[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 249 (Friday, December 27, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79028-79029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32548]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[NC 93; NC-101-200122b; FRL-7402-7]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans North Carolina: 
Approval of Revisions to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan: 
Transportation Conformity and Interagency Memorandum of Agreements

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the North 
Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) that contains the 
transportation conformity rule pursuant to the Clean Air Act as amended 
in 1990 (Act). The transportation conformity rule assures that 
projected emissions from transportation plans, improvement

[[Page 79029]]

programs and projects, in air quality nonattainment or maintenance 
areas stay within the motor vehicle emissions ceiling contained in the 
SIP. The transportation conformity SIP revision enables the State to 
implement and enforce the Federal transportation conformity 
requirements at the state level per regulations for Conformity to State 
or Federal Implementation Plans of Transportation Plans, Programs, and 
Projects Developed, Funded or Approved Under Title 23 U.S.C. of the 
Federal Transit Laws. This EPA approval action streamlines the 
conformity process to allow direct consultation among agencies at the 
local level.
    In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is 
approving the North Carolina 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receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and 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 January 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES: All comments should be addressed to: Kelly Sheckler 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. Kelly Sheckler, 404/
562-9042.
    North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 512 
North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Sheckler at 404/562-9042, e-
mail: [email protected].

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. 02-32548 Filed 12-26-02; 8:45 am]
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