14712 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 49 / Tuesday, March 13, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

under this paragraph means the holistic 

assessing of an individual’s 

psychological, social, and functional 

capacities as it relates to their 

readjustment from combat theaters. 

(e) Confidentiality. Benefits under this 

section are furnished solely by VA Vet 

Centers, which maintain confidential 

records independent from any other VA 

or Department of Defense medical 

records and which will not disclose 

such records without either the veteran 

or servicemember’s voluntary, signed 

authorization, or a specific exception 

permitting their release. For more 

information, see 5 U.S.C. 552a, 38 

U.S.C. 5701 and 7332, 45 CFR parts 160 

and 164, and VA’s System of Records 

64VA15, ‘‘Readjustment Counseling 

Service Vet Center Program.’’ 

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501 and 1712A; Pub. L. 

111–163, sec. 401) 

[FR Doc. 2012–6004 Filed 3–12–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 52 

[EPA–R01–OAR–2012–0076; A–1–FRL– 

9646–2] 

Approval and Promulgation of Air 

Quality Implementation Plans; 

Massachusetts; Determination of 

Attainment of the 1997 Ozone Standard 

for the Eastern Massachusetts 

Nonattainment Area 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing two 

separate and independent 

determinations regarding the BostonLawrence-Worcester (Eastern 

Massachusetts) moderate 1997 8-hour 

ozone nonattainment area. First, based 

on complete, quality-assured and 

certified air monitoring data for 2007– 

2009, EPA is proposing to determine 

that the Eastern Massachusetts 

nonattainment area attained the 1997 

8-hour National Ambient Air Quality 

Standard (NAAQS) for ozone as of the 

area’s applicable attainment date, June 

15, 2010. Second, EPA is proposing to 

determine that Eastern Massachusetts 

has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS, based upon complete, qualityassured and certified ambient air 

monitoring data that show the area 

monitored attainment of the 1997 

8-hour ozone NAAQS for the 2008–2010 

and 2009–2011 monitoring periods. If 

this latter proposed determination is 

made final, under the provisions of 

EPA’s ozone implementation rule, the 

requirements for this area to submit an 

attainment demonstration, a reasonable 

further progress plan, contingency 

measures, and other planning State 

Implementation Plans related to 

attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS shall be suspended for so long 

as the area continues to attain the 1997 

ozone NAAQS. EPA is proposing these 

determinations under the Clean Air Act. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received on or before April 12, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by Docket ID Number EPA– 

R01–OAR–2012–0076 by one of the 

following methods: 

1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the 

on-line instructions for submitting 

comments. 

2. Email: arnold.anne@epa.gov. 

3. Fax: (617) 918–0047. 

4. Mail: ‘‘Docket Identification 

Number EPA–R01–OAR–2012–0076,’’ 

Anne Arnold, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, EPA New England 

Regional Office, 5 Post Office Square, 

Suite 100 (mail code: OEP05–2), Boston, 

MA 02109–3912. 

5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver 

your comments to: Anne Arnold, 

Manager, Air Quality Planning Unit, 

Office of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 

New England Regional Office, 5 Post 

Office Square, Suite 100, Boston, MA 

02109–3912. Such deliveries are only 

accepted during the Regional Office’s 

normal hours of operation. The Regional 

Office’s official hours of business are 

Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, 

excluding legal holidays. 

Instructions: Direct your comments to 

Docket ID No. EPA–R01–OAR–2012– 

0076. EPA’s policy is that all comments 

received will be included in the public 

docket without change and may be 

made available online at 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided, unless 

the comment includes information 

claimed to be Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) or other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

Do not submit through 

www.regulations.gov, or email, 

information that you consider to be CBI 

or otherwise protected. The 

www.regulations.gov Web site is an 

‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which 

means EPA will not know your identity 

or contact information unless you 

provide it in the body of your comment. 

