On March 12,
2008, the EPA announced that the new primary 8-hour ozone standard
is 0.075 parts per million (ppm) and the new secondary standard
is set at a form and level identical to the primary standard.
The previous primary and secondary standards were identical
8-hour standards, set at 0.08 ppm.
The ozone compliance deadline is as follows:
- States must make recommendations to EPA
no later than March 2009 for areas to be designated attainment,
nonattainment, and unclassifiable.
- EPA will issue final designations of attainment,
nonattainment and unclassifiable areas no later than March 2010
unless there is insufficient information to make these designation
decisions. In that case, EPA will issue designations no later
than March 2011.
- States must submit State Implementation
Plans outlining how they will reduce pollution to meet the standards
by a date that EPA will establish in a separate rule. That date
will be no later than three years after EPA's final designations.
If EPA issues designations in 2010, then these plans would be
due no later than 2013.
- States are required to meet the standards
by deadlines that may vary based on the severity of the problem
in the area.
- EPA will issue a separate rule to address
monitoring requirements necessary to implement the new standards.
EPA intends to propose a monitoring rule in June 2008 and issue
a final rule by March 2009.
