99-33448. Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for Louisiana: Transportation Conformity Rule  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 72934-72938]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-33448]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    40 CFR Part 52
    
    [LA-26-1-6965a; FRL-6514-6]
    
    
    Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plan for Louisiana: 
    Transportation Conformity Rule
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Direct final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The EPA is approving a revision to the Louisiana State 
    Implementation Plan (SIP) that contains the transportation conformity 
    rule. The conformity rules assure that in air quality nonattainment or 
    maintenance areas, projected emissions from transportation plans and 
    projects stay within the motor vehicle emissions ceiling in the SIP. 
    The transportation conformity SIP revision enables the State to 
    implement and enforce the Federal transportation conformity 
    requirements at the State level. The EPA's approval action streamlines 
    the conformity process and allows direct consultation among agencies at 
    the local levels. The final approval action is limited to 
    Transportation Conformity. The EPA approved the SIP revision sent under 
    conformity of general Federal actions on September 13, 1996 (61 FR 
    48409).
        The EPA approves this SIP revision under sections 110(k) and 176 of 
    the Clean Air Act (Act). We have given our rationale for approving this 
    SIP revision in this action.
    
    DATES: This rule is effective on February 28, 2000 without further 
    notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by January 28, 2000. If we 
    receive adverse comment, we will publish a timely withdrawal in the 
    Federal Register informing the public that this rule will not take 
    effect.
    
    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.
        Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality, 7290 
    Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 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, 
    Texas 75202, Telephone (214) 665-7247.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
        We have outlined the contents of this document below for your 
    reading convenience:
    
    I. Background
        A. What is a SIP?
        B. What is the Federal approval process for a SIP?
        C. What is transportation conformity?
        D. Why must the State send a transportation conformity SIP?
        E. How does transportation conformity work?
    II. Approval of the State Transportation Conformity Rule
        A. What did the State send?
        B. What is EPA approving today and why?
        C. How did the State satisfy the interagency consultation 
    process (40 CFR 93.105)?
        D. Why did the State exclude the grace period for new 
    nonattainment areas (40 CFR 93.102(d))?
        E. What parts of the rule are excluded?
    III. Opportunity for Public Comments
    IV. Administrative Requirements
    
    I. Background
    
    A. What Is a SIP?
    
        The states under section 110 of the Act must develop air pollution 
    regulations and control strategies to ensure that state air quality 
    meets the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) established by 
    the EPA. The Act under section 109 established these ambient standards 
    which currently includes six criteria pollutants. These pollutants are: 
    carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, lead, particulate matter, and 
    sulfur dioxide.
        Each state must send these regulations and control strategies to 
    us, the EPA, for approval and incorporation into the Federally 
    enforceable SIP.
        Currently, each state has a federally approved SIP which protects 
    air quality and has emission control plans for nonattainment areas. 
    These SIPs can be extensive, containing state regulations or other 
    enforceable documents and supporting information such as emission 
    inventories, monitoring networks, and modeling demonstrations.
    
    B. What Is the Federal Approval Process for a SIP?
    
        The states must formally adopt the regulations and control 
    strategies
    
    [[Page 72935]]
    
    consistent with state and Federal laws for incorporating the state 
    regulations into the Federally enforceable SIP. This process generally 
    includes a public notice, public hearing, public comment period, and a 
    formal adoption by a state-authorized rulemaking body.
        Once a state rule, regulation, or control strategy is adopted, the 
    state will send these provisions to us for inclusion in the federally 
    enforceable SIP. We must then decide on an appropriate Federal action, 
    provide public notice, and request additional public comment on the 
    action. If anyone sends adverse comments, we must consider the comments 
    before a final action.
        We incorporate all state regulations and supporting information 
    (sent under section 110 of the Act) into the Federally approved SIP 
    after our approval action. We maintain records of such SIP actions in 
    the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Title 40, Part 52, entitled 
    ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans.'' The Government 
    does not reproduce the text of the Federally approved state regulations 
    in the CFR. They are ``incorporated by reference,'' which means that 
    the specific state regulation is cited in the CFR and is considered a 
    part of the CFR the same as if the text were fully printed in the CFR.
    
