[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 190 (Monday, October 2, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51382-51383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24355]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
[LA-15-1-6073b; FRL-5307-5]
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation
of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of Louisiana;
Approval of the Maintenance Plan for the New Orleans Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA); Redesignation of the New Orleans
CMSA to Attainment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: On October 15, 1994, the State of Louisiana submitted a
revised maintenance plan and request to redesignate the New Orleans
CMSA ozone nonattainment area to attainment. The New Orleans CMSA is
comprised of six parishes: Jefferson, Orleans, St. Charles, St.
Bernard, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany. Maintenance and
contingency plans are not included in the action for the parishes of
St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany. St. John the Baptist Parish was
previously redesignated to attainment, and St. Tammany Parish has never
been designated as nonattainment.
This maintenance plan and redesignation request was initially
submitted to the EPA on April 23, 1993. Although the EPA deemed this
initial submittal complete on September 10, 1993, certain approvability
issues existed. The State of Louisiana addressed these approvability
issues and has revised its submissions. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA),
nonattainment areas may be redesignated to attainment if sufficient
data are available to warrant the redesignation and the area meets the
other CAA redesignation requirements. In this action, EPA is approving
Louisiana's redesignation request because it meets the maintenance plan
and redesignation requirements set forth in the CAA, and EPA is
approving the 1990 base year emissions inventory. The approved
maintenance plan will become a federally enforceable part of the State
Implementation Plan (SIP) for Louisiana.
In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is
approving this redesignation request as a direct final rulemaking
without prior proposal because the EPA views this action as
noncontroversial and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed
rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no
adverse comments are received in response to that direct final rule, no
further activity is contemplated in relation to this proposed rule. If
the EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be
withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a
subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The EPA will not
institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties
interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.
DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be postmarked by November 1,
1995. If no adverse comments are received, then the direct final rule
will be effective on December 1, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Thomas H. Diggs, Chief, Air
Planning Section (6PD-L), U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas,
Texas 75202-2733. Copies of the State's petition and other information
relevant to this action are available for inspection during normal
hours at the following locations:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Air Planning Section
(6PD-L), 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20460.
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality,
7290 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810.
Anyone wishing to review this petition at the Region 6 EPA office is
asked to contact the person below to schedule an appointment 24 hours
in advance.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mick Cote, Air Planning Section
(6PD-L), EPA Region 6, telephone (214) 665-7219.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the information provided in the direct
final rule which is located in the Rules Section of this Federal
Register.
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81
Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Area designations,
Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental
regulations, National Parks, Reporting
[[Page 51383]]
and recordkeeping, Ozone, Volatile organic compounds, Wilderness areas.
Dated: September 22, 1995.
Allyn M. Davis,
Acting Regional Administrator (6RA).
[FR Doc. 95-24355 Filed 9-29-95; 8:45 am]
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