Findings of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking on Section 126 Petitions for Purposes of Reducing Interstate Ozone Transport; Reopening of Comment Period

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 52 and 97

[FRL-6422-5]

Findings of Significant Contribution and Rulemaking on Section

126 Petitions for Purposes of Reducing Interstate Ozone Transport;

Reopening of Comment Period

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is reopening the comment period for the proposed

rulemaking under section 126 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) that was

published on June 24, 1999 (64 FR 33962), regarding petitions submitted

by eight Northeastern States for the purpose of mitigating transport of

ozone. The June 24 proposal established a 45-day comment period, which

ended on August 9. The EPA believes this provided an adequate

opportunity to comment on the specific issues raised by the proposal.

However, in response to two requests from the public, EPA is extending

the comment period to August 25, 1999.

DATES: The EPA is reopening the comment period to end on August 25,

1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted (in duplicate form if possible) to

the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102), Attention:

Docket No. A-97-43, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street

SW, room M-1500, Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 260-7548.

Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by following the

instructions under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION of this document.

Documents relevant to this action are available for inspection at

the Docket Office, at the above address, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30

p.m., Monday though Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions concerning today's action

should be addressed to Carla Oldham, Office of Air Quality Planning and

Standards, Air Quality Strategies and Standards Division, MD-15,

Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, telephone (919) 541-3347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background on June 24, 1999 Proposal

The June 24 action proposed to amend two aspects of the final rule,

issued on April 30, 1999, regarding petitions submitted by eight

Northeastern States for the purpose of mitigating transport of one of

the main precursors of ground-level ozone, nitrogen oxides (NOX),

across State boundaries (see 64 FR 28250, May 25, 1999). The proposal

was necessary to address issues rising from two recent court rulings

related to the 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard and

the NOX State implementation plan call (NOX SIP call). The EPA is not

reopening the remainder of the April 30 final rule for public comment

and consideration.

Availability of Related Information

The official record for the section 126 rulemaking completed April

30, 1999, as well as the public version of the record, has been

established under docket number A-97-43 (including comments and data

submitted electronically as described below). The EPA has added a new

section to that docket for purpose of the June 24 proposed rulemaking.

The public version of this record, including printed, paper versions of

electronic comments, which does not include any information claimed as

CBI, is available for inspection from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday

through Friday, excluding legal holidays. A reasonabale copying fee may

be charged for copying. The rulemaking record is located at the address

in ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document. Electronic comments can

be sent directly to EPA at: A-and-R-D[email protected]. Electronic comments

must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special

characters and any form of encryption. No confidential business

information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail. Comments and data

will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1/8.0 file format

or ASCII file format. All comments and data in electronic form must be

identified by the docket number A-97-43. Electronic comments on the

June 24, 1999 proposed rulemaking may be filed online at many Federal

Depository Libraries.

In addition, the Federal Register rulemakings and associated

documents are located at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/rto/126. This notice of

reopening the comment period was made immediately available after

signature on that web site as well as on EPA's Airlinks web site at

http://www.epa.gov/airlinks.

Dated: August 10, 1999.

Robert Brenner,

Acting Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 99-21157 Filed 8-13-99; 8:45 am]

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