Adequacy Status of the Submitted 2008 and 2009 8-Hour Ozone Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets for Transportation Conformity Purposes for New Jersey, 41068-41069 [E8-16390]

Download as PDF 41068 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 138 / Thursday, July 17, 2008 / Notices ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [Docket No. EPA–R02–OAR–2008–0497; FRL–8694–3] Adequacy Status of the Submitted 2008 and 2009 8-Hour Ozone Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets for Transportation Conformity Purposes for New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Adequacy. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that we have found that the motor vehicle emissions budgets for NOX and VOC in the submitted reasonable further progress and attainment demonstration state implementation plans for the New Jersey portions of the New YorkNorthern New Jersey-Long Island, NYNJ-CT and Philadelphia-WilmingtonAtlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas to be adequate for transportation conformity purposes. The transportation conformity rule (40 CFR part 93) requires that the EPA conduct a public process and make an affirmative decision on the adequacy of budgets before they can be used by metropolitan planning organizations in conformity determinations. As a result of our finding, the metropolitan planning organizations in New Jersey (the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization) must use the new 2008 and 2009 8-hour ozone budgets for future transportation conformity determinations. DATES: This finding is effective August 1, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Laurita, Air Programs Branch, Environmental Protection Agency— Region 2, 290 Broadway, 25th Floor, New York, New York 10007–1866, (212) 637–3895, laurita.matthew@epa.gov. The finding and the response to comments will be available at EPA’s conformity Web site: https:// www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/ transconf/adequacy.htm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background On October 29, 2007, New Jersey submitted reasonable further progress and attainment demonstration state implementation plans to EPA for both the New York-Northern New JerseyLong Island, NY-NJ-CT (New York), and Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE (Philadelphia), 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas. The purpose of New Jersey’s submittal was to demonstrate New Jersey’s progress toward attaining the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. New Jersey’s submittal included motor vehicle emissions budgets (‘‘budgets’’) for 2008 and 2009 for use by the State’s metropolitan planning organizations in making transportation conformity determinations. On March 19, 2008, the availability of these budgets was posted on EPA’s Web site for the purpose of soliciting public comments. The comment period closed on April 18, 2008, and EPA received no comments. Today’s notice is simply an announcement of a finding that we have already made. EPA Region 2 sent a letter to New Jersey on June 9, 2008. The findings letter states that the 2008 motor vehicle emissions budgets in New Jersey’s SIPs for both the New York and Philadelphia 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas are adequate because they are consistent with the required rate of progress plan. With regard to the 2009 motor vehicle emissions budgets, the findings letter states that these budgets are adequate for transportation conformity purposes because they provide for continued progress toward attainment of the 8hour ozone standard. These budgets serve to strengthen the SIP through continued progress towards attainment and ensure that motor vehicle emissions remain consistent with the emissions levels provided for in the SIP. New Jersey submitted the budgets on October 29, 2007, as part of the reasonable further progress plans and 8-hour ozone attainment demonstrations for the New York and Philadelphia 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas. EPA’s finding will also be announced on EPA’s conformity Web site: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/ stateresources/transconf/adequacy.htm. Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act. EPA’s conformity rule requires that transportation plans, programs, and projects conform to SIPs and establishes the criteria and procedures for determining whether or not they conform. 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 we determine whether a SIP’s motor vehicle emission budgets are adequate for 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 we find a budget adequate, the SIP could later be disapproved. We have described our process for determining the adequacy of submitted SIP budgets in 40 CFR 93.118(f). We have followed this rule in making our adequacy determination. The motor vehicle emissions budgets being found adequate today are listed in Table 1. TABLE 1.—8–HOUR OZONE MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS BUDGETS FOR NEW JERSEY [Tons per day] 2008 Metropolitan Planning Organization NOx mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (excluding Ocean County) .................................. North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (Ocean County only) ........................................... Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission ........................................................................... South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization ....................................................................... VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:03 Jul 16, 2008 Jkt 214001 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 143.60 8.69 69.67 32.93 E:\FR\FM\17JYN1.SGM 17JYN1 2009 VOC 85.38 6.93 27.75 14.14 NOx 133.39 12.65 63.66 29.64 VOC 79.00 6.45 25.98 13.04 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 138 / Thursday, July 17, 2008 / Notices Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401–7671 q. Dated: July 8, 2008. Alan J. Steinberg, Regional Administrator, Region 2. [FR Doc. E8–16390 Filed 7–16–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8694–4] Clean Water Act Section 303(d): Availability of List Decisions Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: This notice announces the availability of EPA’s final action identifying water quality limited segments and associated pollutants in Texas to be listed pursuant to Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d), and request for public comment. Section 303(d) requires that states submit and EPA approve or disapprove lists of waters for which existing technologybased pollution controls are not stringent enough to attain or maintain state water quality standards and for which total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) must be prepared. On July 9, 2008, EPA partially approved, and partially disapproved, Texas’ 2008 303(d) submission. Specifically, EPA approved Texas’ listing of 836 water body-pollutant combinations, and associated priority rankings. EPA disapproved Texas’ decision not to list one (1) water bodypollutant combination. EPA identified this additional water body pollutantcombination along with priority ranking for inclusion on the 2008 Section 303(d) List. EPA is providing the public the opportunity to review its final decision to add one water body pollutantcombination to Texas’ 2008 Section 303(d) List, as required by EPA’s Public Participation regulations (40 CFR Part 25). EPA will consider public comments and if necessary amend its final action on the additional water body pollutantcombination identified for inclusion on Texas’ Final 2008 Section 303(d) List. DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing to EPA on or before August 18, 2008. ADDRESSES: Comments on the decisions should be sent to Diane Smith, Environmental Protection Specialist, Water Quality Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 6, 1445 Ross Ave., Dallas, TX 75202–2733, telephone (214) 665–2145, mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Aug<31>2005 21:03 Jul 16, 2008 Jkt 214001 facsimile (214) 665–7373, or e-mail: smith.diane@epa.gov. Oral comments will not be considered. Copies of the documents which explain the rationale for EPA’s decision and a list of the water quality limited segment for which EPA disapproved Texas’ decision not to list can be obtained at EPA Region 6’s Web site at https://www.epa.gov/region6/ water/npdes/tmdl/index.htm, or by writing or calling Ms. Smith at the above address. Underlying documents from the administrative record for these decisions are available for public inspection at the above address. Please contact Ms. Smith to schedule an inspection. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Smith at (214) 665–2145. Section 303(d) of the CWA requires that each state identify those waters for which existing technology-based pollution controls are not stringent enough to attain or maintain state water quality standards. For those waters, states are required to establish TMDLs according to a priority ranking. EPA’s Water Quality Planning and Management regulations include requirements related to the implementation of Section 303(d) of the CWA (40 CFR 130.7). The regulations require states to identify water quality limited waters still requiring TMDLs every two years. The list of waters still needing TMDLs must also include priority rankings and must identify the waters targeted for TMDL development during the next two years (40 CFR 130.7). Consistent with EPA’s regulations, Texas submitted to EPA its listing decisions under Section 303(d) on April 1, 2008. On July 9, 2008, EPA approved Texas’ listing of 836 water bodypollutant combinations and associated priority rankings. EPA disapproved Texas’ decision not to list one (1) water body-pollutant combination. EPA identified this additional water body pollutant-combination along with priority ranking for inclusion on the 2008 Section 303(d) List. EPA solicits public comment on its identification of one (1) additional water body-pollutant combination for inclusion on Texas’ 2008 Section 303(d) List. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: July 10, 2008. Miguel I. Flores, Director, Water Quality Protection Division, Region 6. [FR Doc. E8–16387 Filed 7–16–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 41069 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8693–8] Amendment to the Guidelines for the Award of Monitoring Initiative Funds under Section 106 Grants to States, Interstate Agencies, and Tribes Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice amends the ‘‘Guidelines for the Award of Monitoring Initiative Funds under Section 106 Grants to States, Interstate Agencies, and Tribes’’ published in the Federal Register (71 FR 157190, March 29, 2006). The guidelines describe the formula necessary for EPA to allot Clean Water Act (CWA) section 106 water pollution control program grant funds that have been targeted in EPA’s appropriation process to support enhanced monitoring efforts by states, interstate agencies, and tribes. These guidelines describe the specific activities that states, interstate agencies, and tribes must carry out under the monitoring initiative in order to receive the funds. These activities will improve state and tribal capacity to monitor and report on water quality, and include two components: Implementation of comprehensive monitoring strategies including building capacity for statescale statistically-valid surveys of water condition, and collaboration on statistically-valid surveys of the nation’s waters. This amendment retains the allotment formula set out in the March 29, 2006, guidelines, and adds a performance-based standard for incorporating use of statistically-valid surveys into state water monitoring programs. The amended guidelines are in this Federal Register notice in their entirety and replace the guidelines published March 29, 2006. DATES: The guidelines are effective on July 17, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Warren, Office of Water, Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds, 4503T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566–1215; e-mail address: warren.joan@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. General Information Regulated Entities: States, interstate agencies, and tribes that are eligible to receive grants under section 106 of the CWA. E:\FR\FM\17JYN1.SGM 17JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 138 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41068-41069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16390]



[[Page 41068]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Docket No. EPA-R02-OAR-2008-0497; FRL-8694-3]


Adequacy Status of the Submitted 2008 and 2009 8-Hour Ozone Motor 
Vehicle Emission Budgets for Transportation Conformity Purposes for New 
Jersey

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Adequacy.

