98-11542. Technical Amendments to Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Minnesota; Correction of Effective Date Under Congressional Review Act (CRA)  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 24435-24436]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-11542]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    40 CFR Part 52
    
    [FRL-5980-9]
    
    
    Technical Amendments to Approval and Promulgation of 
    Implementation Plans; Minnesota; Correction of Effective Date Under 
    Congressional Review Act (CRA)
    
    AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
    
    ACTION: Direct final rule; correction of effective date under CRA.
    
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    SUMMARY: On July 22, 1997 (62 FR 39120), the Environmental Protection 
    Agency published in the Federal Register a direct final rule approving 
    a revision to the Minnesota State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the 
    Saint Paul particulate matter (PM) nonattainment area located in Ramsey 
    County, Minnesota, which established an effective date of September 22, 
    1997. This document corrects the effective date of the rule to May 4, 
    1998 to be consistent with sections 801 and 808 of the Congressional 
    Review Act (CRA), enacted as part of the Small Business Regulatory 
    Enforcement Fairness Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 and 808.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective on May 4, 1998.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Tom Eagles, Office of Air at (202) 260-5585.
    
    Supplementary Information:
    
    I. Background
    
        Section 801 of the CRA precludes a rule from taking effect until 
    the agency promulgating the rule submits a rule report, which includes 
    a copy of the rule, to each House of Congress and to the Comptroller 
    General of the General Accounting Office (GAO). EPA recently discovered 
    that it had inadvertently failed to submit the above rule as required; 
    thus, although the rule was promulgated on the date stated in the July 
    22, 1997, Federal Register document, by operation of law, the rule did 
    not take effect on September 22, 1997, as stated therein. Now that EPA 
    has discovered its error, the rule has been submitted to both Houses of 
    Congress and the GAO. This document amends the effective date of the 
    rule consistent with the provisions of the CRA.
        Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 
    553(b)(B), provides that, when an agency for good cause finds that 
    notice and public procedure are impracticable, unnecessary or contrary 
    to the public interest, an agency may issue a rule without providing 
    notice and an opportunity for public comment. EPA has determined that 
    there is good cause for making today's rule final without prior 
    proposal and opportunity for comment because EPA merely is correcting 
    the effective date of the promulgated rule to be consistent with the 
    congressional review requirements of the Congressional Review Act as a 
    matter of law and has no discretion in this matter. Thus, notice and 
    public procedure are unnecessary. The Agency finds that this 
    constitutes good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). Moreover, since 
    today's action does not create any new regulatory requirements and 
    affected parties have known of the underlying rule since July 22, 1997, 
    EPA finds that good cause exists to provide for an immediate effective 
    date pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) and 808(2).
    
    II. Administrative Requirements
    
        Under Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), this 
    action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' and is therefore not 
    subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, 
    this action does not impose any enforceable duty or contain any 
    unfunded mandate as described in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 
    1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), or require prior consultation with State 
    officials as specified by Executive Order 12875 (58 FR 58093, October 
    28, 1993), or involve special consideration of environmental
    
    [[Page 24436]]
    
    justice related issues as required by Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 
    7629, February 16, 1994). Because this action is not subject to notice-
    and-comment requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act or any 
    other statute, it is not subject to the regulatory flexibility 
    provisions of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). 
    EPA's compliance with these statutes and Executive Orders for the 
    underlying rule is discussed in the July 22, 1997, Federal Register 
    document.
        Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A), as added by the Small Business 
    Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 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 
    General Accounting Office; however, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 808(2), 
    this rule is effective on May 4, 1998. This rule is not a ``major 
    rule'' as defined in 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
        This final rule only amends the effective date of the underlying 
    rule; it does not amend any substantive requirements contained in the 
    rule. Accordingly, to the extent it is available, judicial review is 
    limited to the amended effective date.
    
        Dated: April 22, 1998.
    Carol Browner,
    Administrator.
    [FR Doc. 98-11542 Filed 5-1-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
5/4/1998
Published:
05/04/1998
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Direct final rule; correction of effective date under CRA.
Document Number:
98-11542
Dates:
This rule is effective on May 4, 1998.
Pages:
24435-24436 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
FRL-5980-9
PDF File:
98-11542.pdf
CFR: (1)
40 CFR 52