Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for Louisiana: General Conformity Rules

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Proposed rulemaking.

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This action proposes to conditionally approve the Louisiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision that contains regulations for implementing and enforcing the general conformity rules which the EPA promulgated on November 30, 1993 (58 FR 63214). Specifically, the general conformity rules, if approved, will enable the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to review conformity of all Federal actions (see 40 CFR part 51, subpart W--Determining Conformity of General Federal Actions to State or Federal Implementation Plans) with the control strategy SIP's submitted for the nonattainment and maintenance areas. This proposed action would streamline the conformity process and allow direct consultation among agencies at the local levels. The Federal actions by the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit

Administration (under 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act) are covered by the transportation conformity rules under 40 CFR part 51, subpart T--Conformity to State or Federal Implementation Plans of Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects Developed, Funded or Approved Under Title 23 U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Act. The EPA will act on the State's transportation conformity SIP under a separate Federal Register document. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving this General Conformity SIP revision as a direct final rulemaking without prior proposal because the EPA views this action as noncontroversial and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to that direct final rule, no further activity is contemplated in relation to this proposed rule. If the EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in providing comments on this action should do so at this time.

Comments on this proposed rule must be received in writing, postmarked by October 15, 1996. If no adverse comments are received, then the direct final rule will be effective on November 12, 1996.

Comments should be mailed to Mr. Thomas H. Diggs, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PDL) at the address below. Copies of the State's General Conformity SIP and other relevant information are available for inspection during normal business hours at the following locations. Interested persons wanting to examine these documents should make an appointment with the appropriate office at least 24 hours before the visiting day:

Air Planning Section (6PDL), Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202, Telephone: (214) 665-7214. Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Air Quality Division, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, 7290 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810, Telephone: (504) 765-0219.

Mr. J. Behnam, P. E.; Air Planning Section (6PDL), Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75202, Telephone (214) 665-7247.