[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 42 (Friday, March 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 10614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4274]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Docket : R10-OAR-2005-OR-0001; FRL-7880-8]


Adequacy Status of the Portland, OR Carbon Monoxide Maintenance 
Plan for Transportation Conformity Purposes

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of adequacy.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that we have found 
the Second Portland Area Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan adequate for 
transportation conformity purposes. On March 2, 1999, the DC Circuit 
Court ruled that submitted State Implementation Plans (SIPs) cannot be 
used for conformity determinations until EPA has found them adequate. 
This affects future transportation conformity determinations prepared, 
reviewed and approved by the Portland Metro, Oregon Department of 
Transportation, Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit 
Administration.

DATES: This finding is effective March 21, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The finding is available at EPA's 
conformity Web site: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/transp.htm, (once there, 
click on the ``Transportation Conformity'' button, then look for 
``Adequacy Review of SIP Submissions''). You may also contact Wayne 
Elson, U.S. EPA, Region 10, Office of Air, Waste, and Toxics (AWT-107), 
1200 Sixth Ave, Seattle WA 98101; (206) 553-1463 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Today's notice is simply an announcement of a finding that we have 
already made. EPA Region 10 sent a letter to the Washington Department 
of Ecology dated February 15, 2005, stating that the SIP is adequate 
for transportation conformity purposes.
    Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the 
Clean Air Act. EPA's conformity rule requires that transportation 
plans, programs, and projects conform to SIPs. Conformity to a SIP 
means that transportation activities will not produce new air quality 
violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of 
the national ambient air quality standards.
    The criteria by which we determine whether a SIP is adequate for 
conformity purposes are outlined in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). Please note 
that an adequacy review is separate from EPA's completeness review and 
it also should not be used to prejudge our ultimate approval of the 
SIP. Even if we find a SIP adequate for conformity, the SIP could later 
be disapproved. For the reader's ease, the motor vehicle emission 
budget included in the Maintenance Plan in pounds per winter time day 
of carbon monoxide is: 1,238,575 in 2005; 1,033,578 in 2010; and 
1,181,341 in 2017.
    We have described our process for determining the adequacy in SIPs 
in guidance dated May 14, 1999. This guidance in now is reflected in 
the amended transportation conformity rule, July 1, 2004 (69 FR 40004). 
We followed this process in making our adequacy determination.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

    Dated: February 18, 2005.
Michael F. Gearheard,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 05-4274 Filed 3-3-05; 8:45 am]
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