Notice of Public HearingProposed Finding of Significant Contribution and Proposed Rulemaking for Certain States in the Ozone Transport Assessment Group Region for Purposes of Reducing Regional Transport of Ozone

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[FRL-5949-2]

Notice of Public Hearing--Proposed Finding of Significant

Contribution and Proposed Rulemaking for Certain States in the Ozone

Transport Assessment Group Region for Purposes of Reducing Regional

Transport of Ozone

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; announcement of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is announcing the public hearing on the Agency's

October 10, 1997, proposed rule (62 FR 60317, November 7, 1997) to

reduce the transport of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in 22

States and the District of Columbia. All of the affected jurisdictions

participated in the Ozone Transport Assessment Group (OTAG). The EPA

proposes to find that the transport of NOx from the 23

jurisdictions significantly contributes to nonattainment of the ozone

national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS), or interferes with

maintenance of the NAAQS, in downwind States. The EPA has proposed a

level of NOx emissions for the 23 jurisdictions that will

reduce the transport of this chemical, an ozone precursor. In

accordance with the Clean Air Act, information and comments gathered

from this two-day public hearing will be considered in the final

decision-making process and entered into the official record.

DATES: The public hearing on the proposed rule will be held on February

3 and 4, 1998, beginning at 9 a.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at the Washington Plaza

Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, N.W., Washington, D.C. (McPherson Square Metro

stop), telephone number (800) 424-1140. Documents relevant to this

matter are available for inspection at the Air and Radiation Docket and

Information Center (6101), Attention: Docket No. A-96-56, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street S.W., room M-1500,

Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-7548, between 8 a.m. and 4

p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. A reasonable fee

may be charged for copying.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Persons planning to present oral testimony

at the hearing should notify JoAnn Allman, Office of Air Quality

Planning and Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division,

MD-15, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-1815 no

later than January 27, 1998. Oral testimony will be limited to 5

minutes each. Any member of the public may file a written statement

before, during, or within 30 days after the hearing. Written statements

(duplicate copies preferred) should be submitted to the docket at the

above address. A hearing schedule including a list of speakers will be

posted on EPA's OTAG webpage at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/

otagsip.html prior to the hearing.

Following the hearing, a verbatim transcript of the hearing and

written statements will be made available for copying during normal

working hours at the Air and Radiation Docket Information Center at the

above address.

The Agency does not plan to schedule any additional hearings on the

proposed rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General questions concerning today's

announcement should be addressed to Kimber Smith Scavo, Office of Air

Quality Planning and Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards

Division, MD-15, Research Triangle

[[Page 1936]]

Park, NC 27711, telephone (919) 541-3354.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

Environmental protection, air pollution control, Ozone, and

Nitrogen Oxides.

Dated: January 6, 1998.

Robert D. Brenner,

Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 98-769 Filed 1-12-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P