If you send an email comment directly 

to EPA without going through 

www.regulations.gov your email address 

will be automatically captured and 

included as part of the comment that is 

placed in the public docket and made 

available on the Internet. If you submit 

an electronic comment, EPA 

recommends that you include your 

name and other contact information in 

the body of your comment and with any 

disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA 

cannot read your comment due to 

technical difficulties and cannot contact 

you for clarification, EPA may not be 

able to consider your comment. 

Electronic files should avoid the use of 

special characters, any form of 

encryption, and be free of any defects or 

viruses. 

Docket: All documents in the 

electronic docket are listed in the 

www.regulations.gov index. Although 

listed in the index, some information is 

not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other 

information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Certain other 

material, such as copyrighted material, 

is not placed on the Internet and will be 

publicly available only in hard copy 

form. Publicly available docket 

materials are available either 

electronically in www.regulations.gov or 

in hard copy at Office of Ecosystem 

Protection, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, EPA New England 

Regional Office, 5 Post Office Square, 

Suite 100, Boston, MA. EPA requests 

that if at all possible, you contact the 

person listed in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section to 

schedule your inspection. The Regional 

Office’s official hours of business are 

Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, 

excluding legal holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Richard P. Burkhart, Air Quality 

Planning Unit, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, EPA New England 

Regional Office, 5 Post Office Square, 

Suite 100, Boston, MA 02109–3912, 

telephone number (617) 918–1664, fax 

number (617) 918–0664, email 

Burkhart.Richard@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Throughout this document whenever 

‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean 

EPA. 

Organization of this document. The 

following outline is provided to aid in 

locating information in this preamble. 

I. What actions is EPA taking? 

II. What is the effect of these actions? 

III. What is the background for these actions? 

IV. What is EPA’s analysis of the relevant air 

quality data? 

V. Proposed Actions 

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews 

I. What actions is EPA taking? 

EPA is proposing two separate and 

independent determinations. First, 


emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with PROPOSALS
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pursuant to section 181(b)(2)(A) of the 

Clean Air Act (CAA), and based upon 

complete, quality assured and certified 

air monitoring data for 2007–2009, EPA 

is proposing to determine that the 

Boston-Lawrence-Worcester (Eastern 

Massachusetts) moderate 8-hour ozone 

nonattainment area (hereafter ‘‘the 

Eastern Massachusetts area’’) attained 

the 1997 8-hour NAAQS for ozone by its 

applicable attainment date, June 15, 

2010. The Eastern Massachusetts 

nonattainment area consists of 

Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, 

Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, 

Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester 

Counties. Second, EPA is proposing to 

determine that the area has attained the 

1997 8-hour standard based upon 

complete, quality-assured and certified 

ambient air monitoring data showing 

attainment of the 1997 ozone NAAQS 

for the 2008–2010 and 2009–2011 

monitoring periods. 

II. What is the effect of these actions? 

First, under section 181(b)(2)(A) of the 

CAA and the provisions of EPA’s ozone 

implementation rule (see 40 CFR 

Section 51.902(a)), EPA is proposing to 

determine that the Eastern 

Massachusetts area attained the 1997 

ozone NAAQS by its applicable 

attainment date of June 15, 2010. The 

effect of a final determination of 

attainment by the area’s attainment date 

would be to discharge EPA’s obligation 

under section 181(b)(2)(A), and to 

establish that, in accordance with that 

section, the area would not be 

reclassified for failure to attain by its 

applicable attainment date. Second, 

EPA is proposing to determine that the 

area continues to attain the 1997 8-hour 

ozone standard based on the most recent 

three years of complete, quality-assured 

monitoring data. 

