Proposed Approval of South Coast State Implementation Plans for 2006 and 2012 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Reclassification of Area Designation

On July 2, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposed rule on the Federal Register to approve all but the contingency measure element as meeting all applicable “Moderate” area requirements for the 2012 annual PM_2.5 NAAQS, and to conditionally approve the contingency measure element as meeting both the “Moderate” area contingency measure requirement for the 2012 annual PM_2.5 NAAQS and the “Serious” area contingency measure requirement for the 2006 24-Hour PM_2.5 NAAQS. EPA is proposing to approve 2019 and 2022 motor vehicle emissions budgets for use in the 2012 annual PM_2.5 NAAQS transportation conformity analyses, and to reclassify the South Coast PM_2.5 nonattainment area as a “Serious” nonattainment area for the 2012 annual PM_2.5 NAAQS. Upon final reclassification of the South Coast as a “Serious” nonattainment area, California will be required to submit a “Serious” area plan that includes a demonstration of attainment by no later than December 31, 2025. For more information, view the Federal Register Notice.