[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 163 (Monday, August 24, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45037-45038]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22653]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 72 and 73

[FRL-6150-2]
RIN 2060-AH60


Revisions to the Permits and Sulfur Dioxide Allowance System 
Regulations Under Title IV of the Clean Air Act

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Title IV of the Clean Air Act (the Act), as amended by the 
Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, authorizes

[[Page 45038]]

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) to establish the 
Acid Rain Program. The program sets emissions limitations to reduce 
acidic particles and deposition and their serious, adverse effects on 
natural resources, ecosystems, materials, visibility, and public 
health.
    The allowance trading component of the Acid Rain Program allows 
utilities to achieve sulfur dioxide emissions reductions in the most 
cost-effective way. Allowances are traded among utilities and recorded 
in EPA's Allowance Tracking System for use in determining compliance at 
the end of each year. The Acid Rain Program's permitting, allowance 
trading, and emissions monitoring requirements are set forth in the 
``core rules'' promulgated on January 11, 1993. On August 3, 1998 (63 
FR 41358) EPA published a proposal that would amend certain provisions 
in the permitting and Allowance Tracking System rules for the purpose 
of improving the operation of the Allowance Tracking System and the 
allowance market, while still preserving the Act's environmental goals. 
This document extends the comment period on that notice of proposed 
rulemaking until September 17, 1998.

DATES: Comments. Comments on the August 3, 1998 proposed rule must be 
received on or before September 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted in duplicate, to: EPA 
Air Docket, Attention, Docket No. A-98-15, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.
    Docket. Docket No. A-98-15, containing supporting information used 
in developing the proposed rule, is available for public inspection and 
copying between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 
EPA's Air Docket Section, Waterside Mall, room 1500, 1st Floor, 401 M 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. A reasonable fee may be charged for 
copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Deneen, Permits and Allowance 
Market Branch, Acid Rain Division (6204J), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460 (202-564-
9089).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice of proposed rulemaking for this 
action (63 FR 41358, August 3, 1998) provided for a 30 day comment 
period ending on September 2, 1998, unless a public hearing was 
requested, in which case the comment period would be extended 15 days 
until September 17, 1998. The Agency has received a request that the 
comment period be extended until September 17, 1998, without a public 
hearing (see docket Item A-98-15-IV-D-1). That request indicated that 
in the event EPA declined to extend the comment period in this manner, 
the request constituted a request for a public hearing, which would 
have the same effect of extending the comment period.
    In the interest of full public participation in this rulemaking, 
and in recognition that the Agency should not require the public to 
present testimony at a public hearing for the procedural reason to 
extend the written comment period, the Agency with this document 
extends the comment period until September 17, 1998. Because no public 
hearing was requested by the August 13, 1998 deadline specified in the 
original document, no public hearing will be held on this rulemaking.

    Dated: August 14, 1998.
Brian McLean,
Director, Acid Rain Division.
[FR Doc. 98-22653 Filed 8-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P