Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of Louisiana; Approval of the Maintenance Plan for St. James Parish; Redesignation of St. James Parish to Attainment

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[LA-28-1-7053b; FRL-5292-7]

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans and Designation

of Areas for Air Quality Planning Purposes; State of Louisiana;

Approval of the Maintenance Plan for St. James Parish; Redesignation of

St. James Parish to Attainment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: On December 15, 1994, the State of Louisiana submitted a

revised maintenance plan and request to redesignate the St. James

Parish ozone nonattainment area to attainment. This maintenance plan

and redesignation request was initially submitted to the EPA on May 25,

1993. Although the EPA deemed this initial submittal complete on

September 10, 1993, certain approvability issues existed. The State of

Louisiana addressed these approvability issues and has again submitted

this request. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), nonattainment areas may be

redesignated to attainment if sufficient data are available to warrant

the redesignation and the area meets the other CAA redesignation

requirements. In this action, EPA is approving Louisiana's

redesignation request because it meets the maintenance plan and

redesignation requirements set forth in the CAA, and EPA is approving

the 1990 base year emissions inventory. The approved maintenance plan

will become a federally enforceable part of the State Implementation

Plan (SIP) for Louisiana.

In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is

approving this redesignation request as a direct final rulemaking

without prior proposal because the EPA views this action as

noncontroversial 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 that direct final rule, no

further activity is contemplated in relation to this proposed rule. If

the 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withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a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. The EPA will not

institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties

interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

DATES: Comments on this proposed rule must be received in writing,

postmarked by October 12, 1995. If no adverse comments are received,

then the direct final rule will be effective on November 13, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Thomas H. Diggs, Chief, Air

Planning Section (6PD-L), U.S. EPA Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas,

Texas 75202-2733. Copies of the State's petition and other information

relevant to this action are available for inspection during normal

hours at the following locations:

Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, Air Planning Section

(6PD-L), 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas 75202-2733.

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality,

7290 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810.

Anyone wishing to review this petition at the Regional EPA office

is asked to contact the person below to schedule an appointment 24

hours in advance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mick Cote, Air Planning Section

(6PD-L), EPA Region 6, telephone (214) 665-7219.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the information provided in the Direct

Final Rule which is located in the Rules Section of this Federal

Register.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Area designations,

Hydrocarbons, Incorporation by reference, Intergovernmental

regulations, National Parks, Reporting and recordkeeping, Ozone,

Volatile organic compounds, Wilderness areas.

Dated: August 24, 1995.

A. Stanley Meiburg,

Acting Regional Administrator (6RA).

[FR Doc. 95-22163 Filed 9-11-95; 8:45 am]

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