80 FR 44320 - Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans for the State of Alabama: Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 143 (July 27, 2015)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the State of Alabama's March 27, 2015, State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision, submitted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. This SIP revision provides Alabama's state- determined allowance allocations for existing electric generating units (EGUs) in the State for the 2016 control periods and replaces the allowance allocations for the 2016 control periods established by EPA under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). The CSAPR addresses the ``good neighbor'' provision of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) that requires states to reduce the transport of pollution that significantly affects downwind nonattainment and maintenance areas. EPA is proposing to approve Alabama's SIP revision, incorporate the state-determined allocations for the 2016 control periods into the SIP, and amend the regulatory text of the CSAPR Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to reflect approval and inclusion of the state-determined allocations. EPA is proposing to approve Alabama's SIP revision because it meets the requirements of the CAA and the CSAPR requirements to replace EPA's allowance allocations for the 2016 control periods. This action is being taken pursuant to the CAA and its implementing regulations. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's implementation plan revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 143 (Monday, July 27, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44320-44321]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18218]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[EPA-R04-OAR-2015-0313; FRL-9931-25-Region 4]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans for the State 
of Alabama: Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to 
approve the State of Alabama's March 27, 2015, State Implementation 
Plan (SIP) revision, submitted by the Alabama Department of 
Environmental Management. This SIP revision provides Alabama's state-
determined allowance allocations for existing electric generating units 
(EGUs) in the State for the 2016 control periods and replaces the 
allowance allocations for the 2016 control periods established by EPA 
under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). The CSAPR addresses 
the ``good neighbor'' provision of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) that 
requires states to reduce the transport of pollution that significantly 
affects downwind nonattainment and maintenance areas. EPA is proposing 
to approve Alabama's SIP revision, incorporate the state-determined 
allocations for the 2016 control periods into the SIP, and amend the 
regulatory text of the CSAPR Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to 
reflect approval and inclusion of the state-determined allocations. EPA 
is proposing to approve Alabama's SIP revision because it meets the 
requirements of the CAA and the CSAPR requirements to replace EPA's 
allowance allocations for the 2016 control periods. This action is 
being taken pursuant to the CAA and its implementing regulations. In 
the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the 
State's implementation plan revision as a direct final rule without 
prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial 
submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for 
the approval is set forth in the direct final rule.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before August 26, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-
OAR-2015-0313, 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-2015-0313,'' Air Regulatory Management 
Section (formerly Regulatory Development Section), Air Planning and 
Implementation Branch (formerly 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: Ms. Lynorae Benjamin, Chief, Air 
Regulatory Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation 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 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
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: Twunjala Bradley, Air Regulatory 
Management Section, Air Planning and Implementation Branch, Air, 
Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S.

[[Page 44321]]

Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., 
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Ms. Twunjala Bradley can be reached by 
phone at (404) 562-9352 or via electronic mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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 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 this document 
should do so at this time.

    Dated: July 15, 2015.
Heather McTeer Toney,
Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. 2015-18218 Filed 7-24-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P