Revisions to the Permits and Sulfur Dioxide Allowance System Regulations Under Title IV of the Clean Air Act

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 72 and 73

[FRL-6150-2]

RIN 2060-AH60

Revisions to the Permits and Sulfur Dioxide Allowance System

Regulations Under Title IV of the Clean Air Act

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: Title IV of the Clean Air Act (the Act), as amended by the

Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, authorizes

[[Page 45038]]

the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) to establish the

Acid Rain Program. The program sets emissions limitations to reduce

acidic particles and deposition and their serious, adverse effects on

natural resources, ecosystems, materials, visibility, and public

health.

The allowance trading component of the Acid Rain Program allows

utilities to achieve sulfur dioxide emissions reductions in the most

cost-effective way. Allowances are traded among utilities and recorded

in EPA's Allowance Tracking System for use in determining compliance at

the end of each year. The Acid Rain Program's permitting, allowance

trading, and emissions monitoring requirements are set forth in the

``core rules'' promulgated on January 11, 1993. On August 3, 1998 (63

FR 41358) EPA published a proposal that would amend certain provisions

in the permitting and Allowance Tracking System rules for the purpose

of improving the operation of the Allowance Tracking System and the

allowance market, while still preserving the Act's environmental goals.

This document extends the comment period on that notice of proposed

rulemaking until September 17, 1998.

DATES: Comments. Comments on the August 3, 1998 proposed rule must be

received on or before September 17, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments. Comments should be submitted in duplicate, to: EPA

Air Docket, Attention, Docket No. A-98-15, U.S. Environmental

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

Docket. Docket No. A-98-15, containing supporting information used

in developing the proposed rule, is available for public inspection and

copying between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at

EPA's Air Docket Section, Waterside Mall, room 1500, 1st Floor, 401 M

Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. A reasonable fee may be charged for

copying.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Deneen, Permits and Allowance

Market Branch, Acid Rain Division (6204J), U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460 (202-564-

9089).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The notice of proposed rulemaking for this

action (63 FR 41358, August 3, 1998) provided for a 30 day comment

period ending on September 2, 1998, unless a public hearing was

requested, in which case the comment period would be extended 15 days

until September 17, 1998. The Agency has received a request that the

comment period be extended until September 17, 1998, without a public

hearing (see docket Item A-98-15-IV-D-1). That request indicated that

in the event EPA declined to extend the comment period in this manner,

the request constituted a request for a public hearing, which would

have the same effect of extending the comment period.

In the interest of full public participation in this rulemaking,

and in recognition that the Agency should not require the public to

present testimony at a public hearing for the procedural reason to

extend the written comment period, the Agency with this document

extends the comment period until September 17, 1998. Because no public

hearing was requested by the August 13, 1998 deadline specified in the

original document, no public hearing will be held on this rulemaking.

Dated: August 14, 1998.

Brian McLean,

Director, Acid Rain Division.

[FR Doc. 98-22653 Filed 8-21-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P