EPA Responses to State and Tribal 2008 Ozone Designation Recommendations: Notice of Availability and Public Comment Period, 78872-78874 [2011-32557]

Download as PDF 78872 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 20, 2011 / Proposed Rules planned. For further information, please see the direct final action. Dated: November 18, 2011. Jared Blumenfeld, Regional Administrator, Region IX. [FR Doc. 2011–32476 Filed 12–19–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 63 [EPA–HQ–OAR–2010–1042; FRL–9609–1] RIN 2060–AQ90 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public hearings and extension of public comment period. AGENCY: The EPA published in the Federal Register on November 25, 2011, the proposed rules, ‘‘National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Mineral Wool Production and Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing.’’ The EPA was asked to hold a public hearing only on the wool fiberglass rule. Therefore, EPA is making two announcements: first, a public hearing for the proposed Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing rule will be held on January 4, 2012 in Kansas City Kansas, and second, the comment period for the Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing proposed rules will be extended until February 3, 2012. DATES: The public hearing will be held on January 4, 2012. Comments must be received by February 3, 2012. ADDRESSES: The public hearing to be held on January 4, 2012, will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Minnesota Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas 66101; telephone: (913) 342–7900. The public hearing will convene at 2 p.m. and will continue until 8 p.m. A dinner break is scheduled from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. The EPA will make every effort to accommodate all speakers that arrive and register before 8 p.m. The EPA’s Web site for the rulemaking, which includes the proposal and information about the hearings, can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/ rrisk/rtrpg.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to present oral testimony at the public hearing, please contact Ms. Pamela Garrett, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Sector Policies pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS-1 SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:50 Dec 19, 2011 Jkt 226001 and Programs Division (D243–01), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone: (919) 541–7966; fax number: (919) 541–5450; email address: garrett.pamela@epa.gov (preferred method for registering). The last day to register to present oral testimony in advance will be Friday, December 30, 2011. If using email, please provide the following information: the time you wish to speak (afternoon or evening), name, affiliation, address, email address and telephone and fax numbers. Time slot preferences will be given in the order requests are received. Requests to speak will be taken the day of each of the hearings at the hearing registration desk, although preferences on speaking times may not be able to be fulfilled. If you will require the service of a translator, please let us know at the time of registration. Questions concerning the November 25, 2011, proposed rule should be addressed to Susan Fairchild, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Sector Policies and Programs Division (D 243–04), Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711; telephone number: (919) 541–5167; facsimile number: (919) 541–3207; email address: Fairchild.susan@epa.gov. Public hearing: The proposal for which the EPA is holding the public hearing was published in the Federal Register on November 25, 2011, and is available at: https://www.epa.gov/ttn/ atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html and also in the docket identified below. The public hearing will provide interested parties the opportunity to present oral comments regarding the EPA’s proposed standards, including data, views or arguments concerning the proposal. The EPA may ask clarifying questions during the oral presentations, but will not respond to the presentations at that time. Written statements and supporting information submitted during the comment period will be considered with the same weight as any oral comments and supporting information presented at the public hearing. Commenters should notify Ms. Garrett if they will need specific equipment or if there are other special needs related to providing comments at the public hearing. The EPA will provide equipment for commenters to make computerized slide presentations if we receive special requests in advance. Oral testimony will be limited to 5 minutes for each commenter. The EPA encourages commenters to bring a copy of their oral testimony along with any other information supporting their statements in electronic (via email or CD) or in hard copy form. A recorder PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 will be present during the public hearing to record oral statements. All information submitted to the EPA during the public hearing and a transcribed copy of the oral statements will be entered into the docket. The public hearing schedule, including lists of speakers, will be posted on the EPA’s Web site at https:// www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/rrisk/rtrpg.html. Verbatim transcripts of the hearing and written statements will be included in the docket for the rulemaking. The EPA will make every effort to follow the schedule as closely as possible on the day of the hearing; however, please plan for the hearing to run either ahead of schedule or behind schedule. How can I get copies of this document and other related information? The EPA has established a docket for the proposed rule, ‘‘National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Wool Fiberglass Manufacturing Risk and Technology Review,’’ under No. EPA– HQ–OAR–2010–1042, available at www.regulations.gov. List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 63 Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure, Air pollution control, Hazardous substances, Intergovernmental relations, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. Dated: December 15, 2011. Mary E. Henigin, Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. [FR Doc. 2011–32630 Filed 12–19–11; 8:45 a.m.] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 81 [EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0476; FRL– 9608–6] EPA Responses to State and Tribal 2008 Ozone Designation Recommendations: Notice of Availability and Public Comment Period Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of availability and public comment period. