Adequacy Status of the Birmingham, AL 8-hour Ozone Redesignation and Maintenance Demonstration for Transportation Conformity Purposes, 9332 [E6-2575]

Download as PDF 9332 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 36 / Thursday, February 23, 2006 / Notices production, storage, and fuel cell technologies that will be required for the initial transition to the hydrogen economy. R&D of manufacturing processes will play a pivotal role in reducing cost of hydrogen technologies and in building the supplier base needed to move the U.S. toward a clean and sustainable energy future. Based on the results of a July 2005 workshop, the roadmap consolidates recommendations of hydrogen and fuel cell experts from industry, universities, and national laboratories. Led by the DOE and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the workshop and roadmap are the result of a collaboration of the Interagency Working Group on Manufacturing R&D established through the President’s National Science and Technology Council. See the press release from Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman at https://www.energy.gov/print/3098.htm. The roadmap is posted on the Internet at the Web site identified in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The goal of the DOE Hydrogen Program is to develop the technology needed for commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells by 2015. Through public-private partnerships, the DOE is working to reduce the cost and enhance the durability of hydrogen technologies to enable industry to put fuel cell vehicles in the showroom and provide hydrogen at refueling stations by 2020. For more information about the DOE Hydrogen Program, visit https:// www.hydrogen.energy.gov. Issued in Washington, DC, on February 17, 2006. Douglas L. Faulkner, Acting Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. [FR Doc. 06–1704 Filed 2–22–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–R04–OAR–2005–AL–0003–200604; FRL–8036–2 ] Adequacy Status of the Birmingham, AL 8-hour Ozone Redesignation and Maintenance Demonstration for Transportation Conformity Purposes Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of adequacy. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES AGENCY: Alabama 8-hour ozone redesignation and maintenance demonstration, dated January 27, 2006, by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. On March 2, 1999, the D.C. Circuit Court ruled that submitted State Implementation Plans (SIPs) cannot be used for transportation conformity determinations until EPA has affirmatively found them adequate. As a result of EPA’s finding, the Birmingham area can use the MVEBs from the submitted Birmingham, Alabama 8-hour ozone maintenance plan for future conformity determinations. DATES: These MVEBs are effective March 10, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanetta Wood, Environmental Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Air Planning Branch, Air Quality Modeling and Transportation Section, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Ms. Wood can also be reached by telephone at (404) 562–9025, or via electronic mail at wood.amanetta@epa.gov. The finding is available at EPA’s conformity Web site: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/ transp.htm (once there, click on the ‘‘Transportation Conformity’’ text icon, then look for ‘‘Adequacy Review of SIP Submissions’’). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Today’s notice is simply an announcement of a finding that EPA has already made. EPA Region 4 sent a letter to ADEM on February 2, 2006, stating that the MVEBs in the submitted Birmingham, Alabama 8-hour ozone maintenance plan, dated January 27, 2006, are adequate. The Birmingham, Alabama 8-hour ozone maintenance area is comprised of Jefferson and Shelby Counties. EPA’s adequacy comment period ran from November 17, 2005, through December 19, 2005. During EPA’s adequacy comment period no adverse comments were received. This finding has also been announced on EPA’s conformity Web site: https:// www.epa.gov/otaq/transp/conform/ adequacy.htm, (once there, look for ‘‘What SIP submissions are currently under EPA Adequacy Review?’’). The adequate MVEBs are provided in the following table: Jkt 205001 2017 NOX .............................................. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: February 13, 2006. A. Stanley Meiburg, Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4. [FR Doc. E6–2575 Filed 2–22–06; 8:45 am] [Tons per day] 2017 VOC .............................................. PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 42 Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990. EPA’s conformity rule requires that transportation plans, programs and projects conform to state air quality implementation plans and establishes the criteria and procedures for determining whether or not they do. Conformity to a SIP means that transportation activities will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. The criteria by which EPA determines whether a SIP’s MVEBs are adequate for transportation conformity purposes are outlined in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). Please note that an adequacy review is separate from EPA’s completeness review, and it also should not be used to prejudge EPA’s ultimate approval of the SIP. Even if EPA finds the MVEBs adequate, the Agency may later determine that the SIP itself is not approvable. EPA has described the process for determining the adequacy of submitted SIP budgets in guidance (May 14, 1999, memorandum entitled ‘‘Conformity Guidance on Implementation of March 2, 1999, Conformity Court Decision’’). EPA has followed this guidance in making this adequacy determination. This guidance is incorporated into EPA’s July 1, 2004, final rulemaking entitled, ‘‘ Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments for the New 8-hour Ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing Areas; Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments: Response to Court Decision and Additional Rule Changes’’ (69 FR 40004). BILLING CODE 6560–50–P In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that EPA has found that the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEBs) in the Birmingham, 16:15 Feb 22, 2006 [Tons per day] BIRMINGHAM AREA MVEBS SUMMARY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 BIRMINGHAM AREA MVEBS— Continued 23 E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM 23FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 9332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2575]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-R04-OAR-2005-AL-0003-200604; FRL-8036-2 ]


