Environmental Protection Agency
- [FRL-6875-1]
AGENCY:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION:
Notice of Informal Public Meetings.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this notice is to announce that EPA will hold informal public meetings to receive comments on the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) recommendations regarding the development of an air quality policy on agricultural burning, and on a voluntary (incentive based) control measures policy to address reasonably available control measures (RACM) / best available control measures (BACM) requirements for particulate matter (PM) nonattainment areas. The meetings are open to the public and will be transcribed.
Informal public meetings are scheduled for 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Spokane, Washington on September 27, 2000 at the Ramada Inn, Spokane International Airport, 8909 Airport Road; in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 12, 2000 at Langston University, Oklahoma City Center, 4205 North Lincoln Boulevard; and in New Iberia, Louisiana on October 18, 2000 at the Holiday Inn, 2915 Highway 14.
The EPA is seeking public comment at these meetings on both sets of AAQTF recommendations as it begins to develop policies to address the air quality impacts of agricultural burning, and the use of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's incentive based programs/practices in meeting RACM/BACM requirements. The format of the informal public meetings will be as follows: opening remarks by EPA staff regarding the recommendations, the purpose of the informal public meeting, time for the public to make verbal comments, and time for EPA to answer clarifying questions. These informal public meetings will be limited to comments relevant to the agricultural burning recommendations and the voluntary measures recommendations. The EPA will not offer its evaluation nor engage in debate on the issues during these meetings.
Members of the public who are interested in presenting comments relative to the recommendations should, if possible, notify the EPA official ( printed page 57188) named below, 5 working days prior to the meeting. Members of the public may also request to present comment by using a sign-up sheet which will be available at the meetings. Time allotted for comments by members of the public will be determined based upon the number of requests received and will be announced at the beginning of the meetings. The order for public comments will be determined on a first received—first to speak basis.
Requests for the opportunity to present comment can be made by contacting Gary Blais between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. (EST) at 919-541-3223 Monday-Friday. Persons planning to attend any of these informal public meetings are urged to contact the above EPA representative 2 to 3 working days prior to the meeting to be advised of any changes that may have occurred.
To obtain copies of the agricultural burning recommendations or the voluntary measures recommendations via the Internet, use the following address: https://www.nhq.nrcs.usda.gov/faca/aaqtf.html.
DATES:
Written comments, identified by Docket No. A-2000-22, must be received by EPA no later than 60 days from the date of publication of the notice announcing the availability of the AAQTF recommendations previously published in the Federal Register on September 18, 2000. To obtain this notice via the Internet go directly to the Federal Register listings at https://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
ADDRESSES:
Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gary Blais or Robin Dunkins, Integrated Policy and Strategies Group, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone numbers: 919-541-3223 or 919-541-5335; e-mail addresses: blais.gary@epa.gov or dunkins.robin @epa.gov.