[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 119 (Friday, June 20, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36960-36961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15127]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[R1-7218c; A-1-FRL-7513-1]


Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; 
Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island; Nitrogen Oxides Budget and 
Allowance Trading Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) 
revisions submitted by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 
These SIP revisions make minor technical corrections to the nitrogen 
oxides (NOX) budget and trading programs in these states. 
Each State's SIP revision adjusts the baseline and emissions budgets 
for highway mobile and non-electric generating point sources such that 
they are consistent with those in EPA's March 2, 2000 ``Technical 
Amendment to the Finding of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for 
Certain States for Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone'' 
(65 FR 11222). The technical revisions do not affect the regulatory 
programs in these states, however, the changes are needed to fully 
approve the programs as meeting the EPA's regulation ``Finding of 
Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for Certain States in the Ozone 
Transport Assessment Group Region for Purposes of Reducing Regional 
Transport of Ozone,'' otherwise known as the ``NOX SIP 
Call.'' The intended effect of this action is to propose approval of 
the SIP revisions for the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island 
NOX budget trading programs as meeting Phase I and II of the 
EPA's NOX SIP Call. This action is being taken in accordance 
with section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 21, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to David Conroy, Unit Manager, Air 
Quality Planning, Office of Ecosystem Protection (mail code CAQ). 
Copies of the documents relevant to this action 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. Copies of 
the documents specific to the SIP approval for Connecticut are 
available at the Bureau of Air Management, Department of Environmental 
Protection, State Office Building, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-
1630. Copies of the documents specific to the SIP approval for 
Massachusetts are available at the Division of Air Quality Control, 
Department of Environmental Protection, One Winter Street, 8th Floor, 
Boston, MA 02108. Copies of the documents specific to the SIP approval 
for Rhode Island are available at the Office of Air Resources, 
Department of Environmental Management, 235 Promenade Street, 
Providence, RI 02908-5767.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Brown at (617) 918-1532 or via e-
mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Final Rules Section of this Federal 
Register, EPA is approving each State's SIP submittal 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 adverse comments are received in response to this action, 
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 
proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any 
parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this 
time. 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.

[[Page 36961]]

    For additional information, see the direct final rule which is 
located in the Rules Section of this Federal Register.

    Dated: June 2, 2003.
Robert W. Varney,
Regional Administrator, EPA New England.
[FR Doc. 03-15127 Filed 6-19-03; 8:45 am]
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