If this latter proposed determination 

is made final, under the provisions of 

EPA’s ozone implementation rule (see 

40 CFR Section 51.918), the 

requirements for the Eastern 

Massachusetts moderate ozone 

nonattainment area to submit an 

attainment demonstration, a reasonable 

further progress plan, section 172(c)(9) 

contingency measures, and any other 

planning State Implementation Plans 

(SIPs) related to attainment of the 1997 

8-hour ozone NAAQS would be 

suspended for so long as the area 

continues to attain the 1997 8-hour 

ozone NAAQS. This proposed action, if 

finalized, would not constitute a 

redesignation to attainment under the 

Clean Air Act (CAA) section 107(d)(3), 

because we would not yet have an 

approved maintenance plan for the area 

as required under section 175A of the 

CAA, nor a determination that the area 

has met the other requirements for 

redesignation. The classification and 

designation status of the area would 

remain moderate nonattainment for the 

1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS until such 

time as EPA determines that the area 

meets the CAA requirements for 

redesignation to attainment. 

If this determination of attainment is 

finalized and EPA subsequently 

determines, after notice-and-comment 

rulemaking in the Federal Register, that 

the area has violated the 1997 8-hour 

ozone standard, the basis for the 

suspension of these requirements would 

no longer exist, and the area would 

thereafter have to address the pertinent 

CAA requirements. 

III. What is the background for these 

actions? 

On April 30, 2004 (69 FR 23857), EPA 

designated as nonattainment any area 

that was violating the 1997 8-hour 

ozone NAAQS, based on the three most 

recent years (2001–2003) of air quality 

data. The Eastern Massachusetts area 

was designated as a moderate ozone 

nonattainment area. Recent air quality 

data indicate that the Eastern 

Massachusetts area is attaining the 1997 

8-hour ozone standard. 

IV. What is EPA’s analysis of the 

relevant air quality data? 

The EPA has reviewed the ambient air 

monitoring data for ozone, consistent 

with the requirements contained in 40 

CFR Part 50 and recorded in the Air 

Quality Data System (AQS) database, for 

Eastern Massachusetts, from 2007 

through 2011. 

Under EPA regulations at 40 CFR Part 

50, the 1997 8-hour ozone standard is 

attained at a site when the 3-year 

average of the annual fourth-highest 

daily maximum 8-hour average ozone 

concentrations at an ozone monitor is 

less than or equal to 0.08 parts per 

million (ppm) (i.e., 0.084 ppm, based on 

the rounding convention in 40 CFR Part 

50, Appendix I). This 3-year average is 

referred to as the design value. When 

the design value is less than or equal to 

0.084 ppm at each monitoring site 

within the area, then the area is meeting 

the NAAQS. Also, the data 

completeness requirement is met when 

the 3-year average of the percent of days 

with valid ambient monitoring data is 

more than 90%, and no single year has 

less than 75% data completeness as 

determined in Appendix I of 40 CFR 

Part 50. 

Table 1 shows the fourth-highest daily 

maximum 8-hour average ozone 

concentrations for the fourteen Eastern 

Massachusetts area monitors for the 

years 2007–2009, and the ozone design 

values for these same monitors based on 

2007–2009. Tables 2 and 3 show similar 

data for the 2008–2010 and 2009–2011 

monitoring periods. 

TABLE 1—2007–2009 FOURTH-HIGH 8-HOUR AVERAGE OZONE CONCENTRATIONS AND 2007–2009 DESIGN VALUES

(PARTS PER MILLION) IN THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AREA

Site ID Site location 4th High 

2007 

4th High 

2008 

4th High 

2009 

Design 

value 

(07–09) 

250250041 ................................................. Boston-Long Island * ............................................... 0.072 0.072 0.075 0.073 

250250042 ................................................. Boston-Roxbury ....................................................... 0.071 0.062 0.062 0.065 

250170009 ................................................. Chelmsford .............................................................. 0.087 0.069 0.068 0.074 

250051002 ................................................. Fairhaven ................................................................. 0.075 0.080 0.069 0.074 

250095005 ................................................. Haverhill ................................................................... 0.089 0.073 0.070 0.077 

250092006 ................................................. Lynn ......................................................................... 0.088 0.078 0.073 0.079 

250213003 ................................................. Milton ....................................................................... 0.088 0.076 0.071 0.078 

250094004 ................................................. Newbury * ................................................................ 0.086 0.075 0.068 0.076 

250094005 ................................................. Newburyport ** ......................................................... ................ ................ ................ ................

