2015 Supplement for the 2006 PM2.5 Standard and Proposed Reclassification to Serious for the 2006 PM2.5 Standard

On September 30, 2015, EPA proposed to approve elements of the South Coast 2012 PM2.5 Plan and 2015 Supplement, which addresses Clean Air Act requirements for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, and proposed to reclassify the area as a 'Serious' nonattainment area for the 2006 PM2.5 standard. EPA provided a 30-day public comment period from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

Contact Information
Wienke Tax (Tax.Wienke@epa.gov)
(415) 947-4192


Final Reclassification to Serious for the 2006 PM2.5 Standard

On December 22, 2015, EPA reclassified the South Coast area as a "Serious" nonattainment area for the 2006 PM2.5 standard.

Contact Information
Wienke Tax (Tax.Wienke@epa.gov)
(415) 947-4192


December 2014: Extension of Comment Period on the Proposed Finding that the South Coast Has Attained the 1997 PM2.5 Standards

On December 18, 2014, EPA proposed to extend the comment period on the clean data determination for the South Coast Air Basin, CA to January 22, 2015.

November 2014: Proposed Finding that the South Coast Has Attained the 1997 PM2.5 Standards

On November 20, 2014, EPA proposed a finding that the South Coast has attained the 1997 PM2.5 standards based on 2011-2013 monitoring data. EPA provided a 30-day public comment period from the date of publication in the Federal Register.


September 2013: Final Approval of the South Coast 1997 PM2.5 Contingency Measures

On September 25, 2013, EPA approved the South Coast 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS contingency measures. The sanctions and FIP clocks that were triggered by EPA's partial disapproval of South Coast's PM2.5 contingency measures on November 5, 2011 will be terminated upon the effective date (30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register) of this action.

June 2013: Proposed Approval of the South Coast 1997 PM2.5 Contingency Measures and Interim-Final Rule to Defer Sanctions

On June 12, 2013, EPA proposed to approve the South Coast 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS contingency measures. EPA also issued an Interim Final Rule to defer imposing off-set and highway sanctions in the South Coast. EPAaccepted comment on both actions for 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.


September 2011: Final Action on South Coast 2007 PM2.5 Plan

On September 30, 2011, EPA approved nearly all elements of the South Coast 2007 PM2.5 plan. The final action became effective 60 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register.

Contact Information
Wienke Tax (Tax.Wienke@epa.gov)
(415) 947-4192

June 2011: Proposed Partial Approval/ Partial Disapproval of South Coast 2007 PM2.5 Plan

On June 29, 2011, EPA proposed action on the South Coast 2007 PM2.5 plan.

November 2014: Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval South Coast 2007 PM2.5 Plan

On November 8, 2010, EPA's Regional Administrator signed a proposed rule to approve in part and disapprove in part the South Coast 2007 PM2.5 plan. The parts of the plan; prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board that we proposed to approve; strengthen the SIP. The portions of the plan we proposed to disapprove; do not meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act and EPA. EPA took public comments for 60 days after the publication of this action in the Federal Register.

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Coarse Particulate Matter (PM-10) Pollution

June 2013: Final Approval of the South Coast 2009 PM10 Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan

On June 12, 2013, EPA's Regional Administrator signed a final rule to approve the South Coast PM10 Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan. The plan was developed and adopted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and adopted and submitted by the California Air Resources Board, and shows how the area will maintain the PM10 standard for at least the next ten years.

March 2013: Proposed Approval of the South Coast 2009 PM10 Redesignation Request and Maintenance Plan

On March 22, 2013, The EPA proposed approval of the state of California’s request to find the South Coast air basin is attaining coarse particulate matter, or PM-10 standards, and the maintenance plan demonstrating how the area will continue to maintain the standard through at least the next ten years.

Ozone

August 2014: Final Approval of South Coast Extreme 1-Hour Ozone Attainment Demonstration and 1-Hour and 8-Hour VMT Offset Demonstrations

On August 13, 2014, EPA finalized action on California's new 1-hour ozone attainment demonstration for the South Coast nonattainment area, and the 1-hour and 8-hour vehicle miles travelled (VMT) offset demonstrations.

Contact Information

South Coast 1-Hour
Wienke Tax (Tax.Wienke@epa.gov)
(415) 947-4192

South Coast VMT Demonstrations
John Ungvarsky (ungvarsky.john@epa.gov)

May 2014: Proposed Approval of South Coast Extreme 1-Hour Ozone Attainment Demonstration and 1-Hour and 8-Hour VMT Offset Demonstrations; Interim Final Determination to Defer Sanctions

On May 5, 2014, EPA proposed action on California's new 1-hour ozone attainment demonstration for the South Coast nonattainment area, and the 1-hour and 8-hour VMT offset demonstrations.

Contact Information
Wienke Tax (Tax.Wienke@epa.gov)
(415) 947-4192
or
John Ungvarsky (ungvarsky.john@epa.gov)


March 2013: South Coast 1-Hour and 8-Hour Ozone Final Rule

On March 28, 2013, EPA finalized the withdrawal of our March 2009 approval of the 1-hour ozone VMT emissions offset demonstration and our March 2012 approval of the 8-hour ozone VMT emissions offset demonstration for the area, and disapproved these demonstrations.


December 2012: South Coast 1-Hour Ozone Final Rule

On December 19, 2012, EPA finalized an action to require California to develop a new plan for attainment of the 1-hour ozone air quality standard in the South Coast extreme ozone nonattainment area.

