02-32548. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans North Carolina: Approval of Revisions to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan: Transportation Conformity and Interagency Memorandum of Agreements

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

The EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) that contains the transportation conformity rule pursuant to the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (Act). The transportation conformity rule assures that projected emissions from transportation plans, improvement programs and projects, in air quality nonattainment or maintenance areas stay within the motor vehicle emissions ceiling contained in the SIP. The transportation conformity SIP revision enables the State to implement and enforce the Federal transportation conformity requirements at the state level per regulations for Conformity to State or Federal Implementation Plans of Transportation Plans, Programs, and Projects Developed, Funded or Approved Under Title 23 U.S.C. of the Federal Transit Laws. This EPA approval action streamlines the conformity process to allow direct consultation among agencies at the local level.

In the Final Rules Section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving the North Carolina 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 significant, material, and 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 If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this rule. The 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.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before January 27, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

All comments should be addressed to: Kelly Sheckler at the EPA, Region 4 Air Planning Branch, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

Copies of the State submittal(s) are available at the following addresses for inspection during normal business hours:

Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4, Air Planning Branch, 61 Forsyth Street, SW., Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8960. Kelly Sheckler, 404/562-9042.

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 512 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kelly Sheckler at 404/562-9042, e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For additional information see the direct final rule which is published in the Rules Section of this Federal Register.

Dated: October 21, 2002.

A. Stanley Meiburg,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 4.