250070001 ................................................. Oak Bluffs-Martha’s Vineyard * ............................... 0.077 0.083 0.071 0.077 

250171102 ................................................. Stow ......................................................................... 0.086 0.074 0.071 0.077 

250010002 ................................................. Truro ........................................................................ 0.082 0.075 0.071 0.076 

250270024 ................................................. Uxbridge (site began in 2009) ................................. ................ ................ 0.071 ................

250270015 ................................................. Worcester ................................................................ 0.089 0.081 0.077 0.082 


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1Massachusetts submitted an attainment 

demonstration and contingency measures for this 

area on Jan. 31, 2008. EPA has not taken action on 

the attainment demonstration, but has proposed 

approval of the reasonable further progress plan and 

contingency measures. (See 75 FR 57221, Sept. 10, 

2010.) 

TABLE 2—2008–2010 FOURTH-HIGH 8-HOUR AVERAGE OZONE CONCENTRATIONS AND 2008–2010 DESIGN VALUES

(PARTS PER MILLION) IN THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AREA

Site ID Site location 4th High 

2008 

4th High 

2009 

4th High 

2010 

Design 

value 

(08–10) 

250250041 ................................................. Boston-Long Island * ............................................... 0.072 0.075 0.070 0.072 

250250042 ................................................. Boston-Roxbury ....................................................... 0.062 0.062 0.063 0.062 

250170009 ................................................. Chelmsford .............................................................. 0.069 0.068 0.069 0.068 

250051002 ................................................. Fairhaven ................................................................. 0.080 0.069 0.077 0.075 

250095005 ................................................. Haverhill ................................................................... 0.073 0.070 0.071 0.071 

250092006 ................................................. Lynn ......................................................................... 0.078 0.073 0.072 0.074 

250213003 ................................................. Milton ....................................................................... 0.076 0.071 0.073 0.073 

250094004 ................................................. Newbury* (moved to Newburyport) ......................... 0.075 0.068 ................ ................

250094005 ................................................. Newburyport ** ......................................................... ................ ................ 0.066 ................

250070001 ................................................. Oak Bluffs-Martha’s Vineyard * ............................... 0.083 0.071 0.080 0.078 

250171102 ................................................. Stow ......................................................................... 0.074 0.071 0.069 0.071 

250010002 ................................................. Truro ........................................................................ 0.075 0.071 0.078 0.074 

250270024 ................................................. Uxbridge (site began in 2009) ................................. ................ 0.071 0.071 ................

250270015 ................................................. Worcester ................................................................ 0.081 0.077 0.070 0.076 

TABLE 3—2009–2011 FOURTH-HIGH 8-HOUR AVERAGE OZONE CONCENTRATIONS AND 2009–2011 DESIGN VALUES

(PARTS PER MILLION) IN THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS AREA

Site ID Site location 4th High 

2009 

4th High 

2010 

4th High 

2011 

Design 

value 

(09–11) 

250250041 ................................................. Boston-Long Island* ................................................ 0.075 0.070 0.066 0.070 

250250042 ................................................. Boston-Roxbury ....................................................... 0.062 0.063 0.060 0.061 

250170009 ................................................. Chelmsford .............................................................. 0.068 0.069 0.064 0.067 

250051002 ................................................. Fairhaven ................................................................. 0.069 0.077 0.076 0.074 

250095005 ................................................. Haverhill ................................................................... 0.070 0.071 0.066 0.069 

250092006 ................................................. Lynn ......................................................................... 0.073 0.072 0.069 0.071 

250213003 ................................................. Milton ....................................................................... 0.071 0.073 0.073 0.072 

250094004 ................................................. Newbury* (moved to Newburyport) ......................... 0.068 ................ ................ ................

250094005 ................................................. Newburyport ** ......................................................... ................ 0.066 0.066 ................

