[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25164-25165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10203]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-R10-OAR-2010-1914; FRL-9664-7]


Adequacy Status of the Eagle River, Alaska Particulate Matter 
Limited Maintenance Plan for Transportation Conformity Purposes

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of adequacy determination.

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SUMMARY: In this action, EPA is notifying the public of its finding 
that the Eagle River, Alaska, Particulate Matter (PM10) 
Limited Maintenance Plan, submitted by the State of Alaska on September 
20, 2011, is adequate for conformity purposes. EPA made this finding 
pursuant to the adequacy process established at 40 CFR 93.118(f)(1). As 
a result of our adequacy finding, conformity requirements will be 
reduced.

DATES: This finding is effective May 14, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The finding will be available at EPA's 
conformity Web site: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/adequacy.htm. You may also contact Wayne Elson, U.S. EPA, Region 10 
(OAWT-107), 1200 Sixth Ave, Suite 900, Seattle WA 98101; (206) 553-1463 
or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This action provides notice of EPA's 
adequacy finding regarding the PM10 Limited Maintenance Plan 
for Eagle River, Alaska. EPA's finding was made pursuant to the 
adequacy review process for implementation plan submissions delineated 
at 40 CFR 93.118(f)(1) under which EPA reviews the adequacy of an state 
implementation plan (SIP) submission prior to EPA's final action on the 
implementation plan.
    On September 20, 2011, Alaska Department of Environmental 
Conservation submitted a PM10 maintenance plan revision to 
EPA. Pursuant to 40 CFR 93.118 (f)(1), EPA notified the public of its 
receipt of this plan that would be reviewed for an adequacy 
determination on EPA's Web site and requested public comment by no 
later than February 27, 2012. EPA received no comments on the plan 
during that comment period. As part of our review, we also reviewed 
comments submitted to the Alaska Department of Environmental 
Conservation on the Limited Maintenance Plan during the public hearing 
process. There were no adverse comments submitted during the State 
hearing process regarding the new

[[Page 25165]]

Plan. EPA Region 10 sent a letter to the Alaska Department of 
Environmental Conservation on April 2, 2012, subsequent to the close of 
the comment period stating EPA found the Eagle River PM10 
Limited Maintenance Plan to be adequate for use in transportation 
conformity.
    Because limited maintenance plans do not contain budgets, as 
provided in 40 CFR 93.109(l), the adequacy review period for these 
maintenance plans serves to allow the public to comment on whether 
limited maintenance is appropriate for these areas. As a result of this 
adequacy finding, the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska Department of 
Transportation & Public Facilities, and the U.S. Department of 
Transportation are no longer required to conduct a regional emissions 
analysis for conformity. However, other conformity requirements still 
remain such as consultation (40 CFR 93.112), transportation control 
measures (40 CFR 93.113), and project level analysis (40 CFR 93.116).
    Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the 
Clean Air Act. EPA's conformity rule requires transportation plans, 
programs, and projects to conform to SIPs and establishes the criteria 
and procedures for determining whether or not they do. 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 minimum criteria by which we determine whether a SIP is 
adequate for conformity purposes are specified at 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). 
EPA's analysis of how the state's submission satisfies these criteria 
is found in the Technical Support Document. EPA's adequacy review is 
separate from EPA's SIP completeness review and it also should not be 
used to prejudge EPA's ultimate approval of the SIP. Even if we find 
the SIP adequate for conformity purposes, the SIP could later be 
disapproved.

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

    Dated: April 16, 2012.
Dennis J. McLerran,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 2012-10203 Filed 4-26-12; 8:45 am]
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