Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; General Conformity Rule

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[MD076-3030b; FRL-6197-4]

Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans;

Maryland; General Conformity Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: EPA is taking direct final action on the State Implementation

Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland for the purpose

of establishing a general conformity rule. The general conformity rule

sets forth policy, criteria and procedures for demonstrating and

assuring conformity of non-transportation related Federal projects to

all applicable air quality implementation plans. EPA is proposing to

approve Maryland's general conformity regulation as a SIP revision in

accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act.

In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register,

EPA is approving the State's SIP submittal as a direct final rule

without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a

noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A more

detailed description of the State submittal and EPA's evaluation are

included in a Technical Support Document (TSD) prepared in support of

this rulemaking action. A copy of the TSD is available, upon request,

from the EPA Regional Office listed in the ADDRESSES section of this

document.

If EPA receives no adverse comments, EPA will not take further

action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives adverse comments, EPA

will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect.

EPA will address all public comments 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 January 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Robert Kramer,

Chief; Energy, Radiation and Indoor Environment Branch; Mailcode 3AP23;

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, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103;

and the Maryland Department of the Environment, 2500 Broening Highway,

Baltimore, Maryland, 21224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larry Budney, (215) 814-2184, at the

EPA Region III address above, or by e-mail at

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For further information, please see the

information provided in the direct final action to approve the Maryland

General Conformity regulation, which is located in the ``Rules and

Regulations'' section of this Federal Register publication.

Dated: November 24, 1998.

Thomas Voltaggio,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region III.

[FR Doc. 98-32573 Filed 12-8-98; 8:45 am]

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