Determinations of Failure To Attain the One-Hour Ozone Standard by 2007, Current Attainment of the One-Hour Ozone Standard, and Attainment of the 1997 Eight-Hour Ozone Standards for the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island Nonattainment Area in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York

EPA is finalizing four separate and independent determinations related to the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island (NY-NJ-CT) one- hour and 1997 eight-hour ozone nonattainment areas. The boundaries of the one-hour and eight-hour ozone nonattainment areas differ slightly. With respect to the NY-NJ-CT one-hour nonattainment area, EPA is determining that the area previously failed to attain the one-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by its applicable attainment deadline of November 15, 2007 (based on complete, quality- assured and certified ozone monitoring data for 2005-2007), and EPA is also determining that the area is currently attaining the now revoked one-hour ozone standard based on complete, quality-assured and certified ozone monitoring data for 2008-2010. Quality-assured ozone monitoring data in the Air Quality System for 2011 indicate the area continues to attain the revoked one-hour ozone standard. With respect to the NY-NJ-CT 1997 eight-hour ozone nonattainment area, EPA is determining that the area attained the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard by the applicable deadline, June 15, 2010, based on complete, quality-assured and certified ozone monitoring data for 2007-2009. EPA is also determining that the area is currently attaining the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard based on complete, quality-assured and certified ozone monitoring data for 2008-2010. Quality-assured ozone monitoring data for 2011 indicate that the area continues to attain the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard. EPA's ozone implementation regulation for the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard provides that the requirements for the States to submit certain reasonable further progress plans, attainment demonstrations, contingency measures and any other planning requirements of the Clean Air Act related to attainment of that ozone standard shall be suspended for as long as the area continues to attain the standard. A determination of attainment does not constitute a redesignation to attainment. Redesignation requires the states to meet a number of additional criteria, including EPA approval of a state plan to maintain the air quality standard for ten years after redesignation.

Agency Contact: If you have questions concerning EPA's action related to New Jersey or New York, please contact Paul Truchan, Air Programs Branch, Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 25th floor, New York, New York 10008-1866, telephone number (212) 637- 4249. If you have questions concerning EPA's action related to Connecticut, please contact Richard Burkhart, Air Quality Planning Unit, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England Regional Office, 5 Post Office Square--Suite 100, Mail Code OEP05-02, Boston, MA 02109- 3912, telephone number (617) 918-1664, fax number (617) 918-0664, email burkhart.richard@epa.gov.