    C. What Is Transportation Conformity?
    
        Conformity first appeared in the Act's 1977 amendments (Public Law 
    95-95). Although the Act did not define conformity, it stated that no 
    Federal department could engage in, support in any way or provide 
    financial assistance for, license or permit, or approve any activity 
    which did not conform to a SIP which has been approved or promulgated.
        The Act's 1990 Amendments expanded the scope and content of the 
    conformity concept by defining conformity to an implementation plan. 
    Section 176(c) of the Act defines conformity as conformity to the SIP's 
    purpose of eliminating or reducing the severity and number of 
    violations of the NAAQS and achieving expeditious attainment of such 
    standards. Also, the Act states that no Federal activity will: (1) 
    Cause or contribute to any new violation of any standard in any area, 
    (2) increase the frequency or severity of any existing violation of any 
    standard in any area, or (3) delay timely attainment of any standard or 
    any required interim emission reductions or other milestones in any 
    area.
    
    D. Why Must the State Send a Transportation Conformity SIP?
    
        We were required to issue criteria and procedures for determining 
    conformity of transportation plans, programs, and projects to a SIP by 
    section 176(c) of the Act. The Act also required the procedure to 
    include a requirement that each State submit a revision to its SIP 
    including conformity criteria and procedures. We published the first 
    transportation conformity rule in the November 24, 1993, Federal 
    Register (FR), and it was codified at 40 CFR part 51, subpart T and 40 
    CFR part 93, subpart A. We required the States and local agencies to 
    adopt and submit a transportation conformity SIP revision to us by 
    November 25, 1994. The State of Louisiana sent a transportation 
    conformity SIP on November 23, 1994, but we could not approve this SIP 
    revision. We revised the transportation conformity rule on August 7, 
    1995 (60 FR 40098), November 14, 1995 (60 FR 57179), August 15, 1997 
    (62 FR 43780), and it was codified under 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 (62 FR 43780). Our action of August 15, 1997, required the 
    States to change their rules and send a SIP revision by August 15, 
    1998.
    
    E. How Does Transportation Conformity Work?
    
        The Federal or State transportation conformity rule applies to all 
    nonattainment and maintenance areas in the State. The Metropolitan 
    Planning Organizations (MPO), the State Departments of Transportation 
    (in absence of a MPO), and U.S. Department of Transportation make 
    conformity determinations. These agencies make conformity 
    determinations on transportation plans, programs, and projects. The 
    MPOs calculate the projected emissions for the transportation plans and 
    programs and compare those calculated emissions to the motor vehicle 
    emissions ceiling established in the SIP. The calculated emissions must 
    be smaller than the motor vehicle emissions ceiling for showing a 
    positive conformity with the SIP.
    
    II. Approval of the State Transportation Conformity Rule
    
    A. What Did the State Send?
    
        On October 21, 1998, the Governor of Louisiana sent a SIP revision 
    that includes the State's transportation conformity and consultation 
    rule. At the same time, the Governor withdrew his November 23, 1994, 
    submission. Also, the State submitted additional information on 
    November 19, 1998, and June 29, 1999. The Louisiana Department of 
    Environmental Quality (LDEQ) published its final transportation 
    conformity rule on September 20, 1998, in Louisiana Register after 
    appropriate public participation and interagency consultation.
    
    B. What is EPA Approving Today and Why?
    
        We are approving the Louisiana transportation conformity rule that 
    the Governor of Louisiana sent us on October 21, 1998, information 
    submitted on November 19, 1998, and June 29, 1999, except for the 
    incorporation by reference of sections 93.102(c), 93.104(d), 93.109(c)-
    (f), 93.118(e), 93.120(a)(2), 93.121(a)(1), and 93.124(b) of 40 CFR 
    into Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC) 33:III.1432. The rationale for 
    exclusion of these sections is discussed in section II.E of this 
    action. The LDEQ has adopted the Federal rules by ``incorporation by 
    reference'' except for the interagency consultation section (40 CFR 
    93.105) and the grace period for new nonattainment areas (40 CFR 
    93.102(d)). We will discuss the reasons for exclusion of these two 
    sections later in this notice.
        ``Incorporation by Reference'' (IBR) means that the State adopted 
    the Federal rules without rewriting the text of the Federal rules but 
    by referring to them for inclusion as if they were printed in the state 
    regulation. The Federal Transportation Conformity Rule required the 
    states to adopt a majority of the Federal rules in verbatim form with a 
    few exceptions. The States can not make their rules more stringent than 
    the Federal rules unless the State's rules apply equally to nonfederal 
    entities as well as Federal entities. The LDEQ Transportation 
    Conformity Rule is the same as the Federal rule and the State has made 
    no additional changes or modifications, with the exception of those 
    sections mentioned above.
        We have evaluated this SIP revision and have determined that the 
    State has fully adopted the Federal transportation conformity rules as 
    described in 40 CFR part 51, subpart T and part 93, subpart A. Also, 
    the LDEQ has completed and satisfied the public participation and 
    comprehensive interagency consultations during development and adoption 
    of these rules at the local level. Therefore, we are approving this SIP 
    revision.
    
