Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Regional Haze Five-Year Progress Report

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland. Maryland's SIP revision, the Regional Haze Five-Year Progress Report, addresses Clean Air Act (CAA) provisions that require the State to submit periodic reports addressing reasonable progress goals (RPGs) established for regional haze and to make a determination of the adequacy of the State's existing regional haze SIP. Maryland's progress report notes that the State has implemented the measures that are specified in the regional haze SIP which were due to be in place by the date of the progress report. The progress report also notes that visibility in federal Class I areas that may have been affected by emissions from Maryland is improving and that these Class I areas have already met the applicable RPGs for 2018. EPA is proposing approval of Maryland's progress report and its determination that the State's regional haze SIP is adequate to meet these RPGs for the first implementation period, which extends through 2018, and requires no substantive revision. This action is being taken under the CAA.