[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 24371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12046]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[AD-FRL-6977-5]


RACT/BACT/LAER Clearinghouse: Notice of Public Workshops

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public workshops.

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SUMMARY: The EPA operates a clearinghouse of air pollution control 
technology information known as the Reasonably Available Control 
Technology (RACT), Best Available Control Technology (BACT), Lowest 
Achievable Emission Rate (LAER) Clearinghouse (RACT/BACT/LAER 
Clearinghouse or RBLC). The RBLC has recently received funding needed 
to implement major improvements and gather missing information. To 
effectively use these resources, the RBLC needs to communicate with and 
consider the needs of its users and potential clients. Consequently, 
several public workshops will be held in 2001 to get user input. The 
purpose of this notice is to announce the dates and locations of the 
initial workshops.

DATES: The first two public workshops are scheduled for June 6, 2001 
and June 13, 2001. Two additional workshops are under consideration for 
July 2001 and August 2001.

ADDRESSES: The first workshop will be held in the Ronald Reagan 
Building in Washington, DC. The second workshop will be held in the 
EPA's Environmental Research Center in Research Triangle Park, North 
Carolina. Both workshops will run from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Eastern 
Daylight time, with registration from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Two other 
workshops are tentatively scheduled to be held in Denver, Colorado and 
Chicago, Illinois.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Clean Air Technology Center (CATC) 
website at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/catc contains detailed information 
regarding each workshop. Alternatively, you may send an e-mail to 
[email protected] or call the CATC hotline at 919-541-0800 with general 
questions. A pre-registration form is available on the website. 
Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the workshops.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The terms RACT, BACT, and LAER indicate 
emission control and pollution prevention measures required by 
different provisions of the Clean Air Act. New Source Review (NSR) 
requirements are case-by-case decisions or determinations based on the 
requirements of the applicable regulation. The NSR BACT requirements 
apply to major new and modified sources located in attainment areas 
(i.e., areas attaining the National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
(NAAQS)) and subject to Prevention of Significant Air Quality 
Deterioration (PSD) permitting requirements. The NSR LAER requirements 
apply to major new and modified sources located in nonattainment areas 
(i.e., areas that do not meet a NAAQS). Existing sources located in 
nonattainment areas are subject to RACT requirements. The RACT 
determinations may also be made on a case-by-case basis, but typically 
RACT requirements have been prescribed by State and local rules and 
regulations. The RBLC is primarily a Clearinghouse for air pollution 
control and pollution prevention technology determinations required for 
major new and modified sources subject to NSR (BACT & LAER) permitting 
requirements.
    The RBLC will be hosting several public workshops in 2001 to get 
user input for our efforts to implement improvements to the RBLC. 
Permitting agency staff represent about one-third of those using the 
RBLC. The remaining two-thirds of users represent industry, consultants 
and lawyers preparing NSR permit applications or searching for good 
technology options for their air pollution abatement problems. The 
first public workshop will be held in Washington, DC on June 6, 2001. 
The second public workshop will be held in Research Triangle Park, NC 
on June 13, 2001. Two other workshops under consideration are 
tentatively scheduled for Denver, CO in July 2001 and Chicago, IL in 
August 2001.
    Further information regarding the public workshops can be found on 
EPA's Clean Air Technology Center (CATC) website at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/catc. The website contains the details of the first two workshops 
(location, agenda, etc.) and will include information on additional 
workshops after arrangements have been made. We will not publish a 
separate Federal Register notice to announce future workshops. The 
website contains a pre-registration form, and we encourage participants 
to pre-register for the workshops. In addition to the website, you may 
contact us via e-mail at [email protected] or call the CATC hotline at 
919-541-0800.

    Dated: April 27, 2001.
Thomas C. Curran,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality, Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-12046 Filed 5-11-01; 8:45 am]
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