250070001 ................................................. Oak Bluffs-Martha’s Vineyard * ............................... 0.071 0.080 0.078 0.076 

250171102 ................................................. Stow ......................................................................... 0.071 0.069 0.063 0.067 

250010002 ................................................. Truro ........................................................................ 0.071 0.078 0.068 0.072 

250270024 ................................................. Uxbridge (site began in 2009) ................................. 0.071 0.071 0.068 0.070 

250270015 ................................................. Worcester ................................................................ 0.077 0.070 0.065 0.070 

* Due to equipment malfunction at Oak Bluffs in 2009, sample collection error at Boston-Long Island in 2007 and monitor relocation at Newbury 

in 2009, the data capture percentages for these ozone monitors were below EPA data capture requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS 

for those years. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection performed a missing data analysis for each site with low data capture in accordance with the regulatory requirements of 40 CFR Part 50, Appendix I. The Massachusetts missing data analysis used a combination of meteorology and air quality data for ozone monitors near the sites with low data capture, for the unmonitored days, to decisively conclude 

that on the days with missing ozone data, the ozone levels, if captured, would have been below the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Thus, by rule, 

these days can be counted for the purpose of meeting the data completeness requirement. The missing data analysis for these sites was approved by EPA on December 15, 2011. The approval letter is in the Docket for this action. 

** Newburyport began in 2009, but not enough data collected in 2009 to have a valid fourth high. 

EPA’s review of these data indicates 

that the Eastern Massachusetts area 

attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS 

and met its applicable attainment 

deadline, based on 2007–2009 data. Our 

review also shows that the area 

continues to attain the standard, based 

on complete, quality-assured and 

certified data for the 2008–2010 and 

2009–2011 monitoring periods. 

EPA is soliciting public comments on 

the issues discussed in this notice or on 

other relevant matters pertaining to this 

rulemaking action. These comments 

will be considered before EPA takes 

final action. Interested parties may 

participate in the Federal rulemaking 

procedure by submitting written 

comments to the EPA New England 

Regional Office listed in the ADDRESSES

section of this Federal Register. 

V. Proposed Actions 

EPA is proposing two separate and 

independent determinations. First, 

under section 181(b)(2)(A) of the Clean 

Air Act and the provisions of EPA’s 

ozone implementation rule (see 40 CFR 

Section 51.902(a)), based upon 

complete, quality-assured and certified 

data for 2007–2009, EPA is proposing to 

determine that the Eastern 

Massachusetts 1997 8-hour ozone 

moderate nonattainment area attained 

the 1997 ozone NAAQS by its 

applicable attainment date of June 15, 

2010. Second, EPA is proposing to 

determine that the Eastern 

Massachusetts area has attained the 

1997 8-hour ozone standard, based on 

complete, quality-assured data for the 

2008–2010, and 2009–2011 monitoring 

periods. As provided in 40 CFR Section 

51.918, if EPA finalizes this 

determination, it would suspend the 

requirements for Massachusetts to 

submit planning SIPs related to 

attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone 

NAAQS for this area, for so long as the 

area continues to attain the standard.1


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VI. Statutory and Executive Order 

Reviews 

These actions propose to make 

determinations of attainment based on 

air quality, and would, if finalized, 

result in the suspension of certain 

Federal requirements, and/or would not 

impose additional requirements beyond 

those imposed by state law. For that 

reason, these proposed actions: 

• Are not ‘‘significant regulatory 

actions’’ subject to review by the Office 

of Management and Budget under 

Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, 

October 4, 1993); 

• Do not impose an information 

collection burden under the provisions 

of the Paperwork Reduction Act 

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.); 

• Are certified as not having a 

significant economic impact on a 

substantial number of small entities 

under the Regulatory Flexibility Act 

(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.); 

• Do not contain any unfunded 

mandate or significantly or uniquely 

affect small governments, as described 

in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4); 

• Do not have Federalism 

implications as specified in Executive 

Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10, 

1999); 

