[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 117 (Friday, June 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37778-37779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15296]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[CT-044-7171, FRL-6717-7]


Adequacy Status of the VOC and NOX Budgets for 
Connecticut Submitted for Transportation Conformity Purposes as Part of 
Their Addenda to the Ozone Attainment Demonstrations for the Southwest 
Connecticut Severe Ozone Nonattainment Area and the Greater Connecticut 
Serious Ozone Nonattainment Area

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of adequacy.

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

SUMMARY: In this document EPA is notifying the public that we have 
found that the 2007 budgets received from Connecticut on February 15, 
2000 adequate for conformity purposes. This includes VOC and 
NOX motor vehicle emission budgets for the Southwest

[[Page 37779]]

Connecticut severe ozone nonattainment area and the Greater Connecticut 
serious ozone nonattainment area. On March 2, 1999, the D.C. Circuit 
Court ruled that submitted SIPs cannot be used for conformity 
determinations until EPA has affirmatively found them adequate. As a 
result of our finding, Connecticut can use the motor vehicle emissions 
budgets from the submitted SIP addenda for future conformity 
determinations.

DATES:  These budgets are effective July 3, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The finding and the response to 
comments are available at EPA's conformity website: http://www.epa.gov/oms/traq (once there, click on the ``Conformity'' button, then look for 
``Adequacy Review of SIP Submissions for Conformity''). You may also 
contact Jeff Butensky, Environmental Planner, One Congress Street, 
Suite 1100 (CAQ), Boston, MA 02114-2023; (617) 918-1665; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Today's document publishes the Region's finding that the motor 
vehicle emissions budgets for the Southwest Connecticut severe ozone 
nonattainment area and the Greater Connecticut serious ozone 
nonattainment area for 2007 for VOC and NOX are adequate for 
transportation conformity purposes. This finding has also been 
announced on EPA's conformity website: http://www.epa.gov/oms/traq 
(once there, click on the ``Conformity'' button, then look for 
``Adequacy Review of SIP Submissions for Conformity'').
    Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the 
Clean Air Act. EPA's conformity rule requires that transportation 
plans, programs, and projects conform to state air quality 
implementation plans (SIPs) and establishes the criteria and procedures 
for determining whether or not they do. Conformity to a SIP means that 
transportation activities will not produce new air quality violations, 
worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national 
ambient air quality standards.
    The criteria by which we determine whether a SIP's motor vehicle 
emission budgets are adequate for conformity purposes are outlined in 
40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). Please note that an adequacy review is separate 
from EPA's completeness review, and it also should not be used to 
prejudge EPA's ultimate approval of the SIP. Even if we find a budget 
adequate, the SIP could later be disapproved.
    We have described our process for determining the adequacy of 
submitted SIP budgets in guidance (May 14, 1999 memo titled 
``Conformity Guidance on Implementation of March 2, 1999 Conformity 
Court Decision''). We followed this guidance in making and publishing 
our adequacy determination.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

    Dated: June 1, 2000.
Mindy S. Lubber,
Regional Administrator, EPA New England.
[FR Doc. 00-15296 Filed 6-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U