August 2012: South Coast 1-Hour Ozone Plan Proposals

On August 30, 2012, EPA proposed the following actions:


September 2012: Approval of South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 317 "Clean Air Act Non-Attainment Fee"

On September 20, 2012, EPA approved the South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 317, "Clean Air Act Non-Attainment Fee" as meeting the Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 185 fee program requirements for the 1-hour ozone standard.

January 2012: Notice of Proposed Approval of South Coast Rule 317 – CAA Section 185 Nonattainment Fee Program

On January 4, 2012, EPA proposed to approve South Coast Air Quality Management District's Rule 317, "Clean Air Act Non-Attainment Fee" as meeting the Clean Air Act (CAA) Section 185 fee program requirements for the 1-hour ozone standard.


December 2011: Final Approval of South Coast 8-hour Ozone Attainment Plan

On December 15, 2011, EPA approved California's plan to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard of 0.08 ppm in the South Coast extreme ozone nonattainment area. The plan consists of the ozone-related portions of the South Coast Air Quality Management District's 2007 Air Quality Management Plan and related portions of the California Air Resources Board's 2007 State Strategy. We proposed this action on September 7, 2011.

September 2011: Proposed Approval of South Coast 8-hour Ozone Attainment Plan

On September 7, 2011, EPA proposed to approve the 8-hour ozone attainment plan for the South Coast.


December 2011: Final Determination of Failure to Attain the 1-hour Ozone Standard for San Joaquin December 2011: Valley, South Coast and Southeast Desert

On December 16, 2011, EPA finalized its determination that the South Coast, San Joaquin Valley and the Southeast Desert 1-hour ozone nonattainment areas have failed to attain the 1-hour ozone standard by their applicable attainment date. Today's final action includes response to public comments.

September 2011: Proposed Determinations of Failure to Attain the 1-hour Ozone Standard for San Joaquin Valley, South Coast and Southeast Desert

On September 1, 2011, EPA proposed to find that the South Coast, San Joaquin Valley and the Southeast Desert 1-hour ozone nonattainment areas have failed to attain the 1-hour ozone standard by their applicable attainment date. EPA is required to make these determinations to ensure implementation of certain 1-hour ozone requirements, such as contingency measures and section 185 major stationary source fee programs, which are given effect by such determinations.

Contact Information
Doris Lo (lo.doris@epa.gov)
(415) 972-3959


January 2009: Final Rule for South Coast 2003 1-Hour Ozone Plan and NO2 Maintenance Plan
On January 15, 2009, EPA's Regional Administrator signed a final rule to approve in part and disapprove in part the South Coast 2003 1-hour ozone plan and the NO2 maintenance plan. The parts of the plan, prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board, that we approved strengthen the SIP. The disapproved portions of the plan were not required by the Clean Air Act, and our disapprovals do not start sanctions clocks. We received comments from the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment and the Natural Resources Defense Council during the 30-day comment period. We responded to the comments in our final rule.

October 2008: Proposed Approval of South Coast 2003 1-Hour Ozone Plan and NO2 Maintenance Plan
On October 15, 2008, EPA's Regional Administrator signed a proposed rule to approve in part and disapprove in part the South Coast 2003 1-hour ozone plan and the NO2 maintenance plan. The parts of the plan, prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board, that we proposed to approve strengthen the SIP. The portions of the plan we proposed to disapprove were not required by the Clean Air Act, and our disapprovals do not start sanctions clocks. We are taking public comments for 30 days after the publication of our action in the Federal Register.


April 2007: Final Approval of South Coast Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request
On April 24, 2007, EPA’s Regional Administrator signed a final rule to approve the South Coast Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request for Carbon Monoxide. The plan, prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board, shows that the area will have in place the controls necessary to maintain the carbon monoxide standard through the year 2020.

February 2007: Proposed Approval of South Coast Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request
On February 6, 2007, EPA’s Regional Administrator signed a proposed rule to approve the South Coast Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request for Carbon Monoxide. The plan, prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board, shows that the area achieved the CO standard in 2002, and will have in place the controls necessary to maintain the carbon monoxide standard through the year 2020.


September 2005: Final Approval of South Coast and Coachella Particulate Matter Plan
On September 16, 2005, EPA’s Regional Administrator signed a final rule to approve the South Coast and Coachella Valley Attainment Demonstration Plan for particulate matter. The plan, prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board, shows that the area will have in place the controls necessary to meet the particulate matter standard by the area’s Clean Air Act deadline of 2006. The plan also addresses the Clean Air Act’s requirements for emission inventories, rate of progress, control measures, and contingency measures.

July 2005: Proposed Approval of South Coast and Coachella Particulate Matter Plan
On July 17, 2005, EPA’s Regional Administrator signed a proposal to approve the South Coast and Coachella Valley Attainment Demonstration Plan for particulate matter. The plan, prepared by the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the California Air Resources Board, shows that the area will have in place the controls necessary to meet the particulate matter standard by the area’s Clean Air Act deadline of 2006. The plan also addresses the Clean Air Act’s requirements for emission inventories, rate of progress, control measures, and contingency measures.

Past South Coast Actions

November, 2002: EPA's Evaluation of the Regional Clean Air Incentives Market (RECLAIM) Program in the South Coast Air Quality Management District – Includes evaluation summary and the full report.

Contact Information
Wienke Tax (tax.wienke@epa.gov)
(415) 947-4192

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