[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 39039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15397]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Federal Land Managers' Air Quality Related Values Work Group 
(FLAG)

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest 
Service, is announcing the availability of, and accepting comments on, 
the draft FLAG Phase I Report--REVISED.
    The Federal Land Managers' Air Quality Related Values Work Group 
(FLAG) was formed (1) to develop a more consistent and objective 
approach for the Federal Land Managers (FLMs), i.e., National Park 
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Forest Service, to evaluate air pollution effects on their 
air quality related values (AQRVs); and (2) to provide State permitting 
authorities and potential permit applicants consistency on how to 
assess the impacts of new and existing sources on AQRVs. The FLAG 
effort focuses on the effects of the air pollutants that could affect 
the health and status of resources in areas managed by the three 
agencies, primarily such pollutants as ozone, particulate matter, 
nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrates, and sulfates. FLAG formed 
subgroups that concentrated on four issues: (1) Terrestrial effects of 
ozone; (2) aquatic and terrestrial effects of wet and dry pollutant 
deposition; (3) visibility; and (4) process and policy issues. In 
December 2000, after undergoing a public review and comment process 
that included a 90-day public comment period announced in the Federal 
Register and a public meeting, the FLMs published a final Phase I 
report (FLAG 2000), along with an accompanying ``Response to Public 
Comments'' document.
    FLAG 2000 has been a useful tool to the FLMs, State permitting 
authorities, and permit applicants. It was intended to be a working 
document that would be revised as necessary as the FLMs learn more 
about how to better assess the health and status of AQRVs. Based on 
knowledge gained and regulatory developments since FLAG 2000, the FLMs 
believe certain revisions to FLAG 2000 are now appropriate. The draft 
revised report now available for public review and comment (FLAG 2008) 
reflects those changes. The most significant changes proposed in the 
draft FLAG 2008 revision are summarized as follows:
     Adopts similar criteria derived from EPA's 2005 Best 
Available Retrofit Technology (BART) guidelines for the Regional Haze 
Rule to screen out from AQRV review those sources with relatively small 
amounts of emissions located a large distance from a Class I area 
(i.e., Q/D <= 10).
     Utilizes the most recent EPA estimates to determine 
average annual and 20% best natural visibility conditions for Class I 
areas, using the new EPA-approved algorithm.
     Adopts criteria derived from the 2005 BART guidelines that 
utilizes monthly average relative humidity adjustment factors to 
minimize the affects of weather events (i.e., short-term meteorological 
phenomena) on modeled visibility impacts.
     Adopts criteria derived from the 2005 BART guidelines that 
sets a 98th percentile value to screen out roughly seven days of haze-
type visibility impairment per year.
     Includes deposition analysis thresholds and concern 
thresholds for nitrogen and sulfur deposition impacts on vegetation, 
soils, and water.
     Increases transparency and consistency of factors 
considered for adverse impact determinations.
    The agencies are soliciting comments on the merits of adopting the 
EPA BART approach in assessing new source impacts to the federal lands 
that they administer. For example, the agencies are soliciting comments 
on exclusively using monthly relative humidity adjustment factors 
(parallel to Method 6 in the CALPUFF post processor) or also allowing 
an option for the use of short-term average relative humidity 
adjustment factors (parallel to Method 2 in the CALPUFF post processor 
used in FLAG 2000).

DATES: Written comments on the FLAG 2008 draft report must be received 
by September 8, 2008.
    If there is sufficient interest, the FLMs will conduct a public 
meeting to discuss the proposed changes to the FLAG report. Please 
contact John Bunyak at the address below if you would like the FLMs to 
conduct such a public meeting.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the draft FLAG Phase I Report--Revised can be 
obtained from John Bunyak or downloaded from the Internet at: http://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/permits/flag/index.cfm.
    Mail comments to: John Bunyak, Air Resources Division, National 
Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225. E-mail comments 
can be sent to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Bunyak at the above address or by 
calling (303) 969-2818.

    Dated: June 26, 2008.
John Bunyak,
Acting Chief, Air Resources Division.
 [FR Doc. E8-15397 Filed 7-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-25-P