E8-3339. Approval and Promulgation of State Implementation Plans; Montana; Interstate Transport of Pollution, New Definitions of PM and PM2.5

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

EPA is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Montana on June 28, 2000 and April 16, 2007. The revisions update Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) provisions for Particulate Matter, and address Interstate Transport Pollution requirements of section 110(a)(2)(D)(i) of the Clean Air Act. On June 28, 2000, the Governor of Montana submitted revisions to ARM rules 17.8.101—Definitions; 17.8.308—Particulate Matter, Airborne; and 17.8.320—Wood Waste Burners. The June 28, 2000 submittal included also a declaration certifying the adequacy of the State SIP in regard to the infrastructure-related PM_2.5 elements of section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). In the April 16, 2007 submission, the Governor requested EPA's review and approval of the “Interstate Transport Rule Declaration” adopted into the Montana SIP on February 12, 2007. In that same letter, the Governor rescinded the State's earlier request for approval of Montana's SIP in regard to the infrastructure-related PM_2.5 elements of section 110 of the CAA. In light of this rescission, EPA is not taking action on this declaration. This action is being proposed under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.

In the “Rules and Regulations” 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 non-controversial SIP revision and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the preamble to the direct final rule. If EPA receives no adverse comments, EPA will not take further action on this proposed rule. If EPA receives adverse comments, EPA will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. EPA will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. Please note that if EPA receives an adverse comment on an amendment, paragraph, or section of this rule and if that provision may be severed from the remainder of the rule, EPA may adopt as final those provisions of the rule that are not the subject of an adverse comment.

DATES:

Written comments must be received on or before March 27, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-R08-OAR-2007-0646, by one of the following methods:

• http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on line instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: [e-mail] and [e-mail].
• Fax: [phone] (please alert the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT if you are faxing comments).
• Mail: Callie Videtich, Director, Air and Radiation Program, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, Mailcode 8P-AR, 1595 Wynkoop, Denver, Colorado 80202-1129.
• Hand Delivery: Callie Videtich, Director, Air and Radiation Program, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, Mailcode 8P-AR, 1595 Wynkoop, Denver, Colorado 80202-1129. Such deliveries are only accepted Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:55 p.m., excluding Federal holidays. Special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Domenico Mastrangelo, Air and Radiation Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Mailcode 8P-AR, 1595 Wynkoop, Denver, Colorado 80202-1129, [phone], [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

See the information provided in the Direct Final action of the same title, which is located in the Rules and Regulations section of this Federal Register.

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

Dated: January 29, 2008.

Carol Rushin,

Acting Regional Administrator, Region 8.