[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 121 (Thursday, June 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 38825]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15717]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[IL201; FRL-6720-3]


Adequacy Status of Chicago, IL Submitted Ozone Rate of Progress 
Plan Budget for Transportation Conformity Purposes

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of adequacy.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that in a letter 
dated May 23, 2000, EPA found that the motor vehicle emissions budget 
in the Chicago, Illinois ozone nine percent rate of progress plan and 
supplemental information, submitted on December 18, 1997, December 17, 
1999, January 14, 2000, and January 21, 2000, is adequate for 
conformity purposes. On March 2, 1999, the D.C. Circuit Court ruled 
that submitted State Implementation Plans (SIPs) cannot be used for 
conformity determinations until EPA has affirmatively found them 
adequate. As a result of our finding, Chicago can use the motor vehicle 
emissions budget for volatile organic compounds for the year 1999 from 
the submitted ozone nine percent rate of progress plan for future 
conformity determinations. This budget is effective July 7, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The finding and the response to 
comments already received will be 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'').
    Patricia Morris, Environmental Scientist, Regulation Development 
Section (AR-18J), Air Programs Branch, Air and Radiation Division, 
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West 
Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-8656, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Throughout this document, whenever ``we'', ``us'' or ``our'' is 
used, we mean EPA. Today's notice is simply an announcement of a 
finding that we have already made. EPA Region 5 sent a letter to the 
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on May 23, 2000, stating that 
the motor vehicle emissions budget in the Chicago, Illinois submitted 
ozone nine percent rate of progress plan for 1999 is adequate. This 
finding will also be 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 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've described our process for determining the adequacy of 
submitted SIP budgets in guidance (May 14, 1999 memorandum titled 
``Conformity Guidance on Implementation of March 2, 1999 Conformity 
Court Decision''). We followed this guidance in making our adequacy 
determination.

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


    Dated: June 12, 2000.
David A. Ullrich,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 00-15717 Filed 6-21-00; 8:45 am]
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