[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 50036] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-23915] [[Page 50036]] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 51 [FRL-6437-4] Notice of Proposed Rule Revisions to Emissions Budgets Set Forth in EPA's Finding of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking for Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone for the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Action
Proposed rule.
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Summary
On October 27, 1998, EPA published a final action requiring 22 States and the District of Columbia to submit State implementation plan (SIP) revisions to prohibit specified amounts of emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX)--one of the precursors to ozone (smog) pollution--for the purpose of reducing NOX and ozone transport across State boundaries in the eastern half of the United States. This action is referred to as the NOX SIP Call. Subsequent to that rulemaking, three States, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, approached EPA with concerns about the distribution of the emission reduction requirements to the three States. While the States agreed that the amount of the overall emission reductions that EPA was requiring from the three State region was appropriate, the States had concerns about the specific emission reductions that EPA was requiring from each of the three individual States. In particular, the States were concerned that the emission reduction requirements were inconsistent with the emission reductions that those States were requiring in connection with an existing multi- state effort to reduce NOX and ozone transport across State boundaries in the northeastern portion of the United States. In response to these concerns, EPA and the States of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February 1999. This MOU required EPA to take action to redistribute the NOX emission reduction requirements among the three States. With this rule EPA is proposing to redistribute the total combined electricity generating stationary source (EGU) budget for the three States. Subsequent to the signing of the MOU, EPA took a final action that changed the EGU portion of the budgets for the three States in a Technical Amendment to the NOX SIP Call published on May 14, 1999. EPA is now proposing action to redistribute the States' budgets. The redistribution that EPA is proposing is slightly different than the redistribution stated in the MOU to reflect and remain consistent with the May 14, 1999 changes to the budgets.
Dates
Comments: Written comments must be received by October 5, 1999.
Addresses
Any written comments must be identified with Docket No. A- 99-13, must be identified as comments on the direct final rule and companion proposal and must be submitted in duplicate to: EPA Air Docket (6102), Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. The docket is available for public inspection and copying between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the address given above. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying.
For Further Information Contact
Kathryn Petrillo, Acid Rain Division (6204J) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington DC 20460, telephone number (202) 564-9093; e-mail: petrillo.kathryn@epa.gov.
Supplementary Information
EPA is proposing to redistribute the EGU portions of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island NOX Budgets in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by the three States and EPA in February 1999. In a direct final action that is located in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of today's Federal Register, we are promulgating the revisions to the State budgets of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island without prior proposal because we view the revisions as noncontroversial and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this action in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive no timely adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule. If we receive timely adverse comment, we will withdraw the direct final rule, and the direct final rule will not take effect. We will then address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. For further information, please see the information provided in the direct final action that is located in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of today's Federal Register.
Dated: September 7, 1999. Carol M. Browner, Administrator. [FR Doc. 99-23915 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P