Background

On November 13, 2009, the EPA designated Tacoma-Pierce County as nonattainment for the 2006 24-hour PM_2.5 standard (74 FR 58688 (PDF)(95 pp, 491 K, About PDF)).

On September 4, 2012, the EPA determined that the Tacoma-Pierce County met the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS based on 2009-2011 monitoring data and approved Ecology's request for a clean data determination. This clean data determination suspended certain attainment planning requirements such as the obligation to submit an attainment demonstration, associated reasonably available control measures, a reasonable further progress plan, and contingency measures for so long as the area continues to meet the 24-hour 2006 PM_2.5 NAAQS (proposal 77 FR 39657 (PDF)(2 pp, 234 K), final rule 77 FR 53772 (PDF)(2 pp, 234 K)).

On November 28, 2012, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) submitted a plan to meet the remaining attainment plan requirement, a 2008 Baseline Emissions Inventory, as well as strengthened woodsmoke control measures (proposal 78 FR 4804 (PDF)(3 pp, 230 K), final rule 78 FR 32131 (PDF)(5 pp, 275 K)). 

Subsequently, on September 19, 2013, the EPA reviewed 2010-2012 monitoring data which showed continued attainment of the 24-hour PM_2.5 standard and approved 2011 motor vehicle emission budgets for the purpose of meeting transportation conformity requirements (proposal 78 FR 42905 (PDF)(6 pp, 271 K), final rule 78 FR 57503 (PDF)(3 pp, 238 K)). 

On November 3, 2014, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) submitted a request to redesignate the Tacoma-Pierce County nonattainment area to attainment and submitted a maintenance plan demonstrating that the control measures already in place will continue to ensure attainment over the next 10 years. The EPA approved the maintenance plan submitted by Ecology and redesignated the entire area (including all Tribal trust land under the jurisdiction of the Puyallup Tribe of Indians) to attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM_2.5 standard on February 10, 2015 (proposal 79 FR 73525 (PDF)(14 pp, 322 K), final rule 80 FR 7347 (PDF)(6 pp, 261 K)).

Summary

Both the state attainment plan and the maintenance plan rely primarily on enhanced enforcement and control strategies for residential wood smoke.

Rules

• PSCAA Regulation I, Article 13, Solid Fuel Burning Device Standards

Contingency Measures

The contingency measure schedule, triggers, and potential control strategies are described on page 79 FR 73536 of the EPA's proposed maintenance plan approval (proposal 79 FR 73525).

EPA Effective Date

March 12, 2015