Federal Land Managers' Air Quality Related Values Work Group (FLAG), 39039 [E8-15397]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 131 / Tuesday, July 8, 2008 / Notices Authority: 16 U.S.C. 470 a–1, a–2, d; 36 CFR 73. Lyle Laverty, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. [FR Doc. E8–15402 Filed 7–7–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Federal Land Managers’ Air Quality Related Values Work Group (FLAG) National Park Service, Interior. Notice of availability. AGENCY: ebenthall on PRODPC60 with NOTICES ACTION: SUMMARY: The National Park Service, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, is announcing the availability of, and accepting comments on, the draft FLAG Phase I Report—REVISED. The Federal Land Managers’ Air Quality Related Values Work Group (FLAG) was formed (1) to develop a more consistent and objective approach for the Federal Land Managers (FLMs), i.e., National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, to evaluate air pollution effects on their air quality related values (AQRVs); and (2) to provide State permitting authorities and potential permit applicants consistency on how to assess the impacts of new and existing sources on AQRVs. The FLAG effort focuses on the effects of the air pollutants that could affect the health and status of resources in areas managed by the three agencies, primarily such pollutants as ozone, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrates, and sulfates. FLAG formed subgroups that concentrated on four issues: (1) Terrestrial effects of ozone; (2) aquatic and terrestrial effects of wet and dry pollutant deposition; (3) visibility; and (4) process and policy issues. In December 2000, after undergoing a public review and comment process that included a 90-day public comment period announced in the Federal Register and a public meeting, the FLMs published a final Phase I report (FLAG 2000), along with an accompanying ‘‘Response to Public Comments’’ document. FLAG 2000 has been a useful tool to the FLMs, State permitting authorities, and permit applicants. It was intended to be a working document that would be revised as necessary as the FLMs learn more about how to better assess the health and status of AQRVs. Based on VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:11 Jul 07, 2008 Jkt 214001 knowledge gained and regulatory developments since FLAG 2000, the FLMs believe certain revisions to FLAG 2000 are now appropriate. The draft revised report now available for public review and comment (FLAG 2008) reflects those changes. The most significant changes proposed in the draft FLAG 2008 revision are summarized as follows: • Adopts similar criteria derived from EPA’s 2005 Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) guidelines for the Regional Haze Rule to screen out from AQRV review those sources with relatively small amounts of emissions located a large distance from a Class I area (i.e., Q/D ≤ 10). • Utilizes the most recent EPA estimates to determine average annual and 20% best natural visibility conditions for Class I areas, using the new EPA-approved algorithm. • Adopts criteria derived from the 2005 BART guidelines that utilizes monthly average relative humidity adjustment factors to minimize the affects of weather events (i.e., short-term meteorological phenomena) on modeled visibility impacts. • Adopts criteria derived from the 2005 BART guidelines that sets a 98th percentile value to screen out roughly seven days of haze-type visibility impairment per year. • Includes deposition analysis thresholds and concern thresholds for nitrogen and sulfur deposition impacts on vegetation, soils, and water. • Increases transparency and consistency of factors considered for adverse impact determinations. The agencies are soliciting comments on the merits of adopting the EPA BART approach in assessing new source impacts to the federal lands that they administer. For example, the agencies are soliciting comments on exclusively using monthly relative humidity adjustment factors (parallel to Method 6 in the CALPUFF post processor) or also allowing an option for the use of shortterm average relative humidity adjustment factors (parallel to Method 2 in the CALPUFF post processor used in FLAG 2000). DATES: Written comments on the FLAG 2008 draft report must be received by September 8, 2008. If there is sufficient interest, the FLMs will conduct a public meeting to discuss the proposed changes to the FLAG report. Please contact John Bunyak at the address below if you would like the FLMs to conduct such a public meeting. ADDRESSES: A copy of the draft FLAG Phase I Report—Revised can be obtained from John Bunyak or PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 39039 downloaded from the Internet at: https://www2.nature.nps.gov/air/ permits/flag/index.cfm. Mail comments to: John Bunyak, Air Resources Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225. E-mail comments can be sent to john_bunyak@nps.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Bunyak at the above address or by calling (303) 969–2818. Dated: June 26, 2008. John Bunyak, Acting Chief, Air Resources Division. [FR Doc. E8–15397 Filed 7–7–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–25–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions Nominations for the following properties being considered for listing or related actions in the National Register were received by the National Park Service before June 21, 2008. Pursuant to § 60.13 of 36 CFR Part 60 written comments concerning the significance of these properties under the National Register criteria for evaluation may be forwarded by United States Postal Service, to the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1849 C St., NW., 2280, Washington, DC 20240; by all other carriers, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1201 Eye St., NW., 8th floor, Washington, DC 20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written or faxed comments should be submitted by July 23, 2008. J. Paul Loether, Chief, National Register of Historic Places/ National, Historic Landmarks Program. ARKANSAS Arkansas County Crocketts Bluff Hunting Lodge, End of dirt Rd. N. of pt. at which Hwy. 153 turns S., Crocketts Bluff, 08000723. Miller County Adams, Wallace, Service Station (Historic Buildings of Texarkana, Arkansas, MPS), 523 E. 23rd St., Texarkana, 08000726. Cotton Belt Railroad Office Building, (Historic Buildings of Texarkana, Arkansas, MPS), 312 E. Broad St., Texarkana, 08000727. East Broad Street Historic District (Historic Buildings of Texarkana, Arkansas, MPS), 100 block E. Broad St., Texarkana, 08000729. E:\FR\FM\08JYN1.SGM 08JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 8, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 39039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15397]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Federal Land Managers' Air Quality Related Values Work Group 
(FLAG)

