### 9258 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 34 / Friday, February 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules

authorities are addressing toxic fumes generated by blasting. Some, but not all, state regulatory authorities have taken permitting or enforcement actions in response to toxic fumes released during blasting. Others, however, are hesitant to act because they believe our regulations, as currently written, are ambiguous as to whether and how toxic gases should be controlled. Likewise, while a number of mine operators and blasters recognize the dangers posed by toxic gases from blasting and take precautions to manage the risks, many do not. We have concluded that the current silence in our regulations on toxic gases released during blasting is no longer acceptable and only perpetuates the disparities between the various practices of the state regulatory authorities. In light of these findings, OSMRE intends to propose a number of changes to our regulations. We plan to propose a definition of ‘‘blasting area’’ to help ensure that the areas affected by blasting are properly secured and that the public is adequately protected. We also intend to specify that toxic gases are one of the dangers posed by blasting. We anticipate clarifying that 30 CFR 816.67(a) and 817.67(a) require the proper management of toxic blasting gases in order to protect people and property from the adverse effects of coal mining. Lastly, we expect to propose amendments to the training and testing requirements for certified blasters at 30 CFR 850.13 to ensure that blasters can identify and mitigate the impacts of blast fumes.

We believe that revisions to our regulations, such as those described above, will better (1) ensure a level playing field as described in section 101(g) of SMCRA, 30 U.S.C. 1201(g), which specifies that national standards are essential in order to ensure ‘‘that competition in interstate commerce among sellers of coal produced in different States will not be used to undermine the ability of the several States to improve and maintain adequate standards on coal mining operations within their borders;’’ and, most importantly, (2) prevent harm to people and property from blasting associated with surface coal mining operations. VI. Procedural Matters and Required Determinations

This notice is not a proposed or final rule, policy, or guidance. Therefore, it is not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act, or Executive Orders 12866, 13563, 12630, 13132, 12988, 13175, and 13211. We will conduct the analyses required by these laws and executive orders when we develop a proposed rule.

In developing this notice, we did not conduct or use a study, experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Information Quality Act (Pub. L. 106– 554, section 15).

This notice is not subject to the requirement to prepare an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), because no proposed action, as described in 40 CFR 1508.18(a) and (b), yet exists. This notice only announces the Director’s decision to grant the petition and initiate rulemaking. We will prepare the appropriate NEPA compliance documents as part of the rulemaking
process.

Dated: February 3, 2015. Joseph G. Pizarchik, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2015–03407 Filed 2–19–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4310–05–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY** 

**40 CFR Part 52**

**[EPA–R05–OAR–2014–0504; FRL–9921–43– Region 5]** 

**Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Illinois;**  **VOM Definition**

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency.

**ACTION :**  Proposed rule.

**SUMMARY :**  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Illinois State Implementation Plan. The revision amends the Illinois Administrative Code by updating the definition of volatile organic material or volatile organic compound to exclude additional compounds. This revision is in response to EPA rulemakings in 2013 which exempted these chemical compounds from the Federal definition of volatile organic compounds because, in their intended uses, the compounds have a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone formation.

**DATES :**  Comments must be received on or before March 23, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R05– OAR–2014–0504, by one of the following methods: 1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.

2. Email: Aburano.Douglas@epa.gov.

3. Fax: (312) 408–2279.

4. Mail: Douglas Aburano, Chief, Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR–18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

5. Hand Delivery: Douglas Aburano, Chief, Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR–18J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. The Regional Office official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays.
Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules section of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to submit
comments.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Douglas Aburano, Section Chief, Attainment Planning and Maintenance Section, Air Programs Branch (AR–18J), Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604, (312) 353–6960, Aburano.Douglas@epa.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register , EPA is approving the State’s SIP submittal 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. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment. For additional information, see the direct final rule which is located


### 9259 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 34 / Friday, February 20, 2015 / Proposed Rules

in the Rules section of this Federal Register

.

Dated: December 30, 2014. Susan Hedman, Regional Administrator, Region 5.
[FR Doc. 2015–03451 Filed 2–19–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY** 

**40 CFR Part 52**

**[EPA–R06–OAR–2014–0554; FRL–9923–17– Region 6]** 

**Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas;** **Emissions Inventories for the Dallas Fort Worth and Houston-Galveston**  **Brazoria Ozone Nonattainment Areas**

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Proposed rule.

**SUMMARY :**  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted to meet Emissions Inventory (EI) requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the Dallas-Fort-Worth (DFW) and the Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (HGB) nonattainment areas. EPA is proposing to approve the SIP revisions because they satisfy the CAA EI requirements for the DFW and HGB nonattainment areas under the 2008 eight-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is proposing to approve the revisions pursuant to section 110 and part D of the CAA and EPA’s regulations.

**DATES :**  Written comments should be received on or before March 23, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  Comments may be mailed to Mr. Guy Donaldson, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PD–L), Environmental Protection Agency, 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200, Dallas, Texas 75202–2733. Comments may also be submitted electronically or through hand delivery/ courier by following the detailed instructions in the **ADDRESSES** section of the direct final rule located in the rules section of this Federal Register

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Nevine Salem, (214) 665–7222, salem.nevine@epa.gov. **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  In the final rules section of this Federal Register , EPA is approving the State’s SIP submittal as a direct 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 action 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. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

For additional information, see the direct final rule which is located in the rules section of this Federal Register

.

Dated: February 9, 2015. Ron Curry, Regional Administrator, Region 6.
[FR Doc. 2015–03448 Filed 2–19–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**