[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 50086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24045]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6438-9]


Draft Guidance for Improving Air Quality Through Economic 
Incentive Programs

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: Today EPA announces the availability of draft guidance for 
States that wish to use an economic incentive program (EIP) to achieve 
air quality improvements. The draft guidance--``Draft Economic 
Incentive Program Guidance (EPA-452/D-99-001, July 1999)''--is a 
comprehensive update of EPA's 1994 EIP rule and guidance. (59 FR 
16690), with regard to discretionary EIPs. It also incorporates some 
components of EPA's 1995 proposed model rule for open market trading 
(60 FR 39668), as well as the comments received on that proposed rule. 
With this guidance, EPA seeks to encourage cost effective and 
innovative approaches for achieving air quality requirements, and at 
the same time, maintain the enforceability and accountability of more 
traditional air quality management approaches.

DATES: The EPA is establishing a 60-day comment period, ending on 
November 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted (in duplicate, if possible) to: 
Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6101), Attention: 
Docket No. A-99-27, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street 
SW, Room M-1500, Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-7548, 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal 
holidays. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying. Comments and 
data may also be submitted electronically by following the instructions 
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of this document. No confidential 
business information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific questions and comments on 
this guidance, contact Ms. Nancy Mayer, U.S. EPA, MD-15, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-5390, e-mail 
``[email protected]''; or Mr. Eric Crump, U.S. EPA, MD-15, Research 
Triangle Park NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-4719, e-mail 
``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The EIP guidance will have no direct 
regulatory consequences when finalized. The proposed draft outlines a 
variety of economic incentive programs, and provides advice to States 
on choosing the best type of program to meet their objectives. States 
can then develop or revise their implementation plans to incorporate an 
EIP that will meet national air quality objectives, and achieve an 
overall benefit to the environment.
    Electronic Availability--A World Wide Web (WWW) site has been 
developed so that you can obtain a copy of the draft EIP guidance for 
review and comment. The Uniform Resource Location (URL) for the home 
page of the web site is http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg. You can find the 
draft EIP guidance on this web site under the heading titled ``What's 
New.'' If you need additional assistance with these web sites, call the 
TTN Helpline at (919) 541-5384. If you lack access to the World Wide 
Web, you may request a copy of the draft EIP guidance from the 
individuals listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    The EPA has established an official record for this draft guidance 
(which will include the draft guidance, plus any public comments and 
data submitted) under docket number A-99-27. A public version of this 
record, including printed, paper versions of electronic comments--but 
excluding any information claimed as CBI--is available for inspection 
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. 
The official record is located at the address in ADDRESSES at the 
beginning of this document. Electronic comments can be sent directly to 
EPA at: A-and-R-D[email protected]. Electronic comments must be 
submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and 
any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on 
disks in WordPerfect in 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. All 
comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the docket 
number A-99-27. Electronic comments on this proposed rule may be filed 
online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

    Dated: September 3, 1999.
John S. Seitz,
Director, Office of Air Quality, Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 99-24045 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P