[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 4270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1819]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[SC-50-200405 (b); FRL-7614-6]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan: Revisions to 
South Carolina State Implementation Plan: Transportation Conformity 
Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is approving the State Implementation Plan (SIP) 
revision submitted by the State of South Carolina on November 19, 2003, 
for the purpose of establishing specific consultation procedures for 
the implementation of transportation conformity requirements. This SIP 
revision also incorporates the State's adoption of the Federal 
transportation conformity regulations verbatim. EPA is not taking 
action on portions of the transportation conformity regulations 
affected by Environmental Defense Fund v. EPA, 167 F.3d 641 (D.C. Cir. 
1999), including sections 102(c)(1), 118(e)(1), 120(a)(2), 121(a)(1), 
and 124(b). 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receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and 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 March 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail to: Matt Laurita, Air 
Quality Modeling and Transportation Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, 
Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 
30303-8960. Comments may also be submitted electronically, or through 
hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions 
described in the direct final rule, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
(sections IV.B.1. through 3.), which is published in the rules section 
of this Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Laurita, Air Quality Modeling and 
Transportation Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics 
Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number 
is (404) 562-9044. Mr. Laurita can also be reached via electronic mail 
at [email protected].

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

    Dated: January 5, 2004.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 04-1819 Filed 1-28-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P