Approval, Maine Air Quality Implementation Plans; and Redesignation of Hancock and Waldo Counties; Maine

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 81

[ME47-1-6996b; A-1-FRL-5693-6]

Approval, Maine Air Quality Implementation Plans; and

Redesignation of Hancock and Waldo Counties; Maine

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA or Agency).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: USEPA is proposing to approve under the Clean Air Act two

requests from the State of Maine: approval of the Maine 1990 base year

inventory into the Maine State Implementation Plan; and a redesignation

request by the State of Maine. The first request will establish the

1990 base year inventory of volatile organic compounds and oxides of

nitrogen emissions for the classified ozone nonattainment areas in

Maine. The second request will redesignate the Hancock and Waldo

counties marginal ozone nonattainment area from nonattainment to

attainment, and approve the 1993 attainment year inventory for Hancock

and Waldo counties as the required 1993 periodic inventory. In the

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

State's request as a direct final rule without prior proposal because

the Agency views this as a noncontroversial revision 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 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direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received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 proposal.

Any parties interested in commenting on this proposal should do so at

this time.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Susan Studlien, Deputy Director,

Office of Ecosystem Protection (mail code CAA), U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Region I, JFK Federal Bldg., Boston, MA 02203.

Copies of the State submittal and EPA's technical support document are

available for public inspection during normal business hours, by

appointment at the Office of Ecosystem Protection, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Region I, One Congress Street, 11th floor, Boston,

MA and the Bureau of Air Quality Control, Department of Environmental

Protection, 71 Hospital Street, Augusta, ME 04333. Persons interested

in examining these documents should make an appointment with the

appropriate office at least 24 hours before the visiting day.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For the base year inventory, Robert

McConnell, (617) 565-9266, and for the Hancock and Waldo counties

redesignation request Richard P. Burkhart, (617) 565-3578.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For additional information, see the direct

final rule which is located in the Rules Section of this Federal

Register.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

Dated: February 3, 1997.

John P. DeVillars,

Regional Administrator, Region I.

[FR Doc. 97-4965 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am]

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