[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33786-33787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16352]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 51 and 52

[FRL-5845-6]
RIN 2060-AH01


Prevention of Significant Deterioration of Air Quality (PSD) 
Program: Permit Review Procedures for Sources That May Adversely Affect 
Air Quality in Non-Federal Class I Areas

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public workshops.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the time and place for public 
workshops regarding EPA's advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) 
on PSD permit review procedures for sources that may adversely affect 
air quality in non-Federal Class I areas (62 FR 27158-27166, May 16, 
1997). The ANPR announced EPA's intent to pursue a rulemaking on the 
PSD permit review procedures for new and modified major stationary 
sources that may have an adverse impact on the air quality of non-
Federal Class I areas, presented a number of issues to be addressed in 
such a rulemaking, and invited public participation in further 
articulating and identifying the relevant issues.

DATES: EPA will conduct public workshops on the ANPR from 8:30 a.m. to 
4:00 p.m. on July 21 and 22, 1997 in Chicago, Illinois and on July 29, 
1997 in Phoenix, Arizona.

ADDRESSES: The public workshops will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 
p.m. at the U.S. EPA Region 5 in the Lake Michigan Room of the Great 
Lakes Conference and Training Center (12th floor), 77 W. Jackson 
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois and at the Embassy Suites--Camelback, 1515 
N. 44th Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85008. In order to ensure adequate 
space to accommodate all attendees, those planning to participate in 
either of the workshops are asked to confirm their plans with the 
contact person listed below, either by phone or e-mail.
    Materials relevant to this document have been placed in Docket A-
96-53. The docket is located at the Air Docket Section, Mail Code 6102, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20460, in room M-1500 Waterside Mall. Documents may be inspected from 
8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying 
docket material.
    Written comments should be submitted (in duplicate, if possible) to 
Air Docket Section, Mail Code 6102, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460. A copy should also be 
sent to David R. LaRoche at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Office of Air and Radiation, 401 M Street, SW., (6102), Washington, DC 
20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David R. LaRoche at U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Office of Air and Radiation, 401 M Street, SW., 
(6102), Washington, DC 20460, (202) 260-7652 (E-mail: 
[email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA intends these workshops to be 
opportunities for informal discussion on the issues related to 
reviewing permit applications for sources whose emissions may adversely 
affect non-Federal Class I areas. Each workshop will begin with a 
background presentation by EPA of the PSD program and a summary of the 
issues discussed in the ANPR. The rest of the meeting will consist of 
an informal round-table discussion of those and any other relevant 
issues suggested by the participants. At the request of one of the 
participants, the workshop in Chicago has been scheduled for two days 
in order to allow for discussion on the second day of specific issues 
related to the Forest County Potawatomi Community's request that part 
of its reservation be redesignated to Class I.
    The PSD program authorizes States and Tribes to request 
redesignation of their lands as ``Class I'' areas. Over the past twenty 
years, only federally-recognized Tribes have sought redesignation under 
this authority. EPA has approved Class I redesignations for the 
Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, the Flathead Indian Reservation, 
the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and the Spokane Indian Reservation 
(see 40 CFR 52.1382(c) and 52.2497(c)). Recently, EPA approved Class I 
redesignation of the Yavapai-Apache Reservation, located in the State 
of Arizona (see 61 FR 56461 (Nov. 1, 1996)) (to be codified at 40 CFR 
52.150). EPA has also proposed to approve the Forest County Potawatomi 
Community request to redesignate tribal lands located in the State of 
Wisconsin (see 60 FR 33779 (June 29, 1995)). Before making a final 
decision on this proposed action, EPA will provide opportunity for 
public comment and hold a public hearing.
    During EPA's review of the Yavapai-Apache and Forest County 
Potawatomi redesignation requests, nearby States submitted formal 
objections to EPA. A common concern has been confusion about the PSD 
permit review procedures

[[Page 33787]]

that would apply in these States in the event a Class I redesignation 
request is granted, and what EPA's specific role would be in resolving 
any intergovernmental disputes that arise over proposed permits for PSD 
sources that may adversely affect non-federal Class I areas. In 
response to these concerns, EPA has initiated this rulemaking to 
clarify the PSD permit review and dispute resolution procedures for 
proposed new and modified major stationary sources locating near non-
Federal Class I areas.
    The new procedures established in this rulemaking would apply for 
any State or Tribal lands redesignated as Class I. Thus, the rulemaking 
is intended to clarify PSD permit review procedures for proposed PSD 
sources that may adversely affect the air quality of any State or 
Tribal non-Federal Class I area, and would set forth more specific 
procedures for EPA's resolution of any intergovernmental permit 
disputes which may arise.

    Dated: June 16, 1997.
Mary D. Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Air & Radiation.
[FR Doc. 97-16352 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P