[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7323-7324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3759]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[MA084-7214b; A-1-FRL-7143-8]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans and 
Designations of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; Commonwealth 
of Massachusetts; Carbon Monoxide Redesignation Request, Maintenance 
Plan, and Emissions Inventory for the Cities of Lowell, Springfield, 
Waltham and Worcester

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts containing a redesignation request, 
maintenance plan, and emissions inventory for the carbon monoxide (CO) 
nonattainment areas of Lowell, Springfield, Waltham, and Worcester. 
Under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (the CAA), designations can 
be revised if sufficient data is available to warrant such revisions 
and the redesignation request meets all of the requirements of section 
107(d)(E)(3) of the CAA. EPA is proposing to approve the Massachusetts 
redesignation request and maintenance plan because they meet the 
applicable requirements and will ensure that the four cities remain in 
attainment. The approved maintenance plans will become a federally 
enforceable part of the Massachusetts SIP. In this action, EPA is also 
proposing to approve the Massachusetts 1996 baseline emission inventory 
for CO.
    In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is 
approving the Massachusetts SIP submittal as a direct final rule 
without a prior proposal because the Agency views this as a 
noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A 
detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final 
rule. If EPA receives no adverse comments in response to this action 
rule, we contemplate no further activity. If EPA receives relevant 
adverse comments, we will withdraw the direct final rule and we will 
address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this 
proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any 
parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this 
time.

[[Page 7324]]


DATES: Written comments must be received on or before March 21, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to David Conroy, Unit Manager, Air 
Quality Planning, Office of Ecosystem Protection (mail code CAQ), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New England, One Congress Street, 
Suite 1100, Boston, MA 02114-2023. Copies of Massachusetts' submittal 
and EPA's technical support document are available for public 
inspection during normal business hours, by appointment at the Office 
of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA New 
England, One Congress Street, 11th floor, Boston, MA, 02114-2023, and 
the Division of Air Quality Control, Department of Environmental 
Protection, One Winter Street, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey S. Butensky, Environmental 
Planner, Air Quality Planning Unit of the Office of Ecosystem 
Protection (mail code CAQ), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New 
England office, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02114-2023, (617) 918-
1665 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Please note that if EPA receives adverse 
comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that 
provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt 
as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an 
adverse comment. For additional information, see the direct final rule 
that is located in the Rules Section of this Federal Register.

    Dated: January 29, 2002.
Robert W. Varney,
Regional Administrator, EPA New England.
[FR Doc. 02-3759 Filed 2-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P