Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for New Mexico Albuquerque/Bernalillo County: Transportation Conformity Rule

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[NM-37-1-7392b; FRL-6372-8]

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for New Mexico--

Albuquerque/Bernalillo County: Transportation Conformity Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: We, the EPA, are proposing to approve a revision to the New

Mexico State Implementation Plan (SIP) that contains transportation

conformity rule for Albuquerque/Bernalillo County. If we approve this

transportation conformity SIP revision, the Albuquerque/Bernalillo

County Air Quality Control Board will be able to implement and enforce

the Federal transportation conformity requirements at the State level

per 40 CFR part 51, subpart T and 40 CFR part 93, subpart A--Conformity

to State or Federal Implementation Plans of Transportation Plans,

Programs, and Projects Developed, Funded or Approved Under Title 23

U.S.C. or the Federal Transit Laws. Our proposed action would

streamline the conformity process and allow direct consultation among

agencies at the local levels. Our proposed approval is limited to 40

CFR part 51, subpart T and 40 CFR part 93, subpart A (Transportation

Conformity). We approved the SIP revision for conformity of general

Federal actions (under 40 CFR part 51, subpart W) on September 13, 1996

(61 FR 48407).

We are proposing to approve this SIP revision under sections 110(k)

and 176 of the Clean Air Act. We have given our rationale for the

proposed approval and other information in the Final Rules section of

this Federal Register.

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

are approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without

prior proposal because we view this as a noncontroversial revision and

anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for this

approval in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive no

adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

If we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw the direct final rule

and it will not take effect. We will address all public comments in a

subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We will not

institute a second comment period on this action.

[[Page 36831]]

Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

DATES: We must receive your comments on this proposed rule in writing,

by August 9, 1999.

ADDRESSES: You should send your written comments to Mr. Thomas H.

Diggs, Chief, Air Planning Section (6PDL) at the address given below.

You may inspect copies of the State's SIP revision and other relevant

information during normal business hours at the following locations. If

you wish to examine these documents, you should make an appointment

with the appropriate office at least 24 hours before the visiting day.

Air Planning Section (6PDL), Multimedia Planning and Permitting

Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue,

Dallas, Texas 75202, Telephone: (214) 665-7214.

Air Pollution Control Division, Albuquerque Environmental Health

Department, City of Albuquerque, One Civic Plaza, Albuquerque, New

Mexico 87102, Telephone: (505) 768-2600.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. J. Behnam, P. E.; Air Planning

Section (6PDL), Multimedia Planning and Permitting Division,

Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas,

Texas 75202, Telephone (214) 665-7247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

If you wish to obtain additional information, you should read the

Direct Final Rule which is located in the Rules section of this Federal

Register.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52

Environmental protection, Air pollution control, Carbon monoxide,

Hydrocarbons, Intergovernmental relations, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone,

Particulate matter, Transportation conformity, Transportation-air

quality planning, Volatile organic compounds.

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671 et seq.

Dated: June 10, 1999.

W. B. Hathaway,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 6.

[FR Doc. 99-17205 Filed 7-7-99; 8:45 am]

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