Air quality implementation plans; approval and promulgation; various States: Ohio,

[Federal Register: November 3, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 212)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 59705-59706]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr03no99-56]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[OH 129-1b; FRL-6464-6]

Approval and Promulgation of Maintenance Plan Revisions; Ohio

AGENCY: United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: USEPA is proposing to approve an August 19, 1999, request from Ohio for a State Implementation

[[Page 59706]]

Plan (SIP) revision of the Columbiana County, Ohio ozone maintenance plan. The maintenance plan revision allocates a portion of the safety margin to the transportation conformity mobile source emissions budget for the year 2005. USEPA is approving the allocation of 0.5 tons per day of oxides of nitrogen (NO‹INF›X‹/INF›) to the area's 2005 mobile source emissions budget for transportation conformity purposes. This allocation will still maintain the total emissions for the area at or below the attainment level required by the transportation conformity regulations. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, USEPA is approving the State's SIP revision, as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial revision and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If we receive no adverse comments in response to that direct final rule we plan to take no further activity in relation to this proposed rule. If USEPA receives significant adverse comments, in writing, which have not been addressed, we will withdraw the direct final rule and address all public comments received in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The USEPA will not institute a second comment period on this document.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 3, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: J. Elmer Bortzer, Chief, Regulation Development Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60604.

You may inspect copies of the documents relevant to this action during normal business hours at the following location: Regulation Development Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 60604.

Please contact Patricia Morris at (312) 353-8656 before visiting the Region 5 office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Morris, Environmental Scientist, Regulation Development Section, Air Programs Branch (AR- 18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-8656.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document wherever ``we'', ``us'', or ``our'' are used we mean USEPA.

This Supplementary Information section is organized as follows:

What action Is USEPA taking today?

Where can I find more information about this proposal and the corresponding direct final rule?

What Action is USEPA Taking Today?

In this action, we are proposing to approve a revision to the ozone maintenance plan for Columbiana County, Ohio. The revision will change the mobile source oxides of nitrogen emission budget that is used for transportation conformity purposes. The revision will keep the total emissions for the area at or below the attainment level required by law. This action will allow State or local agencies to maintain air quality while providing for transportation growth.

Where Can I Find More Information About This Proposal and the Corresponding Direct Final Rule?

For additional information see the direct final rule published in the rules section of this Federal Register.

Dated: October 20, 1999. Francis X. Lyons, Regional Administrator, Region 5.

[FR Doc. 99-28387Filed11-2-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P