[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 8, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48391-48392]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20025]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 70

[MT-001; FRL-6847-9]


Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule on Operating Permit Program; 
State of Montana

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Withdrawal of Direct Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: Due to adverse comments, EPA is withdrawing the direct final 
rule published in the Federal Register on June 13, 2000 (65 FR 37049) 
promulgating full approval of the operating permit program submitted by 
the State of Montana for the purpose of complying with federal 
requirements which mandate that states develop, and submit to EPA, 
programs for issuign operating permits to all major stationary sources, 
and to certain other sources. As stated in the Federal Register 
document if EPA receives adverse comment by July 13, 2000, EPA will 
publish a timely withdrawal of the direct final rule and inform the 
public that the rule will not take effect on August 14, 2000. 
Therefore, due to receiving the final rule (which will delay the 
effective date of the Montana operating permit program) and will 
address all public comments received in a subsequent final rule based 
on the proposed rule also published on June 13, 2000 (65 FR 37091). EPA 
will not institute a second comment period on this document.

DATES: The direct final rule, published on June 13, 2000 (65 FR 37049), 
is withdrawn as of August 8, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Reisbeck, Air and Radiation 
Program 8P-AR, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, 999 18th 
Street, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80202, (303) 312-6435.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 13, 2000, EPA published a direct 
final rule (65 FR 37049) and a parallel proposal (65 FR 37091) to grant 
full approval of 40 CFR part 70 Montana operating permit program. The 
purpose of this action was to grant full authority to the State of 
Montana to meet the federal Clean Air Act directive that states 
develop, and submit to EPA, programs for issuing operating permits to 
all major stationary sources and to certain other sources within the 
states' jurisdiction.
    The EPA stated in the direct final rule (65 FR 37049) that if 
adverse comments were received by July 13, 2000, EPA would publish a 
notice to withdraw the direct final rule before its effective date of 
August 14, 2000. The EPA received an adverse comment on the direct 
final rule and, therefore, is withdrawing the direct final rulemaking 
action. The adverse commenter stated concern that the program would not 
adequately protect public health and the environment. The EPA will 
address the specific comments in a subsequent final action.


[[Page 48392]]


    Dated: August 1, 2000.
Rebecca W. Hanmer,
Acting Regional Administrator, VIII.
[FR Doc. 00-20025 Filed 8-7-00; 8:45 am]
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