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the EPA has posted its responses to state and tribal designation recommendations for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on the Agency’s Internet Web site. The EPA invites public comments on its responses during the comment period SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20DEP1.SGM 20DEP1 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS-1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 20, 2011 / Proposed Rules specified in the DATES section. The EPA sent responses directly to the states and tribes on or about December 9, 2011, and intends to make final designation determinations for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS in spring 2012. DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 19, 2012. Please refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on the comment period. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–OAR– HQ–2008–0476, by one of the following methods: • https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Email: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov. Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR– 2008–0476. • Fax: (202) 566–9744. Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2008– 0476. • Mail: Air Docket, Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0476, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460. • Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 3334, Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2008– 0476. The EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change and may be made available online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be confidential business information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be confidential business information or otherwise protected through www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means the EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA without going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, the EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:50 Dec 19, 2011 Jkt 226001 comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If the EPA is unable to read your comment and cannot contact you for clarification due to technical difficulties, the EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional information about the EPA’s public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at https:// www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm. For additional instructions on submitting comments, go to Section II of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., confidential business information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone number for the Air Docket is (202) 566– 1742. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions concerning this action, please contact Carla Oldham, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Planning Division, C539–04, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541– 3347, email at oldham.carla@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 1, please contact Richard Burkhart, U.S. EPA, telephone (617) 918–1664, email at burkhart.richard@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 2, please contact Bob Kelly, U.S. EPA, telephone (212) 637–3709, email at kelly.bob@email.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 3, please contact Maria Pino, U.S. EPA, telephone (215) 814–2181, email at pino.maria@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 4, please contact Jane Spann, U.S. EPA, telephone (404) 562–9029, email at spann.jane@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 5, please contact Edward Doty, U.S. EPA, PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 78873 telephone (312) 886–6057, email at doty.edward@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 6, please contact Guy Donaldson, U.S. EPA, telephone (214) 665–7242, email at donaldson.guy@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 7, please contact Lachala Kemp, U.S. EPA, telephone (913) 551–7214, email at kemp.lachala@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 8, please contact Scott Jackson, U.S. EPA, telephone (303) 312–6107, email at jackson.scott@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 9, please contact John J. Kelly, U.S. EPA, telephone (415) 947–4151, email at kelly.johnj@epa.gov. For questions about areas in EPA Region 10, please contact Claudia Vaupel, U.S. EPA, telephone (206) 553–6121, email at vaupel.claudia@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background and Purpose On March 12, 2008, the EPA revised the NAAQS for ozone to provide increased protection of public health and welfare from ozone pollution (73 FR 16436; March 27, 2008). The process for designating areas following promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS is contained in Clean Air Act (CAA) section 107(d) (42 U.S.C. 7407). Following the promulgation of a new or revised standard, each governor or tribal leader has an opportunity to recommend air quality designations, including the appropriate boundaries for nonattainment areas, to the EPA. The EPA considers these recommendations as part of its duty to promulgate the formal area designations and boundaries for the new or revised standards. By no later than 120 days prior to promulgating designations, the EPA is required to notify states and tribes of any intended modification to an area designation or boundary recommendation that the EPA deems necessary. On or around December 9, 2011, the EPA notified states and tribes of its intended area designations for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. States and tribes now have an opportunity to demonstrate why they believe an intended modification by the EPA may be inappropriate. The EPA encouraged states and tribes to provide comments and additional information for consideration by the EPA in finalizing designations. The EPA plans to make final designation decisions for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS in spring 2012. The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comments from interested parties other than states and tribes on the EPA’s recent responses to the state and tribal E:\FR\FM\20DEP1.SGM 20DEP1 pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS-1 78874 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 244 / Tuesday, December 