[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 198 (Friday, October 12, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 62200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25188]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R04-OAR-2010-0019(b); FRL-9741-1]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina 
Portion of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South 
Carolina 1997 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area; Reasonable Further 
Progress Plan

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is proposing to approve state implementation plan 
revisions, submitted by the North Carolina Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources, on June 15, 2007, and November 30, 2009, to 
address the reasonable further progress (RFP) plan requirements for the 
1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for 
the North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill 
1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, 
North Carolina-South Carolina 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area 
(hereafter referred to as the ``bi-state Charlotte Area'') is comprised 
of Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and a portion 
of Iredell (Davidson and Coddle Creek Townships) Counties in North 
Carolina; and a portion of York County in South Carolina. EPA is also 
providing the status of its adequacy determination for the motor 
vehicle emissions budgets (MVEB) for volatile organic compounds and 
nitrogen oxides that were included in North Carolina's RFP plan. 
Further, EPA is proposing to approve these MVEB. This proposed action 
is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act. EPA will 
take action on South Carolina's RFP plan for its portion of the bi-
state Charlotte Area, in a separate action. In the Final Rules Section 
of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's implementation 
plan revisions as a direct final rule without prior proposal because 
the Agency views these submittals as noncontroversial and anticipates 
no adverse comments.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before November 13, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2010-0019 by one of the following methods:
    1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
    2. Email: [email protected].
    3. Fax: (404) 562-9019.
    4. Mail: ``EPA-R04-OAR-2010-0019,'' Regulatory Development Section, 
Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960.
    5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Lynorae Benjamin, Chief, Regulatory 
Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics 
Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 
Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Such deliveries are 
only accepted during the Regional Office's normal hours of operation. 
The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through 
Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding federal holidays.
Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules section 
of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to submit 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sara Waterson, Regulatory Development 
Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management 
Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth 
Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. The telephone number is (404) 
562-9061. Ms. Waterson can be reached via electronic mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 12, 2008, EPA issued a revised 
ozone NAAQS. See 73 FR 16436. The current action, however, is being 
taken to address requirements under the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. 
Requirements for the North Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte 
Area under the 2008 ozone NAAQS will be addressed in the future. For 
additional information see the direct final rule which is published in 
the Rules Section of this Federal Register. A detailed rationale for 
the approval of the RFP plan requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone 
NAAQS is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are 
received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. 
If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be 
withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a 
subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not 
institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties 
interested in commenting on the matters being proposed for approval 
into the North Carolina SIP today should do so at this time.

    Dated: October 2, 2012.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2012-25188 Filed 10-11-12; 8:45 am]
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