[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 27, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66125-66126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27211]


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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 of final report.

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SUMMARY: On July 8, 2008 (FR39039), the National Park Service, in 
cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture Forest Service, announced the availability 
of, and solicited comments on, the draft FLAG Phase I Report--REVISED. 
The purpose of this notice is to announce the availability of the final 
revised FLAG report, and the accompanying Response to Public Comments 
document.
    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 (the Agencies), 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 final 
revised report reflects those changes.
    During the 60-day public comment period on the draft report, the 
Agencies received 22 comment letters from various constituencies (e.g., 
State air regulatory agencies, concerned citizens, environmental 
groups, industry representatives, Tribal representatives). These 
commenters raised specific concerns, and many supported the proposed 
revisions in general and thought that the changes were warranted and 
helpful. The Agencies considered all comments received and revised the 
draft FLAG report accordingly. The Agencies also prepared an 
accompanying ``Response to Public Comments'' document that discusses 
the public comments and provides the Agencies' rationale for accepting 
or rejecting the comment. The Agencies did not make any major technical 
or policy changes from the draft revised report. However, we made some 
editorial changes and inserted clarifying language as a result of 
comments received, and reformatted the report to make it more reader 
friendly.

[[Page 66126]]


ADDRESSES: A copy of the final FLAG Phase I Report--REVISED and the 
accompanying Response to Public Comments document can be downloaded 
from the Internet at: http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/permits/flag/index.cfm.
    A copy can also be obtained from John Bunyak, Air Resources 
Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 
80225; e-mail: [email protected].

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

    Dated: September 8, 2010.
Thomas L. Strickland,
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of the 
Interior.
[FR Doc. 2010-27211 Filed 10-26-10; 8:45 am]
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