Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for Louisiana: Transportation Conformity Rule

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[LA-26-1-6965b; FRL-6514-7]

Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for Louisiana:

Transportation Conformity Rule

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the Louisiana

State Implementation Plan (SIP) that contains transportation conformity

rules. If EPA approves this transportation conformity SIP revision, the

State will be able to implement and enforce the Federal transportation

conformity requirements at the State level. This proposed action would

streamline the conformity process and

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allow direct consultation among agencies at the local levels. The

proposed approval is limited to Transportation Conformity. The EPA

approved the SIP revision for conformity of general Federal actions on

September 13, 1996 (61 FR 48409).

The EPA is proposing to approve this SIP revision under sections

110(k) and 176 of the Clean Air Act. The EPA has given its 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, EPA

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

prior proposal because EPA views this as a noncontroversial revision

and anticipates no adverse comment. The EPA has explained its reasons

for this approval in the preamble to the direct final rule. If EPA

receives no adverse comment, no further action will be taken on this

proposed rule. If EPA receives adverse comment, the direct final rule

will be withdrawn and it will not take effect. The EPA will address all

public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule.

The EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any

parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

DATES: We must receive your comments in writing, postmarked by January

28, 2000.

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, TX 75202; Telephone: (214) 665-7214.

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality, 7290

Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, LA 70810; Telephone: (225) 765-0178.

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, TX

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.

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

Dated: November 22, 1999.

Gregg A. Cooke,

Regional Administrator, Region 6.

[FR Doc. 99-33449 Filed 12-28-99; 8:45 am]

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