[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 22, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 2969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1236]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[OH118-1b; FRL-7428-4]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Ohio

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to approve, as a revision to the Ohio 
State Implementation Plan (SIP), the remaining portions of the Ohio 
Environmental Protection Agency's (OEPA) regulations for Prevention of 
Significant Deterioration (PSD) provisions for attainment areas. EPA 
had previously conditionally approved Ohio's prior SIP submission on 
October 10, 2001. Today's proposed final approval of changes in the 
plan correcting minor deficiencies cited in EPA's original conditional 
approval, is based on Ohio's July 18, 2002, submission of revisions to 
the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). In its July 2002 submittal, Ohio 
also made additional revisions to the OAC that were not addressed in 
EPA's October 10, 2001 conditional approval.
    Recently, EPA announced new regulations regarding changes to the 
preconstruction permit program under EPA's efforts regarding ``New 
Source Review Reform.'' Today's approval of Ohio's SIP submission does 
not address EPA's new rules but is limited to portions of Ohio's 
preconstruction permit program under the existing rules. EPA is taking 
no position today on whether Ohio will need to make changes to its SIP 
to meet any requirements that EPA may promulgate as part of New Source 
Review Reform.
    In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, 
EPA is approving the State's request as a direct final rule without 
prior proposal because EPA views this action as noncontroversial and 
anticipates no adverse comments. The rationale for approval is set 
forth in the direct final rule. If EPA receives no written adverse 
comments, EPA will take no further action on this proposed rule. If EPA 
receives written adverse comment, we will publish a timely withdrawal 
of the direct final rule in the Federal Register and inform the public 
that the rule will not take effect. In that event, EPA will address all 
relevant public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this 
proposed rule. In either event, EPA will not institute a second comment 
period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so 
at this time.

DATES: Comments on this action must be received by February 21, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the documents relevant to this action are 
available for inspection during normal business hours at the following 
location: Permits and Grants Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson 
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.
    Please contact Genevieve Damico at (312) 353-4761 before visiting 
the Region 5 office.
    Written comments should be sent to: Pamela Blakley, Chief, Permits 
and Grants Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, 
Illinois 60604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Genevieve Damico, Environmental 
Engineer, Permits and Grants Section, Air Programs Branch, (AR-18J), 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson 
Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353-4761.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document whenever ``we,'' 
``us,'' or ``our'' are used we mean the EPA.

I. What action is EPA taking today?
II. Where can I find more information about this proposal and 
corresponding direct final rule?

I. What Action Is EPA Taking Today?

    The EPA is proposing to approve, as a revision to the SIP, the 
remaining portions of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's (OEPA) 
PSD provisions for attainment areas. EPA had previously conditionally 
approved Ohio's prior SIP submission on October 10, 2001 (66 FR 51570). 
Today's proposed final approval of EPA's original conditional approval 
is based on Ohio's July 18, 2002, submission of the revisions to the 
OAC. In its July 2002 submittal, Ohio also made additional revisions to 
OAC 3745-31-01, -02, -03, -05, and -07 that were not addressed in EPA's 
October 10, 2001 conditional approval.
    Recently, EPA announced new regulations regarding changes to the 
preconstruction permit program under EPA's efforts regarding ``New 
Source Review Reform''. See http://www.epa.gov/nsr/. Today's approval 
of Ohio's SIP submission does not address EPA's new rules but is 
limited to portions of Ohio's preconstruction permit program under the 
existing rules. EPA is taking no position today on whether Ohio will 
need to make changes to its SIP to meet any requirements that EPA may 
promulgate as part of New Source Review Reform.

II. Where Can I Find More Information About This Proposal and 
Corresponding Direct Final Rule?

    For additional information see the direct final rule published in 
the rules and regulations section of this Federal Register.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.

    Dated: December 13, 2002.
Bharat Mathur,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 03-1236 Filed 1-21-03; 8:45 am]
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