[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 54705]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23748]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[NM-43-1-7600b; FRL-7556-8]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New Mexico; 
Redesignation of Grant County to Attainment for Sulfur Dioxide

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing action on a request to redesignate Grant 
County, New Mexico from nonattainment area to attainment for the sulfur 
dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standards 
(NAAQS). In conjunction with this action, EPA is also proposing to 
approve the maintenance plan, and its associated contingency measures 
plan for the Grant County nonattainment area, which were submitted to 
ensure that the attainment of SO2 NAAQS will continue to be 
maintained. The redesignation request and maintenance and contingency 
measures plans were submitted as a revision to the New Mexico State 
Implementation Plan (SIP) by the New Mexico Environment Department 
(NMED) on February 21, 2003. We are proposing to approve these 
revisions in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Clean Air 
Act.

DATES: Written comments must be received by October 20, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Mr. Thomas H. Diggs, 
Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD-L), at the EPA Region 6 Office listed 
below. Copies of documents relevant to this action are available for 
public inspection during normal business hours at the following 
locations. Anyone wanting to examine these documents should make an 
appointment with the appropriate office at least two working days in 
advance.
    Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Air Planning Section 
(6PD-L), 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.
    New Mexico Environment Depart, Air Quality Bureau, 2044 Galisteo 
Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Paige, Air State and Tribal 
Operations Section (6PD-S), EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, 
Texas 75202-2733, telephone (214) 665-6521, [email protected], or 
Alan Shar [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of 
this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a 
direct final rule without prior proposal because the EPA views this as 
a noncontroversial revision and anticipates no adverse comment. The EPA 
has explained its reasons for this approval in the preamble to the 
direct final rule. If EPA receives no relevant adverse comments, the 
EPA will not take further action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives 
relevant adverse comment, EPA will withdraw the direct final rule and 
it will not take effect. The EPA will address all public comments in a 
subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The EPA will not 
institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties 
interested in commenting must do so at this time. Electronic comments 
should be sent either to [email protected] or to http://www.regulations.gov, which is an alternative method for submitting 
electronic comments to EPA. To submit comments, please follow the 
detailed instructions described in our direct final rulemaking document 
published in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal 
Register. Our Technical Support Document for this rule revision 
contains more information about this action.
    This document concerns Attainment, Environmental protection, 
Intergovernmental relations, Redesignation, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Sulfur oxides. For further information, please see the 
information provided in the direct final action that is located in the 
``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register publication.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

    Dated: September 2, 2003.
Lawrence Starfield,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 03-23748 Filed 9-17-03; 8:45 am]
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