Environmental Protection Agency November 4, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing to make a determination that the Metropolitan Washington, District of Columbia-Maryland-Virginia (DC-MD-VA) and Martinsburg-Hagerstown, West Virginia-Maryland (WV-MD) fine particle (PM2.5) nonattainment areas (hereafter referred to as ``Areas'') have attained the 1997 annual PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by the applicable attainment date of April 5, 2010. These determinations are based upon complete, quality-assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data for the 2007-2009 monitoring period. EPA is finding these Areas to be in attainment, in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA is proposing an approval of revisions which repeal and replace existing rules, and revisions to the applicable State Implementation Plan (SIP) for New Mexico Albuquerque/Bernalillo County, which relate to fee requirement regulations. The repeal and replace and SIP revisions proposed today would address section 110(a)(2) Clean Air Act (the Act or CAA) requirements related to fees for, in part, reviewing and acting on specific permit applications received by the City of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Environmental Health Department (EHD or Department); fees to partially offset the administrative cost of permit-related administrative hearings; funding for small business stationary sources; and fees to cover administrative expenses incurred by the Department in implementing the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act, the joint Air Quality Control Board (AQCB) ordinances, and the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County AQCB regulations of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 1978. EPA finds that these rules and revisions comply with applicable provisions of the CAA and is proposing to approve them into the SIP. This action is being proposed under section 110 of the Act.

The Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee will meet on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (E.T.) at the U.S. EPA East Building, 1201 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC. Topics to be discussed are issues and recommendations to the Administrator regarding environmental issues affecting small communities. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to attend. The Subcommittee will hear comments from the public between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. (E.T.) on Thursday, December 1, 2011. Each individual or organization wishing to address the Committee will be allowed a maximum of five minutes. Also, written comments may be submitted electronically to eargle.frances@epa.gov or contact Frances Eargle the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule agenda time. Time will be allotted on a first come, first serve basis, and may be extended, if the number of requests for appearances require it.

EPA is approving revisions to the North Dakota State Implementation Plan (SIP) that the Governor of North Dakota submitted with a letter dated April 6, 2009. The revisions affect North Dakota's air pollution control rules regarding general provisions (including rules regarding shutdowns and malfunctions), ambient air quality standards, emissions of particulate matter, permitting, and fees. In addition, EPA is making administrative corrections to the regulatory text for North Dakota that will be codified in the Code of Federal Regulations; we made errors in the identification of plan table when we approved the North Dakota State Implementation Plan revisions for Interstate Transport of pollution, which the Governor also submitted on April 6, 2009. EPA proposed approval of these rules on May 5, 2011 and received no adverse comments. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).