Environmental Protection Agency May 5, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that the Agency has found that the motor vehicle emissions budgets for 8-hour ozone in the Western Mojave Desert 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. The Western Mojave Desert 8- hour Ozone Early Progress Plan was submitted to EPA on March 24, 2008 by the California Air Resources Board as a revision to the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). As a result of our adequacy findings, the Southern California Association of Governments and the U.S. Department of Transportation must use these budgets in future conformity analyses once the finding becomes effective.

In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that the Agency has found that the motor vehicle emissions budgets for 8-hour ozone in the Ventura County 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. The Ventura County 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan was submitted to EPA on March 24, 2008 by the California Air Resources Board as a revision to the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). As a result of our adequacy findings, the Southern California Association of Governments and the U.S. Department of Transportation must use these budgets in future conformity analyses once the finding becomes effective.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Georgia State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, on December 28, 2007. The revisions include minor changes to Georgia's Air Quality Rules found at Chapter 391-3 20-.17, pertaining to rules for Enhanced Inspection and Maintenance (I/M). Enhanced I/M was required for 1-hour ozone nonattainment areas classified as serious and above, under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The enhanced I/M program is not a required measure for Atlanta for the 8-hour ozone standard pursuant to the CAA because the area is classified as a moderate nonattainment area (73 FR 12013). However, the enhanced I/M program was approved into the SIP for the 1-hour ozone standard and will remain in the SIP until such time that the State removes the requirement. To remove the requirement from the SIP, the State would have to make a demonstration that removal of this program would not interfere with or delay attainment consistent with section 110(1) of the CAA. The I/M program is a way to ensure that vehicles are maintained properly and verify that the emission control system is operating correctly, in order to reduce vehicle-related emissions. Specifically, the changes update the amount of repair costs that may qualify for a waiver for 2008. This action is being taken pursuant to section 110 of the CAA. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this proposal. Any parties interested in commenting on this proposal should do so at this time.