Environmental Protection Agency September 20, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 is proposing to approve SIP revisions submitted on December 18, 2009, and December 22, 2010 (supplemental submission) by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NC DENR), Division of Air Quality (DAQ), to support North Carolina's request to redesignate the Hickory- Morganton-Lenoir fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area (hereafter the ``Hickory Area'' or ``Area'') to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Hickory Area is comprised of Catawba County in its entirety. EPA is now proposing four separate but related actions. First, EPA is proposing to approve the December 18, 2009, PM2.5 redesignation request, including the December 22, 2010, Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) mobile model supplement for the Hickory Area, provided that EPA takes final action to approve specific provisions of the North Carolina Clean Smokestacks Act (NCCSA). Second, EPA is proposing to approve North Carolina's 2008 emissions inventory for the Hickory Area under section 172(c)(3) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). Third, subject to the same proviso regarding the NCCSA and final approval of the 2008 emissions inventory, EPA is proposing to approve the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS maintenance plan for the Hickory Area, including the 2008 baseline emissions inventory, and the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) for nitrogen oxides (NOX) for the years 2011 and 2021, and the mobile insignificance determination for direct PM2.5 for the Hickory Area. EPA is also describing the status of its transportation conformity adequacy determination for the new 2011 and 2021 MVEBs for NOX that are contained in the 1997 Annual PM2.5 NAAQS maintenance plan for the Hickory Area. Fourth and separate from the action to redesignate the Hickory Area, EPA is proposing to determine that the Area has attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS by its applicable attainment date of April 5, 2010. These proposed actions are being taken pursuant to the CAA and its implementing regulations.

EPA is proposing to make two determinations regarding the Washington, DC-MD-VA moderate 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (the Washington Area). First, EPA is proposing to make a determination that the Washington Area has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This proposed determination is based upon complete, quality assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data that show the area has monitored attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the 2007-2009 and 2008-2010 monitoring periods. If this proposal becomes final, the requirement for this area to submit an attainment demonstration, reasonably available control measures (RACM), a reasonable further progress (RFP) plan, and contingency measures related to attainment of the 1997 8-hours ozone NAAQS shall be suspended for so long as the area continues to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Although these requirements are suspended, EPA is not precluded from acting upon these elements at any time if submitted to EPA for review and approval. Second, EPA is also proposing to determine that the Washington Area has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by its attainment date of June 15, 2010. These actions are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that the EPA is planning to submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2012. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, the EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

EPA is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware. The revision establishes and requires the addition of nitrogen oxides (NOX) as a precursor to ozone in the Delaware SIP. EPA is approving this revision to include NOX as a precursor to ozone in the requirements for preconstruction review for prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) areas in Delaware in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).