[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]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------


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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P