82 FR 27063 - Proposed Settlement Agreement, Clean Air Act Petition for Review; Reopening of Comment Period

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 112 (June 13, 2017)

EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017, soliciting comments on the proposed settlement agreement in Sierra Club v. EPA, No. 16-1158 (D.C. Cir.). The proposed settlement agreement would resolve Sierra Club's lawsuit challenging EPA's final action titled ``Revisions to Ambient Monitoring Quality Assurance and Other Requirements'' upon EPA's sending of two nonbinding guidance documents (described in the proposed settlement agreement) recommending public notification practices concerning the submission and approval of ambient air monitoring network plans. The comment period on the proposed settlement agreement closed on February 21, 2017. EPA received two requests to review and comment on the draft guidance before issuance. The draft guidance documents are now available and will be placed in the docket. This document reopens the comment period on the proposed settlement agreement for 30 days from June 13, 2017 to July 13, 2017. EPA is soliciting comment on whether EPA should proceed to finalize the settlement.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 112 (Tuesday, June 13, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 27063]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12237]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OGC-2017-0030; FRL-9962-52-OGC]


Proposed Settlement Agreement, Clean Air Act Petition for Review; 
Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: EPA issued a notice in the Federal Register on January 19, 
2017, soliciting comments on the proposed settlement agreement in 
Sierra Club v. EPA, No. 16-1158 (D.C. Cir.). The proposed settlement 
agreement would resolve Sierra Club's lawsuit challenging EPA's final 
action titled ``Revisions to Ambient Monitoring Quality Assurance and 
Other Requirements'' upon EPA's sending of two nonbinding guidance 
documents (described in the proposed settlement agreement) recommending 
public notification practices concerning the submission and approval of 
ambient air monitoring network plans. The comment period on the 
proposed settlement agreement closed on February 21, 2017. EPA received 
two requests to review and comment on the draft guidance before 
issuance. The draft guidance documents are now available and will be 
placed in the docket. This document reopens the comment period on the 
proposed settlement agreement for 30 days from June 13, 2017 to July 
13, 2017. EPA is soliciting comment on whether EPA should proceed to 
finalize the settlement.

DATES: Written comments on the proposed settlement agreement must be 
received by July 13, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions provided under ADDRESSES in 
the Federal Register document of January 19, 2017 (82 FR 6532) (EPA-HQ-
OGC-2017-0030; FRL-9958-55-OGC).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Skinner-Thompson, Air and 
Radiation Law Office (2344A), Office of General Counsel, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 564-0291; fax number (202) 564-
5603; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document reopens the public comment 
period established in the Federal Register document of January 19, 
2017. In that document, EPA announced a 30-day public review period 
soliciting comments on the proposed settlement agreement in Sierra Club 
v. EPA, No. 16-1158 (D.C. Cir.). The proposed settlement agreement 
would resolve Sierra Club's lawsuit challenging EPA's final action 
titled ``Revisions to Ambient Monitoring Quality Assurance and Other 
Requirements'' upon EPA's issuance of two nonbinding guidance documents 
recommending public notification practices concerning the submission 
and approval of ambient air monitoring network plans. As described in 
paragraph 2 of the proposed settlement agreement, one guidance document 
would be sent to state and local monitoring agencies recommending that 
air agencies make proposed network plans available on a state Web site 
and notify interested parties of plan availability for public comment. 
EPA would also request that states confirm in a submitted plan the 
timing and form of notice given. The guidance would explicitly be a 
nonbinding recommendation. As described in paragraph 3 of the proposed 
settlement agreement, the second guidance document would be sent to EPA 
regional offices, requesting that regions notify interested parties 
within 15 business days of EPA action on a network plan and that 
approved network plans be uploaded to EPA Web site within 15 business 
days of approval. EPA received two requests from state agencies to 
review and comment on the draft guidance before issuance. The draft 
guidance documents are now available to consider in commenting on the 
proposed settlement agreement and will be placed in the official docket 
for this action under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OGC-2017-0030. EPA is hereby 
reopening the comment period on the proposed settlement agreement for 
30 days from June 13, 2017 to July 13, 2017. EPA is soliciting comment 
on whether EPA should proceed to finalize the settlement.
    To submit comments, or access the docket, please follow the 
detailed instructions provided under ADDRESSES in the Federal Register 
document of January 19, 2017. If you have questions, consult the person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: May 3, 2017.
Lorie J. Schmidt,
Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2017-12237 Filed 6-12-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P