20, 2011 / Proposed Rules designation recommendations for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. These responses can be found on the EPA’s Internet Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ ozonedesignations and also in the public docket for ozone designations at Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2008– 0476. The CAA section 107(d) provides a process for designations that involves recommendations by states and tribes to the EPA and responses from the EPA to those parties, prior to the EPA promulgating final designations and boundaries. The EPA is not required under the CAA section 107(d) to seek public comment during the designation process, but is electing to do so for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS in order to gather additional information for the EPA to consider before making final designations. The EPA invites public comment on its responses to states and tribes during the 30-day comment period provided by this notice. Due to the statutory timeframe for promulgating designations set out in the CAA section 107(d), the EPA will not be able to consider any public comments submitted after January 19, 2012. This notice and opportunity for public comment does not affect any rights or obligations of any state, tribe or the EPA which might otherwise exist pursuant to the CAA section 107(d). Please refer to the ADDRESSES section above in this document for specific instructions on submitting comments and locating relevant public documents. In establishing nonattainment area boundaries, the EPA is required to identify the area that does not meet the 2008 Ozone NAAQS and any nearby area that is contributing to the area that does not meet that standard. We are particularly interested in receiving comments, supported by relevant information, if you believe that a specific geographic area that the EPA is proposing to identify as a nonattainment area should not be categorized by the CAA section 107(d) criteria as nonattainment, or if you believe that a specific area not proposed by the EPA to be identified as a nonattainment area should in fact be categorized as nonattainment using the CAA section 107(d) criteria. Please be as specific as possible in supporting your views. • Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/ or data that you used. • Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives. • Explain your views as clearly as possible. • Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:50 Dec 19, 2011 Jkt 226001 deadline identified in the DATES section above. II. Instructions for Submitting Public Comments What should I consider as I prepare my comments for the EPA? 1. Submitting Confidential Business Information. Do not submit this information to the EPA through www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be confidential business information. For confidential business information in a disk or CD– ROM that you mail to the EPA, mark the outside of the disk or CD–ROM as confidential business information and then identify electronically within the disk or CD–ROM the specific information that is claimed as confidential business information. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes information claimed as confidential business information, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as confidential business information must be submitted for inclusion in the public docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. Send or deliver information identified as confidential business information only to the following address: Roberto Morales, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Mail Code C404–02, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541–0880, email at morales.roberto@epa.gov, Attention Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OAR–2008– 0476. 2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, remember to: • Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and page number). • Follow directions—The agency may ask you to respond to specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number. • Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives and substitute language for your requested changes. • Describe any assumptions and provide any technical information and/ or data that you used. • If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be reproduced. • Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and suggest alternatives. PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 • Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the use of profanity or personal threats. • Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. III. Internet Web Site for Rulemaking Information The EPA has also established a Web site for this rulemaking at www.epa.gov/ ozonedesignations. The Web site includes the state and tribal designation recommendations, information supporting the EPA’s preliminary designation decisions, as well as the rulemaking actions and other related information that the public may find useful. Dated: December 13, 2011. Jennifer Noonan Edmonds, Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards. [FR Doc. 2011–32557 Filed 12–19–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Defense Acquisition Regulations System 48 CFR Parts 201, 203, 204, 212, 213, 217, 219, 222, 225, 233, 243, 252, Appendix I to Chapter 2 RIN 0750–AH55 Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Title 41 Positive Law Codification—Further Implementation (DFARS Case 2012– D003) Defense Acquisition Regulations System, Department of Defense (DoD). ACTION: Proposed rule. AGENCIES: DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement to conform statutory titles to the new Positive Law Codification of Title 41, United States Code, ‘‘Public Contracts.’’ DATES: Comment Date: Comments on the proposed rule should be submitted in writing to the address shown below on or before February 21, 2012, to be considered in the formation of a final rule. ADDRESSES: Submit comments identified by DFARS Case 2012–D003, using any of the following methods: Æ Regulations.gov: https:// www.regulations.gov. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking portal by entering ‘‘DFARS Case 2012–D003’’ under the heading ‘‘Enter keyword or SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\20DEP1.SGM 20DEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 20, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78872-78874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32557]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 81