Adequacy Status of the Birmingham, AL 8-hour Ozone Redesignation 
and Maintenance Demonstration for Transportation Conformity Purposes

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of adequacy.

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SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that EPA has found 
that the Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets (MVEBs) in the Birmingham, 
Alabama 8-hour ozone redesignation and maintenance demonstration, dated 
January 27, 2006, by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management 
(ADEM), are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. On March 
2, 1999, the D.C. Circuit Court ruled that submitted State 
Implementation Plans (SIPs) cannot be used for transportation 
conformity determinations until EPA has affirmatively found them 
adequate. As a result of EPA's finding, the Birmingham area can use the 
MVEBs from the submitted Birmingham, Alabama 8-hour ozone maintenance 
plan for future conformity determinations.

DATES: These MVEBs are effective March 10, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amanetta Wood, Environmental 
Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Air Planning 
Branch, Air Quality Modeling and Transportation Section, 61 Forsyth 
Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Ms. Wood can also be reached by 
telephone at (404) 562-9025, or via electronic mail at 
wood.amanetta@epa.gov. The finding is available at EPA's conformity Web 
site: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/transp.htm (once there, click on the 
``Transportation Conformity'' text icon, then look for ``Adequacy 
Review of SIP Submissions'').

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Today's notice is simply an announcement of a finding that EPA has 
already made. EPA Region 4 sent a letter to ADEM on February 2, 2006, 
stating that the MVEBs in the submitted Birmingham, Alabama 8-hour 
ozone maintenance plan, dated January 27, 2006, are adequate. The 
Birmingham, Alabama 8-hour ozone maintenance area is comprised of 
Jefferson and Shelby Counties. EPA's adequacy comment period ran from 
November 17, 2005, through December 19, 2005. During EPA's adequacy 
comment period no adverse comments were received. This finding has also 
been announced on EPA's conformity Web site: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/
transp/conform/adequacy.htm, (once there, look for ``What SIP 
submissions are currently under EPA Adequacy Review?''). The adequate 
MVEBs are provided in the following table:

                          Birmingham Area MVEBs
                             [Tons per day]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VOC..........................................................         23
NOX..........................................................         42
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the 
Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990. EPA's conformity rule requires that 
transportation plans, programs and projects conform to state air 
quality implementation plans and establishes the criteria and 
procedures for determining whether or not they do. Conformity to a SIP 
means that transportation activities will not produce new air quality 
violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of 
the national ambient air quality standards.
    The criteria by which EPA determines whether a SIP's MVEBs are 
adequate for transportation conformity purposes are outlined in 40 CFR 
93.118(e)(4). Please note that an adequacy review is separate from 
EPA's completeness review, and it also should not be used to prejudge 
EPA's ultimate approval of the SIP. Even if EPA finds the MVEBs 
adequate, the Agency may later determine that the SIP itself is not 
approvable.
    EPA has described the process for determining the adequacy of 
submitted SIP budgets in guidance (May 14, 1999, memorandum entitled 
``Conformity Guidance on Implementation of March 2, 1999, Conformity 
Court Decision''). EPA has followed this guidance in making this 
adequacy determination. This guidance is incorporated into EPA's July 
1, 2004, final rulemaking entitled, `` Transportation Conformity Rule 
Amendments for the New 8-hour Ozone and PM2.5 National 
Ambient Air Quality Standards and Miscellaneous Revisions for Existing 
Areas; Transportation Conformity Rule Amendments: Response to Court 
Decision and Additional Rule Changes'' (69 FR 40004).

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

    Dated: February 13, 2006.
A. Stanley Meiburg,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.
[FR Doc. E6-2575 Filed 2-22-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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