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

SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that we have found 
that the motor vehicle emissions budgets for NOX and VOC in 
the submitted reasonable further progress and attainment demonstration 
state implementation plans for the New Jersey portions of the New York-
Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT and Philadelphia-Wilmington-
Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas to be 
adequate for transportation conformity purposes. The transportation 
conformity rule (40 CFR part 93) requires that the EPA conduct a public 
process and make an affirmative decision on the adequacy of budgets 
before they can be used by metropolitan planning organizations in 
conformity determinations. As a result of our finding, the metropolitan 
planning organizations in New Jersey (the North Jersey Transportation 
Planning Authority, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, 
and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization) must use the 
new 2008 and 2009 8-hour ozone budgets for future transportation 
conformity determinations.

DATES: This finding is effective August 1, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Laurita, Air Programs Branch, 
Environmental Protection Agency--Region 2, 290 Broadway, 25th Floor, 
New York, New York 10007-1866, (212) 637-3895, laurita.matthew@epa.gov.
    The finding and the response to comments will be available at EPA's 
conformity Web site: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/
adequacy.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On October 29, 2007, New Jersey submitted reasonable further 
progress and attainment demonstration state implementation plans to EPA 
for both the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT (New 
York), and Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE 
(Philadelphia), 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas. The purpose of New 
Jersey's submittal was to demonstrate New Jersey's progress toward 
attaining the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. New 
Jersey's submittal included motor vehicle emissions budgets 
(``budgets'') for 2008 and 2009 for use by the State's metropolitan 
planning organizations in making transportation conformity 
determinations. On March 19, 2008, the availability of these budgets 
was posted on EPA's Web site for the purpose of soliciting public 
comments. The comment period closed on April 18, 2008, and EPA received 
no comments.
    Today's notice is simply an announcement of a finding that we have 
already made. EPA Region 2 sent a letter to New Jersey on June 9, 2008. 
The findings letter states that the 2008 motor vehicle emissions 
budgets in New Jersey's SIPs for both the New York and Philadelphia 8-
hour ozone nonattainment areas are adequate because they are consistent 
with the required rate of progress plan. With regard to the 2009 motor 
vehicle emissions budgets, the findings letter states that these 
budgets are adequate for transportation conformity purposes because 
they provide for continued progress toward attainment of the 8-hour 
ozone standard. These budgets serve to strengthen the SIP through 
continued progress towards attainment and ensure that motor vehicle 
emissions remain consistent with the emissions levels provided for in 
the SIP. New Jersey submitted the budgets on October 29, 2007, as part 
of the reasonable further progress plans and 8-hour ozone attainment 
demonstrations for the New York and Philadelphia 8-hour ozone 
nonattainment areas. EPA's finding will also be announced on EPA's 
conformity Web site: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/
adequacy.htm.
    Transportation conformity is required by section 176(c) of the 
Clean Air Act. EPA's conformity rule requires that transportation 
plans, programs, and projects conform to SIPs and establishes the 
criteria and procedures for determining whether or not they conform. 
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 we determine whether a SIP's motor vehicle 
emission budgets are adequate for 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 we find a budget 
adequate, the SIP could later be disapproved.
    We have described our process for determining the adequacy of 
submitted SIP budgets in 40 CFR 93.118(f). We have followed this rule 
in making our adequacy determination. The motor vehicle emissions 
budgets being found adequate today are listed in Table 1.

                      Table 1.--8-Hour Ozone Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets for New Jersey
                                                 [Tons per day]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              2008                  2009
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Metropolitan Planning Organization                      NOx        VOC        NOx        VOC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (excluding Ocean          143.60      85.38     133.39      79.00
 County)............................................................
North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (Ocean County only)..       8.69       6.93      12.65       6.45
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission........................      69.67      27.75      63.66      25.98
South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization...................      32.93      14.14      29.64      13.04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



[[Page 41069]]

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671 q.

    Dated: July 8, 2008.
Alan J. Steinberg,
Regional Administrator, Region 2.
 [FR Doc. E8-16390 Filed 7-16-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.