[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2981-2982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1590]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[FRL-5321-5]


Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation 
of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of Massachusetts; 
Change in National Policy Regarding Applicability of Conformity 
Requirements to Redesignation Requests

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The EPA proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan 
(SIP) revision submitted by the State of Massachusetts to redesignate 
the Boston area from nonattainment to attainment 

[[Page 2982]]
for carbon monoxide (CO). Under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 
(CAA), designations can be revised if sufficient data is available to 
warrant such revisions.
    In addition, EPA is proposing approval of two related State 
Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions by Massachusetts DEP. On November 
15, 1993, Massachusetts DEP submitted a final 1990 base year emission 
inventory for CO emissions, which includes emissions data for all 
sources of CO in Massachusetts' CO nonattainment areas, as well as CO 
emissions for the entire State. On October 29, 1993, Massachusetts DEP 
submitted an oxygenated fuel program for the Boston consolidated 
metropolitan statistical area (CMSA).
    In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is 
approving the CO emissions inventory and the oxygenated fuels program 
as a direct final rule.
    In addition, EPA is also approving Massachusetts' redesignation 
request as a direct final rule without prior proposal. A detailed 
rationale for the action is set forth in the direct final rule, 
including a modification in national policy regarding the need for a 
conformity SIP submission prior to redesignation of an area. If no 
adverse comments are received in response to that direct final rule, no 
further activity is contemplated in relation to this proposed rule. 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EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn 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 notice. Any parties interested in commenting on 
this notice should do so at this time.

DATES: Comments must be received by February 29, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Susan Studlien, Acting 
Director of the Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, at the 
EPA Regional Office listed below. Copies of the redesignation request 
and the State of Massachusetts' submittal are available for public 
review during normal business hours at the addresses listed below.
    Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460, and; 
Environmental Protection Agency, One Congress Street, Boston, MA 02203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wing Chau of the EPA Region I Air, 
Pesticides and Toxics Management Division at (617) 565-3240. Dated: 
September 29, 1995.
John P. DeVillars,
Regional Administrator, Region I.
[FR Doc. 96-1590 Filed 1-29-96; 8:45 am]
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