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Park Service, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest 
Service, is announcing the availability of, and accepting comments on, 
the draft FLAG Phase I Report--REVISED.
    The Federal Land Managers' Air Quality Related Values Work Group 
(FLAG) was formed (1) to develop a more consistent and objective 
approach for the Federal Land Managers (FLMs), i.e., National Park 
Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Department of 
Agriculture Forest Service, to evaluate air pollution effects on their 
air quality related values (AQRVs); and (2) to provide State permitting 
authorities and potential permit applicants consistency on how to 
assess the impacts of new and existing sources on AQRVs. The FLAG 
effort focuses on the effects of the air pollutants that could affect 
the health and status of resources in areas managed by the three 
agencies, primarily such pollutants as ozone, particulate matter, 
nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrates, and sulfates. FLAG formed 
subgroups that concentrated on four issues: (1) Terrestrial effects of 
ozone; (2) aquatic and terrestrial effects of wet and dry pollutant 
deposition; (3) visibility; and (4) process and policy issues. In 
December 2000, after undergoing a public review and comment process 
that included a 90-day public comment period announced in the Federal 
Register and a public meeting, the FLMs published a final Phase I 
report (FLAG 2000), along with an accompanying ``Response to Public 
Comments'' document.
    FLAG 2000 has been a useful tool to the FLMs, State permitting 
authorities, and permit applicants. It was intended to be a working 
document that would be revised as necessary as the FLMs learn more 
about how to better assess the health and status of AQRVs. Based on 
knowledge gained and regulatory developments since FLAG 2000, the FLMs 
believe certain revisions to FLAG 2000 are now appropriate. The draft 
revised report now available for public review and comment (FLAG 2008) 
reflects those changes. The most significant changes proposed in the 
draft FLAG 2008 revision are summarized as follows:
     Adopts similar criteria derived from EPA's 2005 Best 
Available Retrofit Technology (BART) guidelines for the Regional Haze 
Rule to screen out from AQRV review those sources with relatively small 
amounts of emissions located a large distance from a Class I area 
(i.e., Q/D <= 10).
     Utilizes the most recent EPA estimates to determine 
average annual and 20% best natural visibility conditions for Class I 
areas, using the new EPA-approved algorithm.
     Adopts criteria derived from the 2005 BART guidelines that 
utilizes monthly average relative humidity adjustment factors to 
minimize the affects of weather events (i.e., short-term meteorological 
phenomena) on modeled visibility impacts.
     Adopts criteria derived from the 2005 BART guidelines that 
sets a 98th percentile value to screen out roughly seven days of haze-
type visibility impairment per year.
     Includes deposition analysis thresholds and concern 
thresholds for nitrogen and sulfur deposition impacts on vegetation, 
soils, and water.
     Increases transparency and consistency of factors 
considered for adverse impact determinations.
    The agencies are soliciting comments on the merits of adopting the 
EPA BART approach in assessing new source impacts to the federal lands 
that they administer. For example, the agencies are soliciting comments 
on exclusively using monthly relative humidity adjustment factors 
(parallel to Method 6 in the CALPUFF post processor) or also allowing 
an option for the use of short-term average relative humidity 
adjustment factors (parallel to Method 2 in the CALPUFF post processor 
used in FLAG 2000).

DATES: Written comments on the FLAG 2008 draft report must be received 
by September 8, 2008.
    If there is sufficient interest, the FLMs will conduct a public 
meeting to discuss the proposed changes to the FLAG report. Please 
contact John Bunyak at the address below if you would like the FLMs to 
conduct such a public meeting.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the draft FLAG Phase I Report--Revised can be 
obtained from John Bunyak or downloaded from the Internet at: https://
www2.nature.nps.gov/air/permits/flag/index.cfm.
    Mail comments to: John Bunyak, Air Resources Division, National 
Park Service, P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225. E-mail comments 
can be sent to john_bunyak@nps.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Bunyak at the above address or by 
calling (303) 969-2818.

    Dated: June 26, 2008.
John Bunyak,
Acting Chief, Air Resources Division.
 [FR Doc. E8-15397 Filed 7-7-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4312-25-P
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