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0476; FRL- 9608-6]


EPA Responses to State and Tribal 2008 Ozone Designation 
Recommendations: Notice of Availability and Public Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability and public comment period.

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

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the EPA has posted its responses 
to state and tribal designation recommendations for the 2008 Ozone 
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on the Agency's Internet 
Web site. The EPA invites public comments on its responses during the 
comment period

[[Page 78873]]

specified in the DATES section. The EPA sent responses directly to the 
states and tribes on or about December 9, 2011, and intends to make 
final designation determinations for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS in spring 
2012.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 19, 2012. Please 
refer to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information on the 
comment period.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-OAR-
HQ-2008-0476, by one of the following methods:
     https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Email: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov. Attention Docket ID No. 
EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0476.
     Fax: (202) 566-9744. Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2008-0476.
     Mail: Air Docket, Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-
0476, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 6102T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, 1301 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Room 3334, Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only accepted 
during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements 
should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2008-0476. The EPA's policy is that all comments received will be 
included in the public docket without change and may be made available 
online at www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
confidential business information or other information whose disclosure 
is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider 
to be confidential business information or otherwise protected through 
www.regulations.gov or email. The www.regulations.gov web site is an 
``anonymous access'' system, which means the EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA without 
going through www.regulations.gov, your email address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, the EPA recommends that you include your 
name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with 
any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If the EPA is unable to read your 
comment and cannot contact you for clarification due to technical 
difficulties, the EPA may not be able to consider your comment. 
Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form 
of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional 
information about the EPA's public docket, visit the EPA Docket Center 
homepage at https://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm. For additional 
instructions on submitting comments, go to Section II of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some 
information is not publicly available, i.e., confidential business 
information or other information whose disclosure is restricted by 
statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not 
placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy 
form. Publicly available docket materials are available either 
electronically in www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket 
Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the 
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the 
Air Docket is (202) 566-1742.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions concerning this 
action, please contact Carla Oldham, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards, Air Quality Planning Division, C539-04, 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-3347, email at 
oldham.carla@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA Region 1, 
please contact Richard Burkhart, U.S. EPA, telephone (617) 918-1664, 
email at burkhart.richard@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA 
Region 2, please contact Bob Kelly, U.S. EPA, telephone (212) 637-3709, 
email at kelly.bob@email.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA 
Region 3, please contact Maria Pino, U.S. EPA, telephone (215) 814-
2181, email at pino.maria@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA 
Region 4, please contact Jane Spann, U.S. EPA, telephone (404) 562-
9029, email at spann.jane@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the EPA 
Region 5, please contact Edward Doty, U.S. EPA, telephone (312) 886-
6057, email at doty.edward@epa.gov. For questions about areas in the 
EPA Region 6, please contact Guy Donaldson, U.S. EPA, telephone (214) 
665-7242, email at donaldson.guy@epa.gov. For questions about areas in 
the EPA Region 7, please contact Lachala Kemp, U.S. EPA, telephone 
(913) 551-7214, email at kemp.lachala@epa.gov. For questions about 
areas in the EPA Region 8, please contact Scott Jackson, U.S. EPA, 
telephone (303) 312-6107, email at jackson.scott@epa.gov. For questions 
about areas in the EPA Region 9, please contact John J. Kelly, U.S. 
EPA, telephone (415) 947-4151, email at kelly.johnj@epa.gov. For 
questions about areas in EPA Region 10, please contact Claudia Vaupel, 
U.S. EPA, telephone (206) 553-6121, email at vaupel.claudia@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Purpose

    On March 12, 2008, the EPA revised the NAAQS for ozone to provide 
increased protection of public health and welfare from ozone pollution 
(73 FR 16436; March 27, 2008). The process for designating areas 
following promulgation of a new or revised NAAQS is contained in Clean 
Air Act (CAA) section 107(d) (42 U.S.C. 7407). Following the 
promulgation of a new or revised standard, each governor or tribal 
leader has an opportunity to recommend air quality designations, 
including the appropriate boundaries for nonattainment areas, to the 
EPA. The EPA considers these recommendations as part of its duty to 
promulgate the formal area designations and boundaries for the new or 
revised standards. By no later than 120 days prior to promulgating 
designations, the EPA is required to notify states and tribes of any 
intended modification to an area designation or boundary recommendation 
that the EPA deems necessary. On or around December 9, 2011, the EPA 
notified states and tribes of its intended area designations for the 
2008 Ozone NAAQS. States and tribes now have an opportunity to 
demonstrate why they believe an intended modification by the EPA may be 
inappropriate. The EPA encouraged states and tribes to provide comments 
and additional information for consideration by the EPA in finalizing 
designations. The EPA plans to make final designation decisions for the 
2008 Ozone NAAQS in spring 2012.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comments from 
interested parties other than states and tribes on the EPA's recent 
responses to the state and tribal

