2012-1358. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; North Carolina: Approval of Section 110(a)(1) Maintenance Plan for the Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point 1-Hour Ozone Maintenance Area To Maintain the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standards

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted to EPA on April 13, 2011, with supplemental information submitted on May 18, 2011, by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through the Department of Air Quality. The revisions propose to modify North Carolina's SIP to address the required maintenance plan for the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, North Carolina 1-hour ozone maintenance area, hereafter referred to as “the Triad Area.” The Triad Area is comprised of Davidson, Forsyth, and Guilford and a portion of Davie County. This maintenance plan was submitted to ensure the continued attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS through the year 2018 in the Triad Area. EPA is approving these SIP revisions pursuant to section 110 of the Clean Air Act. The submitted maintenance plan meets all of the statutory and regulatory requirements, and is consistent with EPA's guidance.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before February 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R04-OAR-2011-0455 by one of the following methods:

1. www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.

2. Email: [e-mail].

3. Fax: [phone].

4. Mail: “EPA-R04-OAR-2011-0455,” Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960.

5. Hand Delivery or Courier: Lynorae Benjamin, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Regional Office's normal hours of operation. The Regional Office's official hours of business are Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, excluding Federal holidays.

Please see the direct final rule which is located in the Rules section of this Federal Register for detailed instructions on how to submit comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Zuri Farngalo or Jane Spann, Regulatory Development Section, Air Planning Branch, Air, Pesticides and Toxics Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, 61 Forsyth Street SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Zuri Farngalo may be reached by phone at [phone] or by electronic mail address [e-mail]. Jane Spann may be reached by phone at [phone] or by electronic mail address [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On March 12, 2008, EPA issued a revised ozone NAAQS. See 73 FR 16436. The current action, however, is being taken to address requirements under the 1997 ozone NAAQS. Requirements for the Triad Area under the 2008 NAAQS will be addressed in the future.

For additional information see the direct final rule which is published in the Rules Section of this Federal Register. In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.

Dated: January 12, 2012.

A. Stanley Meiburg,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.