Area Designations for 2008 Ground-level Ozone Standards
Regulatory Actions
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This page contains a chronological listing of all regulatory actions related to designations for the 2008 ozone standards.
Final Designations for the 2008 National Air Quality Standards for Ozone
April 30, 2012 - EPA is taking the next step to address ozone air quality by issuing final area designations for the 2008 ground-level ozone standards.
- Overview Q and A
- Map of Final Designations for 2008 Ozone Standards
- Nonattainment Designations for the 2008 Ozone Standards - Counties by State, April 30, 2012
- Menu of Control Measures
- Federal Register Notice Detailing Boundaries for Area Designations (PDF) (73pp, 490k) - Federal Register - May 21, 2012
- Responses to Significant Comments document (PDF) (103 pp, 569 KB)
- Final Area Technical Support Documents
Final Approach for Establishing Nonattainment Area Classifications and Attainment Deadlines
April 30, 2012 - Final rule directs key aspects of the implementation of the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone.
- Final Classifications Rule (PDF) (38pp, 214k)
- Fact Sheet Summarizing Final Classifications Rule (PDF) (2pp, 24k)
Implementing the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: Proposed Nonattainment Area Classifications Approach and Attainment Deadlines
February 7, 2012 - This action proposes a range of ozone levels for each ozone nonattainment area classification as well as the date by which these areas would be required to meet the standards.
- Proposed Rule (PDF) (13pp, 197k) - Federal Register - Feb 14, 2012
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (4pp, 34k)
Revised EPA Responses
January 31, 2012 - Based on updated ozone air quality data submitted by the state of Illinois, EPA revises its responses to recommendations from Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin on area designations for the 2008 ozone air quality standards.
- Read Correspondence Between these States and EPA
- Updated Map of Preliminary Nonattainment Areas for 2008 Ozone Standards
- Updated Table showing comparison of State recommendations and EPA responses (PDF) (7pp, 98k)
- Notice Reopening Public Comment Period for Chicago (PDF) (2pp, 143k) - Federal Register - Feb 14, 2012
Recommendations for Areas to be Designated “Nonattainment” for the 2008 National Air Quality Standards for Ozone
December 9, 2011 – In response to recommendations from state and local tribal representatives, EPA has sent letters outlining the areas it is considering designating as “attainment” or “nonattainment” for the 2008 ozone standards.
- Read Correspondence Between EPA and State and Tribal Representatives
- Overview Q and A
- Map of Preliminary Nonattainment Areas for 2008 Ozone Standards
- Table showing comparison of State recommendations and EPA responses (PDF) (6pp, 93k)
- Notice of Public Comment Period (PDF) (3pp, 159KB) - Federal Register - December 20, 2011
- Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period (PDF) (3pp, 169k) - Federal Register - January 19, 2012
Extension of Deadline for Area Designations for the 2008 Ozone Standards
January 6, 2010 - The Environmental Protection Agency is extending the deadline for designating areas for the March 2008 national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone is a primary component of smog.
- Fact Sheet (PDF) (2pp, 14k)
- Extension Notice (PDF) (2pp, 125k) - Federal Register - January 19, 2010