Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0669-0018
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Revisions to the General Conformity Regulations - Public Hearing
Posted Date: 2008-03-03T05:00Z

[Federal Register: March 3, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 42)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 11375-11376]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03mr08-20]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 51 and 93

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0669; FRL-8536-1]
RIN-2060-AH93

 
Revisions to the General Conformity Regulations

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of public hearing and corrected docket number.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing a public hearing to be held on March 14, 
2008 for the proposed rule on ``Revision to the General Conformity 
Regulations.'' This rulemaking action was published in the Federal 
Register on January 8, 2008 and proposes to revise EPA's regulations 
relating to the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements that Federal Actions 
conform to the appropriate State, Tribal or Federal implementation plan 
for attaining clean air (``general conformity''). The public hearing 
will provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, 
or arguments concerning these proposed changes. EPA is also correcting 
the docket number published in the January 8, 2008 proposed rulemaking. 
In the January 8, 2008 Revisions to the General Conformity Regulations: 
Proposed Rule, there was an error made in citing the docket number. The 
appropriate docket number for the January 8, 2008 proposed rulemaking 
is EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0669. Please submit all comments to docket number 
EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0669 when commenting on the January 8, 2008 proposed 
rule.

DATES: The public hearing will convene at 9 a.m. on March 14, 2008, and 
continue until 1 hour after the last registered speaker has spoken. 
People wishing to present oral testimony must pre-register by 5 p.m. on 
March 11, 2008. For updates and additional information on the public 
hearing, please check EPA's Web site for this rulemaking at http://
www.epa.gov.oar/gencomform/.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, East Building, Room 1153, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
Washington, DC 20004. Because this hearing is being

[[Page 11376]]

held at U.S. government facilities, everyone planning to attend the 
hearing should be prepared to show valid picture identification to the 
security staff in order to gain access to the meeting room. In 
addition, you will need to obtain a property pass for any personal 
belongings you bring with you. Upon leaving the building, you will be 
required to return this property pass to the security desk. No large 
signs will be allowed in the building, cameras may only be used inside 
the classroom and outside of the building and demonstrations will not 
be allowed on Federal property for security reasons.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like to speak at the 
public hearing or have questions concerning the public hearing, please 
contact Ms. Pamela Long, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OAQPS, 
Air Quality Planning Division (C504-03), Research Triangle Park, NC 
27711, telephone (919) 541-0641, fax number (919) 541-5509, e-mail 
address long.pam@epa.gov.
    Questions concerning the January 8, 2008, proposed rule should be 
addressed to Mr. Tom Coda, U.S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and 
Standards, Air Quality Policy Division, (C504-03), Research Triangle 
Park, NC 27711, telephone number (919) 541-3307, e-mail at 
coda.tom@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The January 8, 2008, proposed rule proposes 
to revise its regulations relating to the Clean Air Act (CAA) 
requirement that Federal actions conform to the appropriate State, 
Tribal or Federal implementation plan for attaining clean air 
(``general conformity''). EPA has only revised the General Conformity 
Regulations once since they were promulgated in 1993 to include de 
minimis emission levels for fine particulate matter and its precursors 
(July 17, 2006). Over this period, States, EPA and other Federal 
agencies have gained experience with the implementation of the existing 
regulations and have identified several issues with their 
implementation. In addition, in 2004, EPA issued regulations to 
implement the revised ozone standard and in 2007, issued regulations to 
implement the new fine particulate matter standard. These regulations 
affect the timing and process for general conformity determinations. 
State and other air quality agencies are in the process of developing 
revised plans to attain the new standards and the proposed revisions to 
the General Conformity Regulations will be helpful to the State, Tribe, 
and local agencies as well as the Federal agencies in developing and 
commenting on the proposed SIP revisions. This proposed rule revision 
provides for a streamline process for Federal agencies and States and 
Tribes to collaborate and ensure Federal activities are incorporated in 
these State implementation plans. Where that is not possible, it 
provides an efficient and effective process for Federal agencies to 
ensure their actions do not cause or contribute to a violation of the 
national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) or interfere with the 
purpose of a State, Tribal or Federal implementation plan to attain or 
maintain the NAAQS.
    Public hearing: The proposal for which EPA is holding the public 
hearing was published in the Federal Register on January 8, 2008, (73 
FR 1402) and is available at: http://www.epa.gov/oar/genconform/
regs.htm. The public hearing will provide interested parties the 
opportunity to present data, views, or arguments concerning the 
supplemental rule proposal. The EPA may ask clarifying questions during 
the oral presentations, but will not respond to the presentations at 
that time. Written statements and supporting information submitted 
during the comment period will be considered with the same weight as 
any oral comments and supporting information presented at the public 
hearing. Written comments on the proposed rule were requested to be 
postmarked by March 10, 2008, which is the closing date for the comment 
period, as specified in the proposal for the rule. However, the record 
will remain open until April 14, 2008, to allow 30 days after the 
public hearing for submittal of additional information.
    Commenters should notify Ms. Long if they will need specific 
equipment, or if there are other special needs related to providing 
comments at the hearing. The EPA will provide equipment for commenters 
to show overhead slides or make computerized slide presentations if we 
receive special requests in advance. Oral testimony will be limited to 
5 minutes for each commenter. The EPA encourages commenters to provide 
EPA with a copy of their oral testimony electronically (via e-mail or 
CD) or in hard copy form.
    The hearing schedule, including lists of speakers, will be posted 
on EPA's Web site http://www.epa.gov/oar/genconform/regs.htm. Verbatim 
transcripts of the hearing and written statements will be included in 
the docket for the rulemaking.

How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?

    The EPA has established the official public docket for the 
supplemental proposed rule entitled ``Revisions to the General 
Conformity'' under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0669. In the January 
8, 2008, 73 FR 1402, Revisions to the General Conformity Regulations: 
Proposed Rule, there was an error made in citing the docket number. The 
appropriate docket number for the January 8, 2008 proposed rulemaking 
is EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0669. Please submit all comments to docket number 
EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0669 when commenting on the January 8, 2008 proposed 
rule.
    As stated previously, the proposed rule was published in the 
Federal Register on January 8, 2008 (73 FR 1402) and is available at 
http://www.epa.gov/oar/genconform/regs.htm.

    Dated: February 22, 2008.
Jenny N. Edmonds,
Acting Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. E8-4031 Filed 2-29-08; 8:45 am]

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