[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 66096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27496]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[NC104-200239(b); FRL-7400-5]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North 
Carolina: Approval of Revisions to Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) 
Regulations Within the North Carolina State Implementation Plan

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to approve the State Implementation Plan 
(SIP) revision submitted by the State of North Carolina for the purpose 
of amending regulations within 15A NCAC 2D.1000 Motor Vehicle Emissions 
Control Standards. North Carolina has submitted these rules for an 
enhanced inspection and maintenance (I/M) program which is a component 
of the State's Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) Budget and Allowance 
Trading Program. The I/M program establishes reductions which are being 
utilized by the State as part of their NOX SIP budget. 
Approval of these I/M rules allow North Carolina to gain credits 
ranging from 914 tons in 2004 to 4,385 credits in 2007. These credits 
are then used to determine the number of credits that will be made 
available for new growth in North Carolina. This submittal resolves all 
outstanding issues and allows for EPA's final approval of the State's 
NOX Budget and Allowance Trading Program. The final approval 
of the North Carolina NOX Budget and Allowance Trading 
Program, which was proposed for approval in 67 FR 42519 and received no 
adverse comments, will be processed in a later action. In the Final 
Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving the 
State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without 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 no significant, material, and 
adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further 
activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct 
final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be 
addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this rule. The EPA will 
not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties 
interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 29, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Randy Terry at the EPA, 
Region 4 Air Planning Branch, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 
30303.
    Copies of the State submittal(s) are available at the following 
addresses for inspection during normal business hours:

Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Air Planning Branch, 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Randy Terry, 404/562-
9032.
North Carolina Department of Environment, Health, and Natural 
Resources, 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy B. Terry at 404/562-9032.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For additional information see the direct 
final rule which is published in the Rules Section of this Federal 
Register.

    Dated: October 21, 2002.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 02-27496 Filed 10-29-02; 8:45 am]
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