Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Enhanced Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[PA 122-4078b; FRL-6160-7]

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Enhanced Motor Vehicle Inspection and

Maintenance Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes approval of the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania's August 21, 1998 submission to supplement its State

Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for the enhanced motor vehicle

emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program. The Commonwealth's

August 1998 submission addresses seven minor, de minimus deficiencies.

In addition, Pennsylvania submitted a demonstration of the

effectiveness of its decentralized network, as required by the National

Highway Systems Designation Act of 1995 (NHSDA). Approval of this

submission will remove all remaining de minimus conditions imposed by

EPA in its January 28, 1997 interim conditional approval of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's March 1996 enhanced I/M SIP revision.

This action proposes approval of Pennsylvania's decentralized network

effectiveness demonstration. Because EPA is proposing approval of that

demonstration, as well as all remaining de minimus deficiencies related

to Pennsylvania's enhanced I/M SIP, EPA hereby proposes to convert the

interim approval of the Commonwealth's I/M SIP, granted under the

NHSDA, to full approval. Because Pennsylvania must still provide

specific information related to one condition of EPA's January 28, 1998

approval, the Commonwealth's I/M SIP would remain conditionally

approved under the Clean Air Act. In the Final Rules section of this

Federal Register, EPA is issuing a direct final rule approving the

Commonwealth's August 21, 1998 submission. The Agency views this

rulemaking action as noncontroversial and anticipates no adverse public

comment. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the

direct final rule and in the technical support document prepared by EPA

for this action. If no adverse comments are received, no further

activity is contemplated with relation to this rule. If EPA receives

adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and

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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 action. Any parties interested in commenting on

this action should do so at this time.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing by October 16, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Marcia Spink,

Associate Director, Air Programs, Mailcode 3AP20, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania 19103. Copies of the documents relevant to this action are

available for public inspection during normal business hours at the Air

Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III,

1650 Arch Street--14th Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. Copies

of relevant documents may also be inspected at the Pennsylvania

Department of Environmental Resources Bureau of Air Quality Control,

P.O. Box 8468, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17105.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Rehn, by phone at (215) 814-

2176, or via e-mail at [email protected], or in writing at the

EPA Region III address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: See the information provided in the Direct

Final action of the same title, ``Commonwealth of Pennsylvania;

Enhanced Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program'' which is

located in the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.

Dated: August 28, 1998.

Thomas C. Voltaggio,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.

[FR Doc. 98-24732 Filed 9-15-98; 8:45 am]

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