[[Page 78874]]

designation recommendations for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. These responses 
can be found on the EPA's Internet Web site at https://www.epa.gov/ozonedesignations and also in the public docket for ozone designations 
at Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0476. The CAA section 107(d) provides 
a process for designations that involves recommendations by states and 
tribes to the EPA and responses from the EPA to those parties, prior to 
the EPA promulgating final designations and boundaries. The EPA is not 
required under the CAA section 107(d) to seek public comment during the 
designation process, but is electing to do so for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS 
in order to gather additional information for the EPA to consider 
before making final designations. The EPA invites public comment on its 
responses to states and tribes during the 30-day comment period 
provided by this notice. Due to the statutory timeframe for 
promulgating designations set out in the CAA section 107(d), the EPA 
will not be able to consider any public comments submitted after 
January 19, 2012. This notice and opportunity for public comment does 
not affect any rights or obligations of any state, tribe or the EPA 
which might otherwise exist pursuant to the CAA section 107(d).
    Please refer to the ADDRESSES section above in this document for 
specific instructions on submitting comments and locating relevant 
public documents.
    In establishing nonattainment area boundaries, the EPA is required 
to identify the area that does not meet the 2008 Ozone NAAQS and any 
nearby area that is contributing to the area that does not meet that 
standard. We are particularly interested in receiving comments, 
supported by relevant information, if you believe that a specific 
geographic area that the EPA is proposing to identify as a 
nonattainment area should not be categorized by the CAA section 107(d) 
criteria as nonattainment, or if you believe that a specific area not 
proposed by the EPA to be identified as a nonattainment area should in 
fact be categorized as nonattainment using the CAA section 107(d) 
criteria. Please be as specific as possible in supporting your views.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified in the DATES section above.

II. Instructions for Submitting Public Comments

What should I consider as I prepare my comments for the EPA?

    1. Submitting Confidential Business Information. Do not submit this 
information to the EPA through www.regulations.gov or email. Clearly 
mark the part or all of the information that you claim to be 
confidential business information. For confidential business 
information in a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to the EPA, mark the 
outside of the disk or CD-ROM as confidential business information and 
then identify electronically within the disk or CD-ROM the specific 
information that is claimed as confidential business information. In 
addition to one complete version of the comment that includes 
information claimed as confidential business information, a copy of the 
comment that does not contain the information claimed as confidential 
business information must be submitted for inclusion in the public 
docket. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in 
accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. Send or deliver 
information identified as confidential business information only to the 
following address: Roberto Morales, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards, Mail Code C404-02, Research Triangle Park, NC 
27711, telephone (919) 541-0880, email at morales.roberto@epa.gov, 
Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0476.
    2. Tips for Preparing Your Comments. When submitting comments, 
remember to:
     Identify the rulemaking by docket number and other 
identifying information (subject heading, Federal Register date and 
page number).
     Follow directions--The agency may ask you to respond to 
specific questions or organize comments by referencing a Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) part or section number.
     Explain why you agree or disagree; suggest alternatives 
and substitute language for your requested changes.
     Describe any assumptions and provide any technical 
information and/or data that you used.
     If you estimate potential costs or burdens, explain how 
you arrived at your estimate in sufficient detail to allow for it to be 
reproduced.
     Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns, and 
suggest alternatives.
     Explain your views as clearly as possible, avoiding the 
use of profanity or personal threats.
     Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period 
deadline identified.

III. Internet Web Site for Rulemaking Information

    The EPA has also established a Web site for this rulemaking at 
www.epa.gov/ozonedesignations. The Web site includes the state and 
tribal designation recommendations, information supporting the EPA's 
preliminary designation decisions, as well as the rulemaking actions 
and other related information that the public may find useful.

    Dated: December 13, 2011.
Jennifer Noonan Edmonds,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
 [FR Doc. 2011-32557 Filed 12-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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