• Are not economically significant 

regulatory actions based on health or 

safety risks subject to Executive Order 

13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997); 

• Are not significant regulatory 

actions subject to Executive Order 

13211 (66 FR 28355, May 22, 2001); 

• Are not subject to the requirements 

of Section 12(d) of the National 

Technology Transfer and Advancement 

Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because 

application of those requirements would 

be inconsistent with the Clean Air Act; 

and 

• Do not provide EPA with the 

discretionary authority to address, as 

appropriate, disproportionate human 

health or environmental effects, using 

practicable and legally permissible 

methods, under Executive Order 12898 

(59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994). 

In addition, this rule does not have 

tribal implications as specified by 

Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249, 

November 9, 2000), because the SIP is 

not approved to apply in Indian country 

located in the state, and EPA notes that 

it will not impose substantial direct 

costs on tribal governments or preempt 

tribal law. 

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 

Environmental protection, Air 

pollution control, Incorporation by 

reference, Intergovernmental relations, 

Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Reporting and 

recordkeeping requirements, Volatile 

organic compounds. 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. 

Dated: February 29, 2012. 

H. Curtis Spalding, 

Regional Administrator, EPA New England. 

[FR Doc. 2012–6030 Filed 3–12–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 52 

[EPA–R01–OAR–2011–0118; A–1–FRL– 

9644–5] 

Approval and Promulgation of Air 

Quality Implementation Plans; Rhode 

Island; Reasonably Available Control 

Technology (RACT) for the 1997 8- 

Hour Ozone Standard 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to 

approve four State Implementation Plan 

(SIP) revisions submitted by the Rhode 

Island Department of Environmental 

Management (RI DEM). These revisions 

demonstrate that the State of Rhode 

Island meets the requirements of 

reasonably available control technology 

(RACT) for oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and 

volatile organic compounds (VOCs) set 

forth by the Clean Air Act (CAA) with 

respect to the 1997 8-hour ozone 

standard. The intended effect of this 

action is to propose approval of Rhode 

Island’s RACT demonstration and the 

submitted regulations. Additionally, 

EPA is proposing to approve Rhode 

Island’s negative declarations for several 

categories of VOC sources. This action 

is being taken in accordance with the 

CAA. 

DATES: Written comments must be 

received on or before April 12, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R01– 

OAR–2011–0118 by one of the following 

methods: 

1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the 

on-line instructions for submitting 

comments. 

2. Email: arnold.anne@epa.gov. 

3. Fax: 617–918–0047. 

4. Mail: ‘‘EPA–R01–OAR–2011– 

0118,’’ Anne Arnold, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, New 

England Regional Office, Office of 

Ecosystem Protection, Air Quality 

Planning Unit, 5 Post Office Square— 

Suite 100, Mail Code OEP05–02, Boston, 

MA 02109–3912. 

5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver 

your comments to: Anne Arnold, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, New 

England Regional Office, Office of 

Ecosystem Protection, Air Quality 

Planning Unit, 5 Post Office Square— 

Suite 100, Mail Code OEP05–02, Boston, 

MA 02109–3912. Such deliveries are 

only accepted during the Regional 

Office’s normal hours of operation. The 

Regional Office’s official hours of 

business are Monday through Friday, 

8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding legal 

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: 

David Mackintosh, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, New England 

Regional Office, Office of Ecosystem 

Protection, Air Quality Planning Unit, 5 

Post Office Square—Suite 100, Mail 

Code OEP05–02, Boston, MA 02109– 

3912, telephone 617–918–1584, 

facsimile 617–918–0584, email 

mackintosh.david@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the 

Final Rules Section of this Federal 

Register, EPA is approving the State’s 

SIP revisions 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 in the 

Rules Section of this Federal Register. 

Dated: February 9, 2012. 

H. Curtis Spalding, 

Regional Administrator, EPA New England. 

[FR Doc. 2012–5763 Filed 3–12–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 


emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with PROPOSALS