Clean Air Act Reclassification of the Houston/Galveston/Brazoria Ozone Nonattainment Area; Texas; Proposed Rule

Résumé

EPA proposes to grant a request by the Governor of the State of Texas to voluntarily reclassify the Houston/Galveston/Brazoria (HGB) ozone nonattainment area from a moderate 8-hour ozone nonattainment area to a severe 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. This request was made in a letter from Governor Rick Perry to the EPA Administrator on June 15, 2007. In addition to the reclassification proposal, EPA is also proposing and taking comment on a range of dates from December 15, 2008 to April 15, 2010 for the State to submit a revised State Implementation Plan (SIP) addressing the severe ozone nonattainment area requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA will accept comments on all aspects of this proposed action. However, as discussed in Section II below, the CAA mandates the Agency to grant a voluntary reclassification when requested by a State.