    [[Page 72936]]
    
        Our approval action does not include general conformity (40 CFR 
    part 51, subpart W). We approved the Louisiana general conformity SIP 
    on September 13, 1996 (61 FR 48409).
    
    C. How Did the State Satisfy the Interagency Consultation Process?
    
        Our rule requires the States to develop their own processes and 
    procedures for interagency consultation among the Federal, State, and 
    local agencies and resolution of conflicts meeting the criteria in 40 
    CFR 93.105. The SIP revisions must include processes and procedures to 
    be followed by the MPO, State Department of Transportation (DOT), and 
    the U. S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in consulting with the 
    State and local air quality agencies and EPA before making conformity 
    determinations. Also, the transportation conformity SIP revision must 
    have processes and procedures for the State and local air quality 
    agencies and EPA in coordinating development of applicable SIPs with 
    MPOs, State DOT, and USDOT.
        The State developed its own consultation rule based on the elements 
    in 40 CFR 93.105, and excluded this section from IBR. As a first step, 
    the State established an ad hoc multiagency committee that included 
    representatives from the State air quality agency, State DOT, USDOT, 
    MPOs, EPA, the local air quality agency, local transportation agencies, 
    and local transit operators. The State air quality agency served as the 
    lead agency in coordinating the multiagency efforts for developing the 
    consultation rule. The committee met periodically and drafted 
    consultation rules by considering the elements in 40 CFR 93.105 and 23 
    CFR part 450, and by integrating the local procedures and processes 
    into the final consultation rule. The consultation rule developed 
    through this process is unique to the State of Louisiana and is 
    codified under section LAC 33:III.1434 of the State rule. We have 
    determined that the State adequately included all elements of 40 CFR 
    93.105 and meets the EPA SIP requirements.
    
    D. Why Did the State Exclude the Grace Period for New Nonattainment 
    Areas (40 CFR 93.102(d))?
    
        The State excluded 40 CFR 93.102(d) from its IBR. Section 93.102(d) 
    of 40 CFR allows up to 12 months for newly designated nonattainment 
    areas to complete their conformity determination. The Sierra Club 
    challenged this section of the rule arguing that allowing a 12-month 
    grace period was unlawful under the Act. On November 4, 1997, the 
    United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 
    held in Sierra Club v. Environmental Protection Agency, 129 F.3d 137 
    (D.C.Cir.1997), that EPA's grace period violates the plain terms of the 
    Act and, therefore, is unlawful. Based on this court action, the State 
    has excluded this section from its rule. We agree with the State's 
    action, and exclusion of 40 CFR 93.102(d) will not prevent us from 
    approving the State transportation conformity SIP.
    
    E. What Parts of the Rule Are Excluded?
    
        We promulgated the transportation conformity rule on August 15, 
    1997. On March 2, 1999, the United States Court of Appeals for the 
    District of Columbia Circuit issued its opinion in Environmental 
    Defense Fund v. Environmental Protection Agency, 167 F.3d 641 
    (D.C.Cir.1999). The Court granted the environmental group's petition 
    for review and ruled that 40 CFR 93.102(c)(1), 93.121(a)(1), and 
    93.124(b) are unlawful and remanded 40 CFR 93.118(e) and 93.120(a)(2) 
    to EPA for revision to harmonize these provisions with the requirements 
    of the Act for an affirmative determination that the Federal actions 
    will not cause or increase violations or delay attainment. The sections 
    that were included in this decision were:
        (a) 40 CFR 93.102(c)(1) which allowed certain projects for which 
    the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process has been completed 
    by the DOT to proceed toward implementation without further conformity 
    determinations during a conformity lapse;
        (b) 40 CFR 93.118(e) which allowed use of motor vehicle emissions 
    budgets (MVEB) in the submitted SIPs after 45 days if EPA had not 
    declared them inadequate;
        (c) 40 CFR 93.120(a)(2) which allowed use of the MVEB in a 
    disapproved SIP for 120 days after disapproval;
        (d) 40 CFR 93.121(a)(1) which allowed the nonfederally funded 
    projects to be approved if included in the first three years of the 
    most recently conforming transportation plan and transportation 
    improvement programs, even if conformity status is currently lapsed; 
    and
        (e) 40 CFR 93.124(b) which allowed areas to use a submitted SIP 
    that allocated portions of a safety margin to transportation activities 
    for conformity purposes before EPA approval.
        Since the States were required to submit transportation conformity 
    SIPs not later than August 15, 1998, and include those provisions in 
    verbatim form, the State's SIP revision includes all those sections 
    which the Court ruled unlawful or remanded for consistency with the 
    Act. The EPA can not approve these sections.
        We believe that the LDEQ has complied with the SIP requirements and 
    has adopted the Federal rules which were in effect at the time that the 
    transportation conformity SIP was due to the EPA. If the court had 
    issued its ruling before adoption and SIP submittal by the LDEQ, we 
    believe the LDEQ would have removed these sections from its IBR. The 
    LDEQ has expended its resources and time in preparing this SIP and 
    meeting the Act's statutory deadline, and EPA acknowledges the agency's 
    good faith effort in submitting the transportation conformity SIP on 
    time.
        The LDEQ will be required to submit a SIP revision in the future 
    when EPA revises its rule to comply with the court decision. Because 
    the court decision has invalidated these provisions, we believe that it 
    would be reasonable to exclude the corresponding sections of the state 
    rules from this SIP approval action. As a result, we are not taking any 
    action on the IBR of sections 93.102(c), 93.104(d), 93.109(c)-(f), 
    93.118(e), 93.120(a)(2), 93.121(a)(1), and 93.124(b) of 40 CFR at LAC 
    33:III.1432 under the State conformity rule. The conformity 
    determinations affected by these sections should comply with the 
    relevant requirements of the statutory provisions of the Act underlying 
    the court's decision on these issues. The EPA has already issued 
    guidance on how to implement these provisions in the interim prior to 
    EPA amendment of the Federal transportation conformity rules. Once 
    these Federal rules have been revised, conformity determinations in 
    Louisiana should comply with the requirements of the revised Federal 
    rule until corresponding provisions of the Louisiana conformity SIP 
    have been approved by EPA.
    
    III. Opportunity for Public Comments
    
        The EPA is publishing this rule without prior proposal because we 
    view this as a noncontroversial amendment and anticipate no adverse 
    comment. However, in the ``Proposed Rules'' section of today's Federal 
    Register publication, we are publishing a separate document that will 
    serve as the proposal to approve this SIP revision if adverse comments 
    are filed. This rule will be effective on February 28, 2000 without 
    further notice unless we receive adverse comment by January 28, 2000. 
    If EPA receives adverse comment, we will publish a timely withdrawal in 
    the Federal Register informing the public that the rule will not take 
    effect. We will
    
    [[Page 72937]]
    
    address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on the 
    proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this 
    action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.
    
    IV. Administrative Requirements
    
    A. Executive Order 12866
    
        The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has exempted this 
    regulatory action from Executive Order 12866, entitled ``Regulatory 
    Planning and Review.
    
    B. Executive Orders on Federalism
    
        Under Executive Order 12875, EPA may not issue a regulation that is 
    not required by statute and that creates a mandate upon a State, local 
    or tribal government, unless the Federal government provides the funds 
    necessary to pay the direct compliance costs incurred by those 
    governments, or EPA consults with those governments. If EPA complies by 
    consulting, Executive Order 12875 requires EPA to provide to the OMB a 
    description of the extent of EPA's prior consultation with 
    representatives of affected State, local and tribal governments, the 
    nature of their concerns, copies of any written communications from the 
    governments, and a statement supporting the need to issue the 
    regulation. In addition, Executive Order 12875 requires EPA to develop 
    an effective process permitting elected officials and other 
    representatives of State, local and tribal governments to provide 
    meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory proposals 
    containing significant unfunded mandates.
        Today's rule does not create a mandate on State, local or tribal 
    governments. The rule does not impose any enforceable duties on these 
    entities. Accordingly, the requirements of section 1(a) of Executive 
    Order 12875 do not apply to this rule.
        On August 4, 1999, President Clinton issued a new Executive Order 
    on federalism, Executive Order 13132, (64 FR 43255, August 10, 1999), 
    which will take effect on November 2, 1999. In the interim, the current 
    Executive Order 12612 (52 FR 41685, October 30, 1987), on federalism 
    still applies. This rule will not have a substantial direct effect on 
    States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
    States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
    various levels of government, as specified in Executive Order 12612. 
    The rule affects only one State, and does not alter the relationship or 
    the distribution of power and responsibilities established in the Act.
    
    C. Executive Order 13045
    
        Executive Order 13045, entitled ``Protection of Children from 
    Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 
    1997), applies to any rule that: (1) is determined to be ``economically 
    significant'' as defined under Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns 
    an environmental health or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe 
    may have a disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory 
    action meets both criteria, the Agency must evaluate the environmental 
    health or safety effects of the planned rule on children, and explain 
    why the planned regulation is preferable to other potentially effective 
    and reasonably feasible alternatives considered by the Agency.
        The EPA interprets Executive Order 13045 as applying only to those 
    regulatory actions that are based on health or safety risks, such that 
    the analysis required under section 5-501 of the Order has the 
    potential to influence the regulation. This final rule is not subject 
    to Executive Order 13045 because it approves a State program.
    
    D. Executive Order 13084
    
        Under Executive Order 13084, EPA may not issue a regulation that is 
    not required by statute, that significantly or uniquely affects the 
    communities of Indian tribal governments, and that imposes substantial 
    direct compliance costs on those communities, unless the Federal 
    government provides the funds necessary to pay the direct compliance 
    costs incurred by the tribal governments, or EPA consults with those 
    governments. If EPA complies by consulting, Executive Order 13084 
    requires EPA to provide to OMB, in a separately identified section of 
    the preamble to the rule, a description of the extent of EPA's prior 
    consultation with representatives of affected tribal governments, a 
    summary of the nature of their concerns, and a statement supporting the 
    need to issue the regulation. In addition, Executive Order 13084 
    requires EPA to develop an effective process permitting elected 
    officials and other representatives of Indian tribal governments ``to 
    provide meaningful and timely input in the development of regulatory 
    policies on matters that significantly or uniquely affect their 
    communities.''
        Today's rule does not significantly or uniquely affect the 
    communities of Indian tribal governments. Accordingly, the requirements 
    of section 3(b) of Executive Order 13084 do not apply to this rule.
    
    E. Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 600 et seq., generally 
    requires an agency to conduct a regulatory flexibility analysis of any 
    rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking requirements unless the 
    agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic 
    impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small entities 
    include small businesses, small not-for-profit enterprises, and small 
    governmental jurisdictions. This final rule will not have a significant 
    impact on a substantial number of small entities because SIP approvals 
    under section 110 and subchapter I, part D of the Act do not create any 
    new requirements but simply approve requirements that the State is 
    already imposing. Therefore, because the Federal SIP approval does not 
    create any new requirements, I certify that this action will not have a 
    significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
    Moreover, due to the nature of the Federal-State relationship under the 
    Act, preparation of a flexibility analysis would constitute Federal 
    inquiry into the economic reasonableness of state action. The Act 
    forbids EPA to base its actions concerning SIPs on such grounds. See 
    Union Electric Co., v. U.S. EPA, 427 U.S. 246, 255-66 (1976); 42 U.S.C. 
    7410(a)(2).
    
    F. Unfunded Mandates
    
        Under section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 
    signed into law on March 22, 1995, EPA must prepare a budgetary impact 
    statement to accompany any proposed or final rule that includes a 
    Federal mandate that may result in estimated annual costs to State, 
    local, or tribal governments in the aggregate; or to private sector, of 
    $100 million or more. Under section 205, EPA must select the most cost-
    effective and least burdensome alternative that achieves the objectives 
    of the rule and is consistent with statutory requirements. Section 203 
    requires EPA to establish a plan for informing and advising any small 
    governments that may be significantly or uniquely impacted by the rule.
        The EPA has determined that the approval action promulgated does 
    not include a Federal mandate that may result in estimated annual costs 
    of $100 million or more to either State, local, or tribal governments 
    in the aggregate, or to the private sector. This Federal action 
    approves preexisting requirements under State or local law, and imposes 
    no new requirements. Accordingly, no
    
    [[Page 72938]]
    
    additional costs to State, local, or tribal governments, or to the 
    private sector, result from this action.
    
    G. Submission to Congress and the Comptroller General
    
        The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as added by the 
    Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, generally 
    provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency promulgating 
    the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy of the rule, 
    to each House of the Congress and to the Comptroller General of the 
    United States. The EPA will submit a report containing this rule and 
    other required information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of 
    Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the United States prior 
    to publication of the rule in the Federal Register. This rule is not a 
    ``major'' rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
    
    H. Petitions for Judicial Review
    
        Under section 307(b)(1) of the Act, petitions for judicial review 
    of this action must be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for 
    the appropriate circuit by February 28, 2000. Filing a petition for 
    reconsideration by the Administrator of this final rule does not affect 
    the finality of this rule for the purposes of judicial review nor does 
    it extend the time within which a petition for judicial review may be 
    filed, and shall not postpone the effectiveness of such rule or action. 
    This action may not be challenged later in proceedings to enforce its 
    requirements. See section 307(b)(2).
    
    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.
    
        Dated: November 22, 1999.
    Gregg A. Cooke,
    Regional Administrator, Region 6.
    
        Part 52, Chapter I, Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations is 
    amended to read as follows:
    
    PART 52--[AMENDED]
    
        1. The authority citation for part 52 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
    
    SUBPART T--LOUISIANA
    
        2. Sec. 52.970 is amended in paragraph (c), under Chapter 14--
    Conformity, by adding Subchapter B, Sections 1431, 1432, and 1434, 
    after Subchapter A, Section 1415, to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 52.970  Identification of plan.
    
    * * * * *
        (c) * * *
    
                                 EPA Approved Louisiana Regulations in the Louisiana SIP
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            State approval
             State citation              Title/subject           date          EPA approval date      Explanation
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                            *
    Chapter 14--
    Conformity
     
     
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                            *
    Subchapter B....................   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 Act
    Section 1431....................  Purpose...........  September 1998,     [December 29, 1999
                                                           LR24:1684.          FR volume and
                                                                               page number].
    Section 1432....................  Incorporation by    July 1998,          [December 29, 1999  No action is taken
                                       Reference.          LR24:1280.          FR volume and       on the portions
                                                                               page number].       of LAC
                                                                                                   33:III.1432 that
                                                                                                   contain 40 CFR
                                                                                                   93.102(c),
                                                                                                   93.104(d),
                                                                                                   93.109(c)-(f),
                                                                                                   93.118(e),
                                                                                                   93.120(a)(2),
                                                                                                   93.121(a)(1), and
                                                                                                   93.124(b).
    Section 1434....................  Consultation......  November 1994,      [December 29, 1999
                                                           LR20:1278; July     FR volume and
                                                           1998, LR24:1280;    page number].
                                                           September 1998,
                                                           LR24:1684;
                                                           October 1998,
                                                           LR24:1925.
     
    *                  *                  *                  *                  *                  *
                                                            *
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    [FR Doc. 99-33448 Filed 12-28-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
2/28/2000
Published:
12/29/1999
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Direct final rule.
Document Number:
99-33448
Dates:
This rule is effective on February 28, 2000 without further notice, unless EPA receives adverse comment by January 28, 2000. If we receive adverse comment, we will publish a timely withdrawal in the Federal Register informing the public that this rule will not take effect.
Pages:
72934-72938 (5 pages)
Docket Numbers:
LA-26-1-6965a, FRL-6514-6
PDF File:
99-33448.pdf
CFR: (1)
40 CFR 52.970