Environmental Protection Agency March 4, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On May 1, 2001, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) submitted a request for EPA approval of regulations governing Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) emission allowances granted for the implementation of voluntary control of NOX emissions from sources not otherwise covered under other Illinois NOX emission control regulations. Illinois requested incorporation of these voluntary NOX emission control and NOX emission allowance regulations into the Illinois State Implementation Plan (SIP). We are proposing to disapprove these regulations as an amendment of the Illinois SIP.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR which is abstracted below describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

EPA proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the state of Iowa to demonstrate that the state meets the requirements of Section 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by the EPA and is commonly referred to as an infrastructure SIP. In 1997, EPA promulgated the 8-hour ozone primary and secondary NAAQS. A revision to Iowa's SIP detailing how the state plans to ensure that the revised ozone standard is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Iowa was submitted on June 15, 2007. The submittal addressed all the elements of the October 2, 2007, guidance issued by the Office of Air Quality and Planning Standards with respect to infrastructure SIPs.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania or the Commonwealth). This revision establishes and requires reasonably available control technology (RACT) for a major source of volatile organic compound (VOC) and nitrogen oxide (NOX) pursuant to the Pennsylvania's SIP-approved generic RACT regulations. The VOC and NOX major source is Merck and Co., Inc. (Merck) located in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. EPA is approving this revision in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is requesting that the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Ozone Nonattainment Area (or also referred to here as the Allentown Area, or simply the Area) be redesignated as attainment for the 8-hour ozone ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Area is composed of Carbon, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties. EPA is approving the ozone redesignation request for the Allentown Area. In conjunction with its redesignation request, PADEP submitted a SIP revision consisting of a maintenance plan for the Allentown Area that provides for continued attainment of the 8-hour ozone NAAQS for at least 10 years after redesignation. EPA is approving the 8-hour maintenance plan. PADEP also submitted a 2002 base year inventory for the Allentown Area, which EPA is approving. In addition, EPA is approving the adequacy determination for the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) that are identified in the Allentown- Bethlehem-Easton Area maintenance plan for purposes of transportation conformity, and is approving those MVEBs. EPA is approving the redesignation request, the maintenance plan, and the 2002 base year emissions inventory as revisions to the Pennsylvania SIP in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).