[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4901-4902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2152]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 51, 72, 75, and 96

[FRL-7617-5]


Public Hearings for Rule To Reduce Interstate Transport of Fine 
Particulate Matter and Ozone (Interstate Air Quality Rule) and Proposed 
National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; and, in the 
Alternative, Proposed Standards of Performance for New and Existing 
Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Steam Generating Units

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Announcement of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing three public hearings to be held jointly 
for two related proposals that were published in the Federal Register 
on January 30, 2004. The hearings are for the proposed ``Rule to Reduce 
Interstate Transport of Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone (Interstate 
Air Quality Rule)'' and the ``Proposed National Emission Standards for 
Hazardous Air Pollutants; and, in the Alternative, Proposed Standards 
of Performance for New and Existing Stationary Sources: Electric 
Utility Steam Generating Units,'' which is also known as the proposed 
Utility Mercury Reductions Rule. The hearings will be held concurrently 
in Chicago, Illinois; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

[[Page 4902]]

and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Each hearing will last two 
days and is scheduled for February 25 and 26, 2004. Persons wishing to 
present oral testimony for one or both proposals may speak on either 
day. Details of the facility sites for the hearings and the starting 
and ending times will be provided on the web sites for the rulemakings 
identified under ADDRESSES as soon as the information is available.
    The EPA's proposed Interstate Air Quality Rule would reduce 
emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxides in 29 eastern States 
and the District of Columbia that are significantly contributing to 
fine particulate matter and 8-hour ozone nonattainment problems in 
downwind States. Each State would be required to adopt control measures 
to meet specific statewide emission reduction requirements. The EPA 
believes that the most cost-effective way for States to achieve the 
required reductions would be to regulate utilities under a cap-and-
trade program similar to EPA's highly successful Acid Rain Program. The 
proposed Utility Mercury Reductions Rule provides options that would 
reduce mercury emissions and would set a mandatory, declining cap on 
the total mercury emissions allowed from utilities nationwide. The 
proposal also would reduce nickel emissions from utilities. The EPA is 
coordinating these rulemakings to allow the emissions reductions to be 
achieved in the most cost-effective manner by sources affected by both 
actions.

DATES: The public hearings will be held on February 25 and 26, 2004. 
Please refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on 
the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: The hearings will be held concurrently in Chicago, Illinois; 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
    Written comments on these proposed rules may also be submitted to 
EPA electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or through hand delivery/
courier. Please refer to the proposals for the addresses and detailed 
instructions.
    Documents relevant to this action are available for public 
inspection at the EPA Docket Center, located at 1301 Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Room B102, Washington, DC between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. A reasonable fee may 
be charged for copying. Documents are also available through EPA's 
electronic Docket system at http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
    The EPA Web sites for the rulemakings, which will include 
information about the public hearings, are at http://www.epa.gov/interstateairquality and http://www.epa.gov/mercury.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to speak at the 
public hearings or have questions concerning the public hearings, 
please contact JoAnn Allman at the address given below under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Questions concerning the Interstate Air 
Quality Rule should be addressed to Scott Mathias, U.S. EPA, Office of 
Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Strategies and 
Standards Division (C539-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, 
telephone number (919) 541-5310, e-mail at [email protected]. 
Questions concerning the Utility Mercury Reductions Rule should be 
addressed to William Maxwell, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning 
and Standards, Emission Standards Division, Combustion Group (C439-01), 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone number (919) 541-5430, fax 
number (919) 541-5450, e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Hearings

    The public hearings will provide interested parties the opportunity 
to present data, views, or arguments concerning the proposed rules. The 
EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, but 
will not respond to the presentations at that time. Written statements 
and supporting information submitted during the comment period will be 
considered with the same weight as any oral comments and supporting 
information presented at the public hearings. Written comments must be 
postmarked by the last day of the comment period, as specified in the 
proposals.
    If you would like to present oral testimony at the hearings, please 
notify JoAnn Allman, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and 
Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, C539-02, 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-1815, e-mail 
[email protected] no later than February 20, 2004. She will provide 
you with a specific time and date to speak. Oral testimony will be 
limited to 10 minutes for each commenter to address either or both 
proposals. We will not be providing equipment for commenters to show 
overhead slides or make computerized slide presentations unless we 
receive special requests in advance. Commenters should notify JoAnn 
Allman if they will need specific equipment. The hearing schedules, 
including lists of speakers, will be posted on EPA's Web pages for the 
proposals at http://www.epa.gov/interstateairquality and http://www.epa.gov/mercury prior to the hearing. Verbatim transcripts of the 
hearings and written statements will be included in the rulemaking 
dockets.

How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?

    The EPA has established the official public docket for the 
Interstate Air Quality Rule under Docket ID No. OAR-2003-0053. The EPA 
has established the official public docket for the Utility Mercury 
Reductions Rule under Docket ID No. OAR-2002-0056. The EPA has also 
developed web sites for the proposals at the addresses given above. 
Please refer to the proposals, which were published in the Federal 
Register on January 30, 2004, for detailed information on accessing 
information related to the proposals.

    Dated: January 28, 2004.
Anna B. Duncan,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 04-2152 Filed 1-30-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P