Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of California; Redesignation of the San Francisco Bay Area to Nonattainment for Ozone

概要

On May 22, 1995, EPA redesignated the San Francisco Bay Area (Bay Area) from moderate nonattainment for the federal 1-hour ozone standard to attainment (60 FR 27028). The redesignation became effective on June 21, 1995. Two days later, the Bay Area experienced its first violation of the federal 1-hour ozone standard as an attainment area. There have been a total of 43 exceedances and 17 violations of the standard since redesignation. The Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) provides that EPA may at any time notify the Governor that available air quality information indicates that the designation of an area within the State should be revised. EPA must consider the response from the Governor as well as public comment on the proposed redesignation before finalizing its action. On August 21, 1997, EPA sent a letter to the Governor of California notifying him of the Agency's intent to redesignate the Bay Area from attainment to nonattainment of the federal 1-hour ozone standard. In today's action, EPA is proposing to redesignate the Bay Area as a nonattainment area for ozone.