2008 8-hour Ozone 110(a) Infrastructure Certification

Revision to Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) "Good Neighbor" State Implementation Plan for the 2008 Ozone Standard

The final Revision to North Carolina's 2008 Ozone Standard Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP), Element 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I), referred to as the "Good Neighbor" provision, was submitted to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on December 10, 2015. Through this submission, North Carolina is certifying that based on currently available emissions and air quality modeling data, emissions activities within North Carolina will not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in a neighboring state. Our extensive review of the EPA's 2017 modeling files posted for states' use on July 23, 2015, provides substantial evidence that the EPA's 2017 modeling analysis linking North Carolina to downwind contributions to ozone concentrations at the Essex ozone monitor in Baltimore County, Maryland is associated with inaccurate emissions inventories and deficiencies in the performance of the air quality modeling rather than a real contribution. Based on these findings, we have concluded that North Carolina does not contribute significantly to downwind air quality problems, and that North Carolina has met its Good Neighbor Provision under the Clean Air Act with respect to the 2008 ozone NAAQS.

The transmittal letter, narrative, and attachments are available through the following links:

DEQ Submittals:

EPA Actions:

  • Final Rule: Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Interstate Transport. EPA final approval of North Carolina’s December 10, 2015 Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) "Good Neighbor" State Implementation Plan for the 2008 Ozone Standard (82_FR_46134, October_4_2017)

  • Proposed Rule: Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Interstate Transport.  EPA proposal to approve North Carolina’s December 10, 2015 Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(I) "Good Neighbor" State Implementation Plan for the 2008 Ozone Standard (82_FR_37371, August 10, 2017)

Please direct any further questions or comments concerning this SIP submittal to the Planning Section Chief.

2008 8-hour Ozone 110(a) Certification

The North Carolina Certification of Clean Air Act Section 110(a)(1) and (2) Requirements for the 2008 8-hour Ozone Standard Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP) was submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on November 2, 2012. Section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act require states to adopt and submit to the USEPA "infrastructure" SIPs that address basic program elements to implement, maintain, and enforce new or revised standards including requirements for emissions inventories, monitoring, and modeling among other elements. The certification describes the basic program "infrastructure" elements that address the provisions of Section 110(a)(1) and (2).

The transmittal letter, narrative, and appendices are available through the links found below:

DEQ Submittals:

EPA Actions:

  • Final Rule:  Air Plan Approval and Disapproval; North Carolina: New Source Review for Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).  Partially approve the PSD elements of sections 110(a)(2)(C), 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) (prong 3) and 110(a)(2)(J) and disapprove with respect to the PM2.5 increment requirements of 2010 PSD PM2.5 Rule. (81 FR 63107, September 14, 2016)
  • Proposed Rule:  Air Plan Approval and Disapproval; North Carolina: New Source Review for Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5).  Partially approve the PSD elements of sections 110(a)(2)(C), 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) (prong 3) and 110(a)(2)(J) and disapprove with respect to the PM2.5 increment requirements of 2010 PSD PM2.5 Rule. (81 FR 28797, May 10, 2016)
  • Final Rule: Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Visibility Infrastructure Requirements for CAA Section 110(a)(2)(d)(i)(II), prong #4 (81 FR 35634, June 3, 2016)
  • Proposed Rule:  Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Visibility Infrastructure Requirements for CAA Section 110(a)(2)(d)(i)(II), prong #4 (81 FR 20600, April 8, 2016)
  • Final Rule:  Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina Infrastructure Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards for CAA Sections 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C-except PSD permitting requirements for major sources), (D-ii), (F), (G), (H), (J-except PSD permitting requirements for major sources), (K), (L), and (M) (80 FR 68453, November 5, 2015)
  • Proposed Rule:  Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina Infrastructure Requirements for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient
    Air Quality Standards for CAA Sections 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (C-except PSD permitting requirements for major sources), (D-ii), (F), (G), (H), (J-except PSD permitting requirements for major sources), (K), (L), and (M) (80 FR 13312, March 13, 2015)
  • Final Rule: Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Conflict of Interest Infrastructure Requirements for CAA Section 110(a)(2)(E) (80 FR 67645, November 3, 2015)
  • Proposed Rule: Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Conflict of Interest Infrastructure Requirements for CAA Section 110(a)(2)(E) (80 FR 51167, August 24, 2015)

Please direct any further questions or comments concerning this SIP